Shake up some fun themed birthday shots to celebrate your big day! These are great recipes to get the party started.
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If you love shaking up fun shot recipes, don't forget to check out my favorite white tea shots or Vegas bombs.
1. Party All Night Espresso Martini
Want to party it up with your friends? These shots are like sipping on an espresso martini...except better! Trust me, they'll keep any party going all night long.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) vodka
- 1 ¼ ounce (37 ml) freshly brewed espresso
- 1 ounce (30 ml) coffee liqueur
- ¾ ounce (22 ml) simple syrup
- coffee beans, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Add vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until well-chilled and foamy, about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2 ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Optionally, garnish each shot with a coffee bean.
*Be sure to remove the coffee bean before consuming the shots.
2. Pay Day Candy Bar
If you love eating a PayDay candy bar, this is the shot for you. And, it's the perfect birthday sweet treat!
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce (30 ml) butterscotch liqueur
- 1 ounce (30 ml) caramel flavored vodka
- 1 ounce (30 ml) peanut butter whiskey
Instructions:
To a cocktail shaker add butterscotch liqueur, caramel flavored vodka, peanut butter whiskey, and a handful of ice. Shake for 30-45 seconds until chilled. Strain into two 2 ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Optionally, garnish each shot with a candy bar.
3. Blow Job
With a name like this, you know the blow job is a classic shot! These are fun shooters to make for a party, especially if you make everyone consume them hands-free.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (15 ml) amaretto liqueur
- ½ ounce (15 ml) Baileys Irish cream liqueur
- Whipped cream, to top
Instructions:
Pour amaretto into the bottom of a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Using a bar spoon, layer Irish cream on top, then finish with some whipped cream.
4. Cherry Bomb
This bomb-style shot is perfect for a birthday party. It goes down easy and it'll help keep you up all night long!
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce (30 ml) cherry vodka
- 4 ounces (120 ml) Red Bull energy drink
Instructions:
Pour the cherry vodka into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Fill a highball glass with Red Bull energy drink. When you're ready to drink, drop the shot glass into the glass filled with Red Bull.
5. Chocolate Cake
You could say this is one of the best shots to drink on your birthday! It's sweet and tastes like birthday cake.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (15 ml) vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) hazelnut liqueur
- 1 sugar-coated lemon wedge, served on the side
Instructions:
Place vanilla vodka and hazelnut liqueur in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Serve a sugar-coated lemon wedge alongside the shot.
6. Cosmopolitan Shooters
What's more 'Sex and the City' birthday night on the town than a Cosmopolitan shooter?! This is perfect for a night out celebrating with the girls.
Ingredients:
- 4 ½ ounces (135 ml) vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) cranberry juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) lime juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) triple-sec or Cointreau
Instructions:
Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and triple-sec (or Cointreau) to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
7. Empress Gin & Tonic
Enjoy a crisp gin and tonic with a pretty purple twist.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces (90 ml) Empress 1908 Gin
- 3 ounces (90 ml) tonic water
- fresh blackberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Add gin and tonic water to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Stir for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Garnish each shot with a blackberry.
8. Mini Beer
While this shot looks like you're shooting a cup of beer, there's really no beer in this recipe. I love the presentation of this shot, especially if you're celebrating someone's birthday who loves beer.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounce (45 ml) chilled Licor 43
- ½ ounce (15 ml) heavy cream
Instructions:
Pour Licor 43 in the bottom of a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Using a bar spoon, layer heavy cream on top.
9. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Cake that you don't have to bake? Yes, please! A unique shot to make for anyone who loves sweets.
Ingredients:
- ¾ ounce (22 ml) vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) pineapple juice
- ¼ ounce (7 ml) grenadine
Instructions:
Pour vanilla vodka into the bottom of a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Using a bar spoon, layer pineapple juice on top, then grenadine. Give the grenadine a minute to settle at the bottom.
10. Birthday Candy
Enjoy the sweet flavors of Watermelon Pucker with a little treat at the end. Any candy lover is going to be obsessed with these shots!
Ingredients:
- 5 ½ ounces (165 ml) Watermelon Pucker
- 3 watermelon Sour Patch Kids for garnish
Instructions:
Add Watermelon Pucker to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Drop a watermelon sour patch gummy in each shot for a fun candy finish.
