14 Shots, Ranked From Worst To Best

Some liquors are made to simply be drunk and not tasted or at least mixed with something else, while other liquors are best on their own, not to be bothered or offered any help from nearby bottles. When it comes to the liquor shot, things get foggy. There's the cheap tequila or the "I dare you" Jeppson's Malört shots from your college days, and then there's today's menu of shots, which are a mix of spirits and other flavors, with the cutest titles served as a mini cocktail in a shot glass. And, of course, some have fun names but are full of flavors that should be used in a meal but not in your drinking glass.  

You'll want to know the most popular shots so that the next time you go out on the town with friends, you can impress them with your wealth of knowledge and know which ones to order and which ones to steer clear of. When it comes to any kind of cocktail, even a shot, there are some mixologists who painstakingly perfect taste and others who quickly throw some gross choices together and just watch it all play out. It's all good. Some shots are made to be tasted, and others are made to be slammed while you hold your breath. Either way — good luck.

Who doesn't love birthday cake? Birthday cake is fabulous, but so are a lot of things. We can't drink them all. Cosmopolitan writes that one of the unique things you can use cake mix for is the Birthday Cake shot. So long cake and ice cream. Now you can conveniently drink your dessert and get back to life. 

The Birthday Cake shot is created by mixing dry white cake mix with whipped cream vodka, some half-and-half, and other liquors, such as cake-flavored vodka. Shake it all together, pour it into shot glasses, and then drink up. Is anyone else thinking this doesn't sound like something to swallow in one shot glass-type gulp? Seems it should come with a fork and maybe a candle. 

One fun part of Birthday Cake shots, however, is that you can line the rim of the shot glass with frosting and sprinkles. That sounds better than a liquified mix. There are a lot of good cake mixes, but they should probably remain an option for cake, not a drink.

Prepare to ruin your appetite. Okay, maybe not everyone. Obviously, someone is drinking the Prairie Oyster shot, even though it requires swallowing a raw egg. Common history suggests that Prairie Oyster shots have been around since the late 1800s; their staying power derives from a reputation as a hangover cure, per Eater. Perhaps those who enjoy truly are on to something. But is it safe to eat raw eggs? Raw eggs contain some risks, such as salmonella, and the FDA recommends only consuming pasteurized eggs to be safe. Now, on to the Prairie Oyster. 

The Prairie Oyster shot gets its name from the fact that it's similar to swallowing a raw oyster. People usually enjoy oysters for more reasons than the texture; however, this slimy shot may do it for you if it's only the texture you crave. Just crack an egg into your glass, top it with Worcestershire, vinegar, horseradish, and salt and pepper, then slam it back. It might not cure your hangover, but it'll sure wake you up.

There are a lot of drinks you can mix with vodka, and the Kamikaze is among some of the most well-known that use it. The Kamikaze is a classic liquor shot because it's been around a while, and you won't find a bartender who hasn't made one. 

European Bartender School writes that the Kamikaze shot was invented at an American-occupied Garrison pub in Japan during World War II and became popular in the 1970s. It's still going strong today and even has some variations, such as gin instead of vodka or turning it into a full cocktail drink rather than a shot. 

The shot consists of vodka, Triple Sec, and lime juice. This is a boozy shot that actually tastes good and has no unusual textures or unidentified flavors. The Triple Sec adds sweetness, while the lime adds a little sourness. The Kamikaze is easy to throw back and has a unique history. If you aren't used to shots of liquor, this is a good one to start with.

Before you go bragging to your friends, telling them the only way you'll do a shot of liquor is if it's a nutritious one, such as the Green Tea shot, there's something you should know. The classic Green Tea shot recipe doesn't contain green tea. Sorry. It only looks like the light green colored tea that's known for its many nutritional benefits. That's where it gets its name and where the similarities stop. Still, that doesn't mean it isn't delicious. It is.

You'll need four liquids and a shaker to make the Green Tea shot, including Sprite or any lemon-lime soda, an Irish whiskey, sour mix, and peach schnapps. It's recommended that you skip a premade sour mix and opt for a homemade one instead. The citrus in the real fruit of a sour mix will make the Green Tea shot really pop. It's tough to beat freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice.

Guinness may be an Irish beer, but beer drinkers from all over the world love the dark, smooth stuff, not just on St. Paddy's Day. According to Best Beer HQ, Dublin's most visited tourist attraction is the Guinness brewery, with over one million guests each year. 

Guinness also has some unexpected uses, so even if you aren't a beer drinker, you can enjoy it in bread recipes, use it as a meat marinade, and even try Guinness with your ice cream. Still, true Guinness lovers who can't get enough will consider the Dublin Drop the best liquor shot out there.

My Bartender explains that the shot wasn't created in Ireland but in Connecticut by a fellow named Charles Burke Cronin in 1979 at Wilson's saloon. Maybe that explains its formerly offensive name. Either way, it isn't a true Dublin Drop without three important ingredients: Guinness, Irish whiskey, and Irish cream. This shot is unique because it isn't done like a traditional shot. The Irish whiskey and cream are mixed in a shot glass, then gently dropped, shot glass, and all into a pint of Guinness (the pint is only filled part way to allow room). This drink is an Irish beer and whiskey lover's dream.

Yes, it's a real thing. Even though it stuck in your teeth as a kid, that candy you loved has grown up and had a boozy shot named after it. Recreating the flavor of Jolly Rancher candies in a shot is nothing short of brilliant. They have that perfect balance of sweet and sour, a common drink theme, especially shots. There are ways to melt Jolly Ranchers and use them in recipes, but this particular shot is named after the fruity candies; it doesn't actually need a Jolly Rancher, though the garnish is nice.

Grab your cranberry juice, pineapple juice, apple vodka, peach schnapps, some ice, and a shaker, and shake it all together. The color is pretty pink, just like some of the candies. You can even prepare these shots ahead of time in your shaker without ice. Then, when it's party time, add the cold cubes and serve in shot glasses.

This time, the named candy is actually in the drink recipe. Who doesn't love gummy bears? The history of the gummy bear is as sweet as the candy itself. A man named Hans Riegel of Bonn, Germany, had a candy business in the 1920s and found his hard candies weren't selling well, so he created a softer treat using a gelatin base, and boom ... the gummy candy was created (via Smithsonian Magazine). Though they come in many colors and flavors, those little white ones have an unidentified, perfectly sweet flavor. The White Gummy Bear shot calls for raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, sweet and sour mix, lemon-lime soda, and those darling white gummy bears sprinkled on top (chew them up before downing your shot).

You could really change up this shot quite easily. There are many flavors of Svedka vodka, and a few of them would work perfectly in the White Gummy Bear shot, such as peach, cherry limeade, or orange cream pop. The smooth, saccharine, tangy mix is a winning combination every time, especially when a cute little bear is staring up at you from the bottom of the glass.