Green tea shots are a popular shot to consume on nights out, as these boozy, yet smooth, mixed shots are fairly commonplace in most bars, clubs, and other nightlife venues.
Green tea shots consist of a mix of Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, lemon-lime soda, and sour mix. They can be consumed all at once like a traditional shot, or you can double the quantity of the green tea shot recipe and make a refreshing chilled cocktail.
Below, we tell you more about green tea shots, their alcoholic content, and the ingredients that make up this popular party drink.
Green Tea Shots: The Main Facts
Green tea shots are aptly named because the mixture of ingredients creates a greenish hue – you might be surprised to know that this shot doesn’t have any trace of green tea in it.
This shot is both sweet and sour in flavor, and it’s often considered quite refreshing when consumed chilled or served as a cocktail over ice. You may find the flavor of the green tea shot to be very fruit-forward and peachy, with an aftertaste of warm whiskey that sits at the back of the drink.
The green tea shot is whiskey-based and was invented by Jameson Whiskey, so using this specific spirit is considered the most traditional method of making the drink. Green tea shots are commonly seen as a party or night-out type drink, as they are easy to consume all at once as a shot and somewhat strong due to the alcoholic content of the ingredients.
What Is the Alcohol Content of a Green Tea Shot?
The main ingredient of a green tea shot is Jameson whiskey, and this liquor has a higher ABV. You can expect the alcohol content of a green tea shot to be somewhere around 40 percent ABV. However, this amount may vary up or down depending on the specific recipe followed and how many fluid ounces of whiskey and peach schnapps are included.
What Is a Green Tea Shot Made From?
A green tea shot is made from four primary ingredients:
- Jameson whiskey
- Peach schnapps
- A splash of lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite
- Sour mix
While Jameson whiskey is the most traditional, you can substitute this whiskey for a different Irish or American whiskey, or even Japanese whisky. Almost any brand of peach schnapps is acceptable, and sour mix can be store-bought or homemade, though homemade almost always results in a better taste.
What Is the Primary Ingredient of a Green Tea Shot?
The primary ingredient of the green tea shot is whiskey. This ingredient has the highest alcoholic content out of the ingredients included, and it is the primary liquor individuals think of when mixing the green tea shot.
Other essential ingredients of the green tea shot include peach schnapps, sour mix, and lemon-lime soda, and it’s not possible to make the green tea shot without all of these ingredients. If you're not a fan of these ingredients but want to try a different sweet cocktail, we recommend trying a Blue Curaçao.
How Is a Green Tea Shot Made?
A green tea shot is made like a typical shot. You will need to mix half of an ounce each of Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and sour mix into a cocktail shaker. Add in some ice and shake thoroughly for at least ten seconds to blend the ingredients. Strain the shot into a shot glass and top with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
You can double this recipe to make more than one shot at once, or you can strain the doubled recipe into a cocktail glass to have something to sip on throughout the evening rather than drinking all at once.
How Is a Green Tea Shot Distilled or Filtered?
The main alcoholic ingredient of a green tea shot is Irish whiskey. This variety of whiskey is distilled three times to give it a more rounded, smooth taste, and it’s this specific taste that allows Irish whiskey to blend so well with the other ingredients of a green tea shot.
Can You Make Green Tea Shots Yourself?
If you have all of the correct ingredients on hand, it’s totally possible to make green tea shots at home. You will need a cocktail shaker and strainer, ice, Jameson whiskey or another Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, sour mix, and lemon-lime soda.
When making green tea shots yourself, you can adjust the recipe based on your taste preferences, such as adding more whiskey for a stronger, boozier drink, or leaving out the splash of lemon-lime soda to embrace the full sweet-sour taste of this shot.
As long as you have quality ingredients to start with and mix with care, you can create a traditional green tea shot or your own spin on this easily at home.
The Tea on Green Tea Shots
Green tea shots are often a go-to shot when it comes to spending nights out drinking due to how smooth and sweet these shots usually are.
Even though the green tea shot is popular as a party drink, it can also be consumed as a refreshing cocktail. Simply double the recipe and add a little more lemon-lime soda to round the drink out. Either way you decide to consume a green tea shot, now you know the tea on what exactly you’re being served.