11. Mixed Birthday Berry Margaritas
Fresh berries can take a simple margarita recipe and turn it into one that wows your birthday guests.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces (60 ml) fresh or frozen mixed berries
- 3 ounces (90 ml) tequila
- 1 ounce (30 ml) lime juice
- 1 ounce (30 ml) agave or simple syrup
Instructions:
Muddle the berries in a cocktail shaker to release the juices. Add tequila, lime juice, and agave to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
12. Birthday Prosecco
Super simple, light, and refreshing. These Prosecco shooters are an elegant way to get any birthday party started.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) Midori
- ½ ounce (15 ml) lemon juice
- 4 ounces (120 ml) Prosecco
Instructions:
Add Midori and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds. Strain evenly into three 2-ounce shot glasses. Top each shot with Prosecco.
13. Piña Colada
These are a must for summer birthdays! Transport yourself to a tropical paradise with this infamous drink, now in the form of fun and delicious shots.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) fresh or frozen pineapple
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) white rum
- 1 ounce (30 ml) cream of coconut
- 1 ounce (30 ml) pineapple juice
Instructions:
Add pineapple, rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice to a blender. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Pour into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
14. Purple Gin Fizz
A foamy and sour mix. Nearly identical to an Empress Gin Sour, but with a light and fizzy touch of soda water.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces (90 ml) Empress 1908 Gin
- 1 ounce (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 ounce (30 ml) simple syrup
- 1 egg white
Instructions:
Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and an egg white to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 10-15 seconds (without ice). Add a handful of ice and shake for another 10-15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
**A helpful tip when pouring shots made with egg whites: Do not pour one shot at a time. Instead, fill each shot a bit at a time. This guarantees that when you’re filling the last bit, the frothy part of the egg white mixture is evenly distributed.
15. Reese's Pudding Shots
With only 5 ingredients, you can make shots for the whole party! These boozy pudding shots are a fun centerpiece to your birthday celebration.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (235 ml) cold whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) cold chocolate liqueur
- ½ cup (120 ml) cold peanut butter whiskey
- 1 (3.9 ounce) package chocolate instant pudding
- 1 cup Cool Whip chilled but not frozen
- Whipped cream for garnish
- Peanut butter cups for garnish
Instructions:
In a medium bowl whisk together whole milk, chocolate liqueur, and peanut butter whiskey. Slowly pour chocolate instant pudding into the bowl of liquids while hand whisking. Continue to mix until well combined and no lumps remain. Allow pudding to set at room temperature for 5 minutes. Gently fold Cool Whip into the pudding until no white streaks remain.
Portion into fourteen 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Place in the freezer for 40-50 minutes to further thicken and set up. Optionally, garnish with whipped dairy topping and a halved chocolate peanut butter cup.
16. Blue Creamsicle
Take a trip down memory lane with these shots and be reminded of the nostalgic flavors of a fruit creamsicle.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces (60 ml) Hpnotiq liqueur
- 1 ounce (30 ml) blue curaçao
- 1 ounce (30 ml) mango rum
- ½ ounce (15 ml) lemon juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) orange juice
- Whipped cream for garnish
Instructions:
Add Hpnotiq, blue curaçao, mango rum, lemon juice, and orange juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Garnish each shot with a dollop of whipped cream.
17. Mango Margarita
One of my favorite fruits, paired with the spicy bite of tequila, makes for an absolute treat. These would be great for summer birthday pool parties.
Ingredients:
- ¼ ounce (7.5 g) Tajín (optional)
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) tequila
- 2 ounces (60 ml) mango purée (or juice)
- 1 ounce (30 ml) lime juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) triple-sec or Cointreau
Instructions:
For the Tajín rim:
Distribute the Tajín onto a small plate. Using a lime that is for the fresh lime juice, rub the flesh against and all around the rim of the shot glasses. Gently, tap the sides of the shot glass in the Tajín, and rotate all around to rim the glasses with Tajín.
For the shots:
Add tequila, mango purée, lime juice, and triple sec (Cointreau) to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
18. Birthday Blues
No need to have the birthday blues about turning another year older when you get to sip on these fun shots!
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces (60 ml) fresh or frozen pineapple
- 2 ounces (60 ml) vodka
- 1 ounce (30 ml) grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce (30 ml) blue curaçao
Ingredients:
Add a handful of ice (3-6 large cubes), pineapple, vodka, grapefruit juice, and blue curaçao to a blender. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth. Pour into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
19. Jäger Bomb
This is another classic shot that's perfect for birthday parties.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounce (45 ml) Jägermeister
- 1 (8.4 ounce or 248 ml) can Red Bull energy drink
Instructions:
Pour the Jägermeister into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Fill a highball glass with Red Bull energy drink. When you're ready to drink, drop the shot glass into the glass filled with Red Bull.
