Polar Bear Shot

Polar bear shot recipe

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
86 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 86
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 1mg 0%
*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.)

The polar bear is a great-tasting party shooter. The sweet mint-chocolate mix—similar to the peppermint patty—is hard to resist. It's an excellent shot for winter parties.

You will need just two ingredients to create a polar bear, and there are a few options for both the chocolate and mint liqueurs. Most often, it's a mix of white crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps. If you have another favorite in either flavor, pour it. There's also the option to add vodka for an extra kick.

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Click Play to See This Minty Polar Bear Shot Come Together

"This is hard to resist for sure. It tastes like mint chocolate in the best way. It's definitely best as a shot. If you sip it, the sweetness can become a bit much. Get it super cold and savor the indulgence!" —Tom Macy

Polar Bear Shot Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/2 ouncewhite crème de cacao

  • 1/2 ounce peppermint schnapps or crème de menthe

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for polar bear shot
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  2. Pour the crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps or crème de menthe in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

    Pour the liqueurs into a shaker
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  3. Shake well.

    Shaking drink in a cocktail shaker
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  4. Strain into a chilled shot glass.

    Strain into a chilled shot glass
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  5. Serve and enjoy.

    Polar Bear shot
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • To keep with the arctic theme, it is only right that your shot glasses are ice cold. Before mixing up a round of shots, rinse the glasses with cold water and place them in the coldest part of the freezer. They will be frosty in less than 10 minutes.
  • Your choice of liqueurs will affect the shot's color and strength. White crème de cacao is clear—not creamy—and has a nice cocoa flavor. Dark crème de cacao is similar in color to a dark rum and tends to taste more like dark chocolate. Chocolate liqueurs like Godiva are creamy brown and have more of a milk chocolate taste.
  • Peppermint schnapps can have a higher alcohol content than crème de menthe and that also intensifies the mint flavor. Brands like Rumple Minze top off at a whopping 100 proof, while others are a gentle 30 proof.
  • White crème de menthe will create a clear shot. If you want a green drink, choose green crème de menthe. With either, the polar bear will likely be a little sweeter than one made with schnapps.

Recipe Variation

  • Adding a clear vodka does nothing to change the flavor. You get a slightly more potent shot with that same mint-chocolate taste. When adding vodka, keep the three liquors in equal proportion: For a single shot, pour 1/3 ounce of each.

How Strong Is the Polar Bear?

The polar bear can be as strong or as gentle as you like. It all depends on the alcohol content of the liquors you pour. For instance, if you use two 30-proof liqueurs, the shot mixes up to 11 percent ABV (22 proof), so it's like drinking a glass of wine—only faster. Add vodka or pour 100-proof peppermint schnapps and it's about 17 percent ABV (34 proof). Combining 100-proof schnapps and 80-proof vodka jumps it up to 26 percent ABV (52 proof), which is almost the strength of a martini.

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