To properly takeashot of tequila (or tequila cruda), you need salt, lime, and tequila, all carried out in a specific order. The mantra to remember is "lick, shoot, suck": Lick the salt off of your hand first, drink the shot swiftly, and finish by sucking on a wedge of lime.
This method is a hit at parties and with tourists in Mexico, but it does contradict what tequila connoisseurs recommend—that you should savor the taste and aroma slowly when drinking straight tequila, particularly the good stuff. However, enjoying a tequila shot this way adds a bit of fun to a gathering and can help temper the astringency of the alcohol.
What You'll Need to Make This Tequila Shot Recipe
A Good Quality Salt
A Nice Small Tumbler or Shot Glass
A Sharp Paring Knife
"Taking a shot is a polarizing endeavor. As a bartender, my obligation to customers when asked for tequila shots was to retort “Training wheels?” Training wheels referred to the salt and lime garnish attached to a tequila shot. The salt mellows the harshness of the tequila, and the lime cuts the bite of the salt." —Sean Johnson
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
Pinchkosher salt, or sea salt
1 1/2ouncestequila
Lime wedge, or lemon wedge
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
Moisten the back of your hand between thumb and index finger (usually by licking) and pour on a pinch of salt.
Lick salt off your hand.The salt lessens the burn of the tequila.
Immediately drink shot glass of tequila quickly.
Immediately bite into and suck on lime or lemon wedge. The sour fruit balances and enhances the flavor of the tequila.
Whichever tequila you choose, it is best to avoid the cheaper brands as they almost certainly bring on hangovers. That said, no premium tequila will save you from a nasty morning if you have too many shots. However, this method may not be worth using a premium tequila that is ideally sipped slowly as you would a scotch.
The popular tequila of choice for tequila shots has long been gold tequila, though that is quickly changing. Consider pouring a good blancotequila into your shot glass, as it is typically much smoother. If you want to kick it up a notch, go with an aged reposado tequila or opt for a smoky mezcal.
Recipe Variations
Add more variety to your tequila shots by rimming the shot glass. Plain or colored sugar are fun options, as is a 50-50 mix of cinnamon and sugar. Of course, you can always go with margarita salt.
If you're bored with the standard straight shot of tequila, try a shooter instead. Some fantastic shot recipes made with tequila include ingredients like pineapple juice, triple sec, Tabasco sauce, and espresso.
How Strong Is a Shot of Tequila?
Tequila is typically 35 to 50 percent ABV, or 76 to 100 proof. A standard tequila shot is 1.5 ounces and, since the only ingredient (other than a dash of salt and a squirt of lime) is tequila, your drink will be 75 to 100 proof. While shots are small and fun and easy to drink, be careful. They can quickly lead to extreme drunkenness or alcohol poisoning if you're not careful. It's wise to stick with one of these shots a night and enjoy a lighter drink before and after.
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
116
Calories
0g
Fat
7g
Carbs
0g
Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories
116
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g
0%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 316mg
14%
Total Carbohydrate 7g
3%
Dietary Fiber 2g
7%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 19mg
97%
Calcium 22mg
2%
Iron 0mg
2%
Potassium 69mg
1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Hold one slice of lime/lemon with your thumb and index finger, using the same hand that contains the salt.Breathe out, lick the salt, down your tequila shot and bite the lime. Some people prefer biting the lime before they breathe in, so they don't taste the liquor as much.
The vast majority of the time, experts will strongly advise that you either slowly sip your tequila neat or mix it into a balanced drink. The right path will often come down to the age of the tequila. Here are some guideposts: Blanco or plata tequila (meaning “white” or “silver”) is aged little or not at all.
This method is the perfect way to uncover the honey-like taste and the zingy citrus or pepper undertones. Añejo tequilas, aged for at least a year, are ideal for slow sipping due to their complexity and well-rounded flavor.
One of the primary reasons why salt accompanies tequila is its ability to lessen the burn often associated with drinking straight shots of this potent spirit. When a tequila shot is taken, the salt is a sensory distraction that diverts attention from the raw burning sensation.
For those with a lower tolerance level, the effects of tequila can be felt after only one or two drinks. The general rule of thumb is you should start feeling moderately drunk after 3 drinks and totally drunk after 4-5 drinks within an hour.
Drinking tequila neat tends to be the preferred way for consumers looking for a healthier choice,” counsels Bertha Gonzalez-Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Casa Dragones and Maestra Tequilera.
Touching the countertop is toasting the house,” Sother Teague, beverage director of NYC's Amor y Amargo, writes in a message. Others think it's a carpet-friendly version of “pouring one out” for the dearly departed. “In some bars it's a nod to people who aren't with you,” David Blend writes in Thrillist.
To properly take a shot of tequila (or tequila cruda), you need salt, lime, and tequila, all carried out in a specific order. The mantra to remember is "lick, shoot, suck": Lick the salt off of your hand first, drink the shot swiftly, and finish by sucking on a wedge of lime.
From a digestive standpoint, your stomach could turn into a washing machine in spin mode. Tequila, with its high alcohol content, does not go well with milk and your body is likely to let you know in the worst possible way.
The salt lessens the burn of the tequila. Immediately drink 1 1/2 ounces shot glass of tequila quickly. Immediately bite into and suck on lime or lemon wedge. The sour fruit balances and enhances the flavor of the tequila.
In Mexico, tequila's homeland, people often drink it straight, sometimes with a side of sangrita. Outside Mexico, however, it's common for tequila to be served as a shot, along with salt and a slice of lime or lemon.
Good tequila is actually sipped and not slugged down at once, and this is exactly the way Mexicans drink it. Mexicans normally enjoy their 100% agave tequila filled in a shot glass and then by taking small sips of it. You can also have some lime and salt after every sip or two if you feel like.
5: Lick the salt off your hand. 6: Quickly follow that up by downing the shot of tequila in one shot. 7: Quickly follow that up by sucking on the lemon/lime wedge. 8: Make that “gasping" sound as if you just did something difficult.
Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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