Picklebacks. Irish car bombs. Birthday Cake Shots. Until now, the term “cocktail shot” has evoked a sickly sweet shooter targeted at a younger crowd. But craft cocktail shots are something completely different.
Think of them as miniature versions of full-size cocktails. Samplers, if you will. For example, Sweet Liberty, a cocktail bar in Miami Beach, sometimes hands out daiquiri shots to patrons waiting at the bar as a thank-you for their patience—and to entice them to order full-size versions later in the evening. Meanwhile, New York City-based BlackTail Bar and Dead Rabbit serve cocktail shots as delightful, sippable amuse-bouches.
Consider them from another angle: They’re an opportunity for your bartender to experiment. Brooklyn-based Mood Ring Bar serves three different fun craft shots, including The Aux Cord (vodka, tomato juice, sriracha and Tabasco), Bodega Dreams (Arizona Ice Tea infused whiskey) and Mystery of Luv (lychee liqueur, vodka and lime). At $5 a pop, they’re also an opportunity for patrons to try fun new combos without committing to an entire boozy beverage.
Here’s to a whole new era of high-end shooters. We’re calling it: Soon there will be craft shot tasting menus.
