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Looking for a new summer cocktail idea? Try a Green Tea Shot! Made with only four ingredients, this green-hued drink is super easy to make and perfect for hot weather sipping.

Cocktail names always make me laugh because more often than not they have nothing to do with what’s in the actual drink. The Aviation Cocktail and the Last Word cocktail are good examples of this, as is the Bees Knees cocktail. There are no bees or knees in that last one, and no airplanes or words in the other two!
So, I suppose we should not be surprised that the green tea shot doesn’t actually have green tea in it. But even without the immune-boosting properties of green tea, this fun little cocktail is still worth sipping.
Why Is It Called a Green Tea Shot?
The name of this drink comes from the way that it looks. It looks exactly like a shot of green tea! Can you imagine thinking you were going to take a sip of tea and getting a mouthful of this drink instead? I may have just thought of next year’s April Fools joke for my husband. 😜
The green tea sShot is also known as a “Jameson Green Tea Shot” because the drink was invented by the Jameson Irish Whiskey company.
There is another drink called a white tea shot that is similar to a green tea shot. The main difference being a white tea shot is made with vodka instead of whiskey.
What’s in It?
A green tea shot is made with a combination of four ingredients:
- Jameson Irish Whiskey – You can use another brand of whiskey if you prefer. Since it will be a mixed in with the other ingredients the brand of whiskey isn’t hugely important.
- Sour mix – You can buy this at the store or make your own.
- Peach Schnapps – This is a kind of fruit brandy made by fermenting peach juices with with a clear grain base liquor. The flavor is intensely fruity!
- Lemonade or Sprite – I prefer lemonade for this drink because that makes it less sweet, but my husband likes sprite because of the fizziness and added sweetness.
How to Make Your Own Sour Mix
The sour mix used in cocktails is just a flavored simple syrup. You can make your own by combining 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup fresh lemon juice with 1/2 cup fresh lime juice. Put everything in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then cook, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat to cool, then transfer to a mason jar with a screw on BPA free lid and store in the fridge until chilled. This mix will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
What Does It Taste Like?
This partially depends on whether you use lemonade or Sprite when you make this drink. When made with lemonade a green tea shot is fruity and sweet with a touch of sourness. I make it even more sour by adding a squeeze of lime juice.
However, if you make a green tea shot with Sprite, then it is a sweet and fruity drink with a bit of fizz. You can still serve it with a fresh lime wedge to offset the sweetness with a squeeze of citrus juice.
Do I Need Any Special Tools?
Technically you need a cocktail shaker to make this drink. However I have made many cocktails that traditionally use a shaker using a mason jar glass with a screw on lid. So the bottom line is no you don’t need any special tools to make a green tea shot.
How to Make a Green Tea Shot
Are you ready to give this simple cocktail a try? Here’s how to make it:
- Fill your cocktail shaker or mason jar half way with ice.
- Add the whiskey, peach schnapps, and sour mix. Place the lid on your shaker or jar, then give everything a vigorous shake for about 20 seconds.
- Pour into a shot glass and top off with lemonade or Sprite, according to your preferences.
- Serve with lime wedges, if desired.
That’s it!
Want to Make More Than One?
The recipe below makes 1 drink, but you can make more by simply multiplying the ingredients by the number of shots you want to make. How many you can make at a time will depend upon the size of your shaker.
Serving Suggestions
I’m partial to serving drinks like this with simple appetizers and snacks. A perfect example is the strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta you see pictured above! The crunchy grilled bread is topped with a goat cheese mixture and fresh berries, plus a touch of thyme. The tanginess of the goat cheese compliments the sweetness of the berries. This flavor profile goes well with a green tea shot.
This drink would also go well with deviled eggs, spicy ramen noodles, or a classic Caprese salad made with slices of summer tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil leaves.
Green Tea Shot
Ingredients
- ½ oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
- ½ oz Peach Schnapps
- ½ oz Sweet and Sour Mix
- Splash of Lemonade or Sprite
- Ice, cubes or crushed according to your preferences
- Fresh lime wedges, optional
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Add the whiskey, schnapps and sour mix to your cocktail shaker. Add the lid, then shake vigorously for about 20 seconds.
- Pour into a shot glass and top off with lemonade or Sprite.
- Serve with fresh lime wedges, if desired.
Super easy and everyone loved it! 5/5
Awesome! Thank you for coming back to tell me. 🙂