The 10 Strongest Liquor Shots You Can Mix Up

Nothing but Alcohol and More Interesting Than a Straight Shot

There are those times when you just want a nice, really strong shot. Sure, you could have a straight shot of tequila with or without the training wheels or pour a shot of whiskey, but what if you want something a little more interesting? 

While many party shot recipes include liqueurs and juices that dilute the potency of the booze, others keep things good and hard. When you're ready for the strongest mixed shots in the bar, turn to one of these favorites.

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  • 01 of 10

    Pickleback

    Pickleback Shot

    The Spruce

    A relative newbie to the bar scene compared to other popular shooters, the pickleback is actually quite tasty. You just really have to like pickles, but if you do, it's good.

    This is a two-stage shooter that requires a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey and a shot of pickle juice. It may very well surprise you how well this combination works.

  • 02 of 10

    Irish Slammer

    Irish Slammer (Irish Car Bomb) Shot

    The Spruce 

    "Bomb" shots are notoriously potent. That has a lot to do with the popularity of both the Irish slammer and the Jäger bomb.

    For the Irish slammer, you will need three things: Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and Guinness. Drop a shot of the two liquors into the beer and slam it. There's not much more to it.

  • 03 of 10

    Stone-Cold Stinger

    Stone-Cold Stinger Shooter (aka Liquid Cocaine Shot)

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Big on flavor and on liquor, the stone-cold stinger shot is a jolt to the system. There are a few versions, but the most popular requires an equal pour of Jägermeister, Goldschlager, and Rumple Minze. It's a trifecta that is, well, interesting to say the least.

  • 04 of 10

    Sangrita

    Sangrita Tequila Shot

    The Spruce 

    Looking for a good chaser for your tequila shots? Turn to the sangrita. It's a classic and you can choose to make the original Mexican version or in the American style.

    Originally, the sangrita was a spicy-sweet orange juice shot that would follow a tequila shot. When it was brought to the U.S., some confusion led it to take on a tomato base. Either way is good, so try both.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Snowshoe

    Snowshoe shot

    The Spruce

    The liquors you choose to pour into the snowshoe shot can significantly affect its strength. It is, quite simply, Wild Turkey Bourbon with peppermint schnapps. If you opt for the whiskey's 101-proof offering and the 100-proof Rumple Minze, you'll max out the minty drink's range.

  • 06 of 10

    Three Wise Men

    Three Wise Men Whiskey Shot

    The Spruce

    While we're mixing popular whiskey shots, let's do it up with the three wise men. The "guys" in this shot are the famous Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. It is shaken, so the shooter is below bottling proof, though many people like to skip that and pour the whiskeys straight.

    Not strong enough? There are "three wise men" shots that "go hunting" (Wild Turkey) and "visit Mexico" (Jose Cuervo).

  • 07 of 10

    Southern Joe

    Southern Joe Shooter - Jack Daniels Party Shot

     S&C Design Studios

    Why have a shot of Jack Daniels or one of Southern Comfort when you can combine the two? The blend of these two Southern favorites is actually quite nice, but don't let the taste fool you from thinking it's a light drink. The Southern Joe is a straight pour with no dilution, making it, essentially, a straight half-shot of each.

  • 08 of 10

    Fireball

    Fireball Rum and Tabasco Shot

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    Strong comes in two forms with the fireball shooter and it is one you might regret later. The old-school way to make it is with rum, cinnamon schnapps, and Tabasco. That was before Fireball was released, though.

    This now-famous cinnamon whiskey liqueur has opened up your fireball shot possibilities. Use Fireball for the cinnamon in the original recipe, shoot it straight, or mix it up into a similar shot. No matter how you take the fireball, it's going to be tough.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Pirate's Treasure

    Pirate's Treasure Shot Drink with Captain Morgan and Goldschlager
    S&C Design Studios

    If you can pull off the layers of this powerful shooter, the effect is pretty cool. The pirate's treasure layers Captain Morgan on top of Goldschlager, so you can see how it got the name. 

  • 10 of 10

    Silver Bullet

    Silver Bullet Shooter
    Joe Cicak / E+ / Getty Images

    Gin does not make an appearance in many shooter recipes, and we tend to prefer scotch straight. However, gin and scotch come together in a very interesting, rather strong recipe called the silver bullet. Whether you actually enjoy the taste is something you'll have to find out for yourself.