20 Thanksgiving Shots

Nothing pairs better with turkey and mashed potatoes than a round of Thanksgiving themed shooters. Turn all your favorite holiday flavors into fun, festive shots.

If you're looking for other fun and unique shots, don't miss trying these espresso martini or Payday shots.

1. Grandma's Apple Pie

Warm cinnamon spice meets crisp apple cider with a hint of citrus, tasting just like a cozy slice of homemade pie in liquid form.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce (30 ml) cinnamon whiskey
• ½ ounce (15 ml) apple cider
• Dash of lemon juice

Instructions:

Add cinnamon whiskey, apple cider, and a dash of lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass.

2. Harvest Sunset

This shot brings a sophisticated, aperitif-style bite that will remind you of a crisp autumn evening.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) Campari
• 2 ounces (60 ml) sweet (red) vermouth
• 2 ounces (60 ml) gin

Instructions:

Add the Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Using a bar spoon, stir for about 30 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

3. Orchard Fizz

Bright orange juice softens the bitter Campari, creating a frothy, citrus-forward sip.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces (120 ml) orange juice
• 2 ounces (60 ml) Campari

Instructions:

Add orange juice and Campari to a mixing glass. Use a hand frother or a whisk and froth the two ingredients until foamy. Pour the mixture into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

4. Can-Apple Harvest

Combine juicy apple and tart cranberry for a smooth and fun whiskey shooter.

Ingredients:

• ½ ounce (15 ml) Canadian whisky
• ½ ounce (15 ml) apple schnapps
• ½ ounce (15 ml) cranberry juice
• Splash of club soda or lemon-lime soda (optional)

Instructions:

Add Canadian whisky, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glass. Optionally, top with club soda (or lemon-lime soda).

5. Blood Orange Margarita

Tangy, slightly sweet, and perfect if you celebrate Thanksgiving in a warm climate.

Ingredients:

• ¼ ounce (7 g) sea salt (optional)
• 3 ounces (90 ml) blanco tequila
• 2 ounces (60 ml) blood orange juice
• ¾ ounce (22 ml) agave or simple syrup
• ¼ ounce (7 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions:

For the salt rim: Distribute the sea salt onto a small plate. Using the 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: In a blender, add a handful of ice (3–6 large cubes), tequila, blood orange juice, agave (or simple syrup), and lime juice. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth. Pour into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

6. Blue Pear Martini

A complex blend of pear, citrus, and botanicals with a subtle sweetness!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) gin
• 2 ounces (60 ml) pear vodka
• 1 ounce (30 ml) blue curaçao liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) dry vermouth
• 2 dashes of orange bitters

Instructions:

Add the gin, pear vodka, blue curaçao, dry vermouth, and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

7. Spiced Ginger

Rich bourbon and herbal liqueur mix with ginger and lemon for a warming shot.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) bourbon
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) Chartreuse yellow liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) ginger liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) lemon juice

Instructions:

Add bourbon, Chartreuse, ginger liqueur, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

8. Bourbon Slushie

Smooth bourbon meets sweet cherry and fizzy soda...what's not to love!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) bourbon
• 1 ounce (30 ml) maraschino cherry juice or grenadine
• 3 ounces (90 ml) soda

Instructions:

Add bourbon and maraschino cherry juice (or grenadine) to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain evenly into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses. Top each shot with the soda of your preference.

9. Oatmeal Cookie

Creamy, sweet, and a touch of cinnamon. This shot tastes like an oatmeal cookie fresh from the oven.

Ingredients:

• ½ ounce (15 ml) butterscotch schnapps
• ½ ounce (15 ml) Irish cream liqueur
• ½ ounce (15 ml) cinnamon schnapps

Instructions:

Add butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and cinnamon schnapps in a cocktail shaker filled with partway ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into 2-ounce (60 ml) a shot glass.

10. Cranberry Crush

Tart cranberry and bright lime balance the vodka’s kick for a zesty Thanksgiving shot!

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 until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

11. Cranberry Violet

Light, floral, and slightly tart, giving a fresh twist on classic cranberry flavors.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) vodka
• 2 ounces (60 ml) white cranberry juice
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) crème de violette liqueur
• ½ ounce (15 ml) lime juice

Instructions:

Add vodka, white cranberry juice, crème de violette liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

12. Pomegranate Bourbon

Rich pomegranate and bourbon create a deep, slightly tart shot.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) bourbon
• 2 ounces (60 ml) pomegranate juice
• 1 ounce (30 ml) lemon or lime juice

Instructions:

Add the bourbon, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice (or lime juice) to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

13. Thanksgiving Punch

Sweet, tangy, and packed with layered fruit flavors, like a festive punch.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) vodka
• 1 ounce (30 ml) blue curaçao liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) cranberry juice (or cran-grape, grape, or pomegranate juice)
• 1 ounce (30 ml) grenadine
• 1 ounce (30 ml) sweet and sour mix

Instructions:

Add vodka, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, grenadine, and sweet and sour mix to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

14. Honey Lemon

Smoky whiskey balanced with honey and lemon...the perfect bold combo!

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) blended scotch
• 1 ounce (30 ml) single malt scotch
• 1 ounce (30 ml) honey syrup
• 1 ounce (30 ml) lemon juice

Instructions:

For honey syrup: In a small saucepan or pot, combine 3 parts honey with 1 part water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the honey is dissolved. Remove and cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator.

For the shots: Add blended scotch, single malt scotch, honey syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

15. Bourbon Bitter

A twist on the classic Boulevardier that's strong, smooth, and slightly bitter.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces (60 ml) bourbon
• 2 ounces (60 ml) Campari
• 2 ounces (60 ml) sweet (red) vermouth

Instructions:

Add bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth to a cocktail shaker partway with ice. Using a bar spoon, stir for at least 30 seconds. Strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

16. Spiked Orange

Bright orange juice with a mix of spirits!

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) orange juice
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) light rum
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) vodka
• ½ ounce (15 ml) whiskey

Instructions:

Add orange juice, rum, vodka, and whiskey to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

17. Food Coma

Who needs pie when you have this rich and creamy dessert shot to finish off your Thanksgiving feast.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) vodka
• 2 ounces (60 ml) heavy cream
• 1 ounce (30 ml) crème de noyaux liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) white crème de cacao liqueur

Instructions:

Add vodka, heavy cream, crème de noyaux, and white crème de cacao to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

18. Green Apple

Crisp and tart, this shot will remind you of your favorite appletini.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) vodka
• 2 ½ ounces (75 ml) green apple schnapps
• ½ ounces (15 ml) lemon juice

Instructions:

Add vodka, green apple schnapps, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

19. Crisp Air

Citrus with a touch of sweetness and spice from the rye whiskey.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) rye whiskey
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) orange juice
• 1 ounce (30 ml) lemon juice
• ½ ounce (15 ml) grenadine

Instructions:

Add rye whiskey, orange juice, lemon juice, and grenadine into a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.

20. Golden Feast

Sharp citrus and herbal notes combine with a spicy ginger kick.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces (90 ml) gin
• 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) lime juice
• 1 ounce (30 ml) ginger liqueur
• 1 ounce (30 ml) Chartreuse yellow liqueur

Instructions:

Add gin, lime juice, ginger liqueur, and Chartreuse to a cocktail shaker filled partway with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into three 2-ounce (60 ml) shot glasses.