Celebrating Christmas doesn't need to be a stuffy affair. Whether you're home with family or toasting to a happy and healthy Christmas with friends and neighbors, you can always skip the traditional wassail and mulled wine for some Christmas shots.
Twinkling Lights
Similar in look to the light-adorned houses shining in the falling snow, this shot will make anyone feel the holiday spirit.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce limoncello
- ¼ ounce honey liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, limoncello, and honey liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
The Gift of Gold
This golden shot is smooth and sweet, great for after dinner or when you want something without too much bite. For a sweeter taste, dip the rim in caramel syrup.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce caramel whiskey
- ¾ ounce butterscotch liqueur
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, caramel whiskey, and butterscotch liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
Snowball
As clear as the melted snow puddling on the kitchen floor after a snowball fight, this shot is bursting with peppermint to warm you up.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce peppermint schnapps
- ½ ounce lemon vodka
- ¼ ounce white creme de cacao
- Ice
- Lemon slice
Ingredients
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, peppermint schnapps, lemon vodka, and white creme de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Santa's Hat
With the red spirit and sugar-white trim, this shot looks just like Santa's hat hanging up after a long night of travel.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- ¾ ounce whiskey
- ¾ ounce almond liqueur
- ½ ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- Whole fresh cranberries
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the shot glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, almond liqueur, and cranberry juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared shot glass.
- Garnish with cranberries pierced on cocktail skewer.
Bloody Mary Breakfast Shot
A classic Bloody Mary is delicious but can be incredibly filling. These shots are the best way to enjoy a Bloody Mary at breakfast without missing out on other brunch cocktails. There's lots of room to play with flavor combinations with vodka, as well.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Bloody Mary mix
- ¾ ounce cucumber basil infused vodka OR peppar vodka
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Grape tomato for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Bloody Mary mix, flavored vodka, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with grape tomato.
Rockin' Around the Tree
If your family likes to rearrange ornaments to make the tree look balanced, step back and let them do the work while you shake these up.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1 ounce crème de menthe
- ¾ ounce crème de cacao
- ¼ ounce Irish cream
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the shot glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and Irish cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Berry Merry Christmas
Anyone is bound to have a Merry Christmas with these berry-forward shots.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- 1 ounce cranberry vodka
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Raspberry and mini candy cane for garnish
Instructions
- In a shot glass, add the raspberry liqueur.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry vodka, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass, pouring over the back of the spoon to layer on top of the raspberry liqueur.
- Garnish with candy cane and raspberry.
Fireside
This doubly warming shot glass with fiery cinnamon flavors will bring the heat.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1 ounce cinnamon whiskey
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce red apple schnapps
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the shot glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cinnamon whiskey, lemon juice, and red apple schnapps.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Christmas Cake
Despite the bright yellow coloring, this shot glass is an exquisite and surprising mimic of chocolate cake.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce hazelnut liqueur
- ¾ ounce limoncello
- ½ ounce vodka
- ¼ ounce white crème de cacao
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, hazelnut liqueur, limoncello, vodka, and crème de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
Frosted Night
A light and sweet shot, the frosted rim and blue shot are memorable in both taste and looks.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and sugar for rim
- ¾ ounce blue curaçao
- ¾ ounce vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the shot glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blue curaçao, vanilla vodka, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared shot glass.
Yule Be Jolly
A sour yet sweet shot, be prepared for a line of people asking for one.
Ingredients
- Lemon and sugar for rim
- ½ ounce green apple vodka
- ½ ounce peach schnapps
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the shot glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, green apple vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared shot glass.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Fru-Gee-Lay
Not for those who shy away from bold flavors, this shot is filled with flavor despite its unassuming appearance.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce raspberry vodka
- ¾ ounce peach schnapps
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with orange wedge.
Warm Hands, Warm Feet, Warm Heart
Spicy ingredients give this shot a boost of heat, so tread lightly.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce watermelon vodka
- ½ ounce Ancho Reyes
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, watermelon vodka, Ancho Reyes, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
An Old-Fashioned Family Christmas
There's nothing old-fashioned about this shot, but it'll soon become a tradition to enjoy on Christmas.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce gin
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and lemon wheel.
Yule Enjoy Christmas
It may seem unusual to enjoy shots around Christmas, but they're a surefire way to liven up any occasion around the holidays. A Christmas shot is the best way to greet the holidays, but if you're looking for something that will make your holiday a bit more warm and snuggly, try some hot Christmas drinks instead.
