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Shooter

Style

A shooter is a small mixed drink of two or more spirits, liqueurs or juices, meant to be drunk in one or two gulps.

Shooter glass
1.5 to 3 oz (45 to 90 ml)
US standard shot of spirit
1.5 oz (44 ml) at 40% ABV
Drunk in
1 or 2 gulps
Formula
1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml) in total: 2 or 3 spirits, liqueurs or juices, often in equal parts, shaken and strained or layered

What shooter means

A shooter changes a shot by adding ingredients. Two or three spirits, liqueurs or juices go into one small glass, often in equal parts, for a total of 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml). The mix is shaken or layered, not poured straight.

You will meet the name on lists such as the Kamikaze, the Lemon Drop shot, the B-52 and the Snaquiri. Because a shooter goes down so quickly, it is easy to lose count, so keep track of how many you have had.

Most beginners assume shooter is just another word for shot. It is not. A shot is one spirit poured straight, while a shooter is a mixed drink. A US standard shot is 1.5 oz (44 ml) at 40% ABV, and a shooter's alcohol depends on the bottles in it, so check each ABV.

How to make a shooter

Build a shooter in a small glass with 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml) of ingredients, then shake or layer it.

  1. 1.Measure 2 or 3 spirits, liqueurs or juices, often in equal parts, for 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml) in total.
  2. 2.For a shaken shooter such as the Kamikaze, shake with ice and strain it into the glass, so it is cold but small.
  3. 3.For a layered shooter such as the B-52, pour the heaviest liqueur first over the back of a bar spoon: coffee liqueur, then Irish cream, then orange liqueur.
  4. 4.Serve it in a shooter glass that holds 1.5 to 3 oz (45 to 90 ml).

Shooter compared

  • ShotA shot is one spirit poured straight. A shooter is the mixed version, built from two or more ingredients.
  • Pousse-caféA pousse-café is a layered drink meant for sipping, while a shooter is made for a quick finish.
  • BoilermakerA boilermaker pairs a shot of whiskey with a beer, dropped in or taken alongside. A shooter is only the mixed shot.
  • ChaserA chaser is a separate drink taken after a shot or shooter, not part of it.

Examples

  • Kamikaze
  • Lemon Drop shot
  • B-52
  • Slippery Nipple
  • Snaquiri

Related terms

Ingredients

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.

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