Shots and shooters

What counts as a shot

A shot is a small drink, usually between 20 and 60 ml, served in a shot glass and meant to be drunk quickly. Shooters are mixed shots: two or more ingredients shaken, stirred or layered. Some are sweet and dessert-like, others sour and sharp, a few simply showcase a chilled spirit.

Layered shots

Layered drinks such as the B-52 rely on the different density of their ingredients. Heavy, sugary liqueurs sink, lighter and stronger spirits float. Pour the heaviest ingredient first, then add each following layer slowly over the back of a bar spoon held just above the surface. Chilled ingredients layer more cleanly.

Shaken and stirred shooters

Many shooters are simply small cocktails: a miniature sour or a scaled down version of a well-known drink. Shake with ice as you would the full-size version, strain and serve immediately while still very cold. For a group, mix one batch in a large shaker and divide it between glasses.

Tips

• Know your glass size. Shot glasses vary between countries and bars, commonly 20, 40 or 50 ml.
• Measure every layer with a jigger for clean results.
• Chill the glasses in the freezer for spirit shots.
• Keep sugary shooters small, as sweetness builds up fast.

Shots are strong for their size, so serve them in moderation and alongside water or food.