20. Raspberry Margarita
There's nothing better than a fun, frozen, and blended shot, especially when it's on your birthday.
Ingredients:
- ¼ ounce (7 g) sea salt (optional)
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) tequila
- 2 ounces (60 ml) fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 ounce (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) agave or simple syrup
- 3 raspberries for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
For the salt rim: Distribute the sea salt onto a small plate. Using a lime that is for the fresh lime juice, rub the flesh against and all around the rim of the shot glasses. Gently, tap the sides of the shot glass in the salt, and rotate all around to rim the glasses with salt.
For the shots: Add a handful of ice (3-6 large cubes), tequila, raspberries, lime juice, and agave to a blender. Blend the mixture on a medium-high speed until everything is well combined. Pour into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
21. Jelly Bean
A bright and colorful shot if you're looking for something unique and most importantly delicious.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (15 ml) blue curaçao
- ½ ounce (15 ml) pineapple juice
- ½ ounce (15 ml) blackberry brandy or cherry vodka
Instructions:
Pour blue curaçao into the bottom of a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Using a bar spoon, layer pineapple juice on top, then your choice of blackberry brandy or cherry vodka.
22. Orange Starburst
This is a fun way to enjoy some birthday candy in the most adult way possible.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) vodka (or mandarin vodka)
- 2-3 orange Starbursts
- 2 ounces (60 ml) sweet and sour mix
Instructions:
Add the vodka, starbursts, and sweet and sour mix into a cocktail shaker. Optionally, let the mixture sit until the Starbursts have dissolved. Add a large handful of ice, and shake for at least 20 seconds. Strain the mixture into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
23. Jolly Rancher
Here's a cool shot to make to bring back another childhood flavor - Jolly Ranchers! This shot uses fairly basic ingredients, so it would be great for a party.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce (30 ml) vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) watermelon pucker or blue curaçao
Instructions:
Place vodka and watermelon pucker (or blue curaçao) in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass.
24. Oreo Cookie
This recipe is great for someone who wants a smooth and sweet party shot.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (15 ml) vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) coffee liqueur
- ½ ounce (15 ml) crème de cacao
- ½ ounce (15 ml) Irish cream
Instructions:
Place vodka, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, and Irish cream in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass.
25. Tequila Sunrise
Another classic cocktail that's simple and easy to make. Plus, these shots are picture-perfect with their beautiful coloring.
Ingredients:
- 3 ¾ ounces (110 ml) orange juice
- 2 ounces (60 ml) tequila
- ¼ ounces (7 ml) grenadine
Instructions:
Add the orange juice and tequila to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Top each shot with an equal amount of grenadine.
26. PB&J
With only two ingredients, it doesn't get much simpler than this!
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce (30 ml) peanut butter whiskey
- ½ ounce (15 ml) grape liqueur
Instructions:
Place peanut butter whiskey and grape liqueur in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass.
27. Vodka Cran
Another classic yet delicious combo that makes a fun shooter. Don't forget to whip up a batch of shots for your friends to get the party started.
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (120 ml) vodka
- 2 ounces (60 ml) cranberry juice
Instructions:
Add the vodka and the cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake the mixture for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.
28. Bazooka Joe
Remember the Bazooka gum you used to chew as a kid? That's what this famous shot is reminiscent of!
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (15 ml) chilled banana liqueur
- ½ ounce (15 ml) chilled Irish cream liqueur
- ½ ounce (15 ml) chilled blue curaçao liqueur
Instructions:
Pour banana liqueur in the bottom of a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Using a bar spoon, layer Irish cream on top, then blue curaçao.
29. Mexican Candy
The strong taste of watermelon paired with the bite of lime juice and a touch of hot sauce will remind anyone of their favorite Mexican candy.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) blanco tequila
- 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) Watermelon Pucker
- 1 ounce (30 ml) lime juice
- 3 dashes of red hot sauce
Instructions:
Add blanco tequila, Watermelon Pucker, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Finish each shot with a dash of hot sauce.
30. Lemon Drops
Looking for classic shooters to drink? This tart and sweet combo is sure to satisfy.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce (30 ml) vodka
- ½ ounce (15 ml) lemon juice
- Splash simple syrup
Instructions:
Place vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass.
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