Chase Your Tequila With a Sangrita Shot

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Sangrita Shot Recipes

 The Spruce
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
187 Calories
0g Fat
15g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 187
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 6mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 23mg 115%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 105mg 2%
*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.)

Sangrita chasers add a tasty twist to the average shot of tequila. There are two common ways to make it: a traditional orange juice recipe popular in Mexico and a version that features tomato juice. Either recipe can be as spicy as you want to make it.

The Sangrita is fun and interactive and you can customize it to fit your own taste or whatever you have in stock at the moment. It's a two-part shooter, so you will first take a shot of your favorite tequila then quickly chase it with the savory or fruity mix of your choice. 

There are as many recipes for Sangrita as there are people who love it. It's one of those drinks that you can make your own by varying the ingredients and the possibilities are seemingly endless. 

A Sangrita With Orange Juice

Citrus juices are the stars of the first Sangrita and this is one of the more traditional recipes. The orange and lime are offset with sweet grenadine and a little hot sauce or chile powder is thrown in for a spicy kick.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 ounces tequila

  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 1/2 ounce grenadine

  • 3 dashes hot sauce

  • 1 slice jalapeño pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Sangrita Shot Recipes ingredients
    The Spruce 

  2. Fill one shot glass with the straight tequila of your choice.

    Sangrita Shot Recipes
     The Spruce

  3. In a cocktail shaker, add the orange and lime juices, grenadine, and hot sauce, then shake well with ice.

    Sangrita Shot Recipes
     The Spruce

  4. Strain into a second shot glass and add a slice of jalapeno.

    Sangrita Shot Recipes
     The Spruce

  5. To drink it, begin with the straight tequila and quickly chase that with the orange juice mix. Enjoy.

Recipe Variation

The Tomato-Based Sangrita

The Sangrita originated in Mexico, the home of tequila and it's meant to make the straight shot a little easier to get down. While the citrus-based recipe is considered the original Sangrita, the drink took a turn when it was popularized in the U.S.

You will notice that the second shot glass in this recipe is filled with a simplified Bloody Mary mix. It is a fantastic follow up to tequila and those few drops of hot sauce can really add a spicy kick to the drink.

To make the shot, shake 1 ounce tomato or clamato juice with 3 to 5 drops Tabasco sauce, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and ice. Strain into a shot glass and add a slice of jalapeno pepper if you like. Fill a second glass with a shot of tequila. Drink the tequila, then chase it with the tomato mix.

More Tips for Making a Great Sangrita

The Tequila. It's tempting to be cheap when it comes to tequila you intend to shoot. Why bother spending a few extra dollars when it's gone in seconds, right? While you don't need to fork over a large amount of cash for this or any tequila shot, it is important to choose one that you wouldn't mind drinking a little slower.

Yes, the chaser will clean your palate and ease the shock from a less-than-ideal tequila. If, however, you start with a decent tequila, the entire drinking experience will be just a little bit better. When it comes to choosing a style of tequila, a blanco or reposado will do just fine.

Sangrita for a Crowd. The recipes above are for a single drink and can easily be multiplied to make a large batch of Sangrita. Simply store the mix in the refrigerator until needed.

For this, it's recommended to blend the mixture, which is another option if using fresh-picked tomatoes as opposed to store-bought juice. This is convenient for parties and those who enjoy a Sangrita every now and then (it's a tasty sipper and you don't have to shoot it).

Customize Your Sangrita. You have many options when it comes to the ingredients of either Sangrita recipe. You might want to use grapefruit or pineapple juice instead of orange, or substitute the grenadine with agave nectar or simple syrup. 

In the tomato version, think about spicing it up with onion powder, ginger, salt, Maggi seasoning, celery salt, ground pepper, wasabi, or other chile peppers. Either version can have a little coriander or mint added for contrast.

There are no rules with Sangrita, so just have fun with it!

How Strong Are These Sangrita Shots?

If you think about it, the second step in this two-part shooter simply cuts the strength of the tequila in half. Both glasses will have the same volume: one is filled with alcohol while the other has none. This means that if you pour an 80-proof tequila and follow it with the Sangrita, you're essentially drinking a 40-proof shot even if it's not mixed.

The effect of the tequila will be the same, you're simply giving your stomach a little more substance to combat it.

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