Green tea shot recipe is a sweet, citrusy, peach-forward shot made with Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and sweet and sour mix. It comes together in under 5 minutes and makes enough for a round of 4 shots. Despite the name, there is no green tea anywhere in this drink; the name comes from the color, which looks just like a glass of pale green jasmine tea.
Perfect for parties, game days, or a quick pick-me-up, this shot is as fun to make as it is to drink!
Prefer mine with Whiskey Sour Mix and no soda but great drink!
- Jennifer A. ~ Pinterest
What do green tea shots taste like?
If you have never had one, here is what to expect before you pour.
The dominant flavor is peach from the schnapps, balanced by the tart punch of the sweet and sour mix and the woody, slightly smoky backbone of Irish whiskey. The finish is bright and citrusy, especially if you add the optional lemon-lime soda. The mouthfeel is light and clean; nothing heavy or syrupy about it when the ratios are right.
I believe the name stuck because the pale yellow-green color of the finished shot looks almost identical to a cup of jasmine green tea sitting in the light. Someone at a bar made the connection, and it followed the drink everywhere from there.
What is a green tea shot made of?
You only need three ingredients to make this work, and a fourth if you want a little fizz at the end.
- Irish Whiskey - Jameson is the standard call for this shot and for good reason. Irish whiskey is triple-distilled, which gives it a smoother, lighter flavor profile than bourbon or Scotch. That smoothness lets the peach and citrus come forward instead of fighting the spirit. If you need a substitute, Tullamore D.E.W. or Bushmills will both do the job without changing the character of the shot.
- Peach Schnapps - This is where the sweetness comes from. It also gives the shot that pale golden color. DeKuyper is the easiest to find and works well here.
- Sweet and Sour Mix - This balances the sweetness of the schnapps with tartness. Store-bought works fine; if you want to make your own, equal parts fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup is the ratio I use.
- Lemon-Lime Soda (optional) - A small splash per glass adds a light effervescence and softens the overall flavor. Skip it if you want the whiskey to come through more clearly.
Recipe Card?
To find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions CLICK HERE to go to the recipe card.
Substitutes
Here is what you can swap if you need to adjust this recipe.
- Peach Schnapps → Apricot Brandy - You lose a little of the bright, candy-sweet peach note and pick up something slightly deeper and more complex. It works, but the shot reads differently. I would use it in a pinch but would not choose it over schnapps if both are available.
- Sweet and Sour Mix → Homemade - Equal parts fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. The flavor is noticeably brighter and less artificial than most store-bought mixes. If you have 5 extra minutes, this is worth doing.
- Non-Alcoholic Version - Replace the whiskey with a strong-brewed green tea (cooled) and use peach syrup instead of schnapps. The flavor profile changes significantly; you lose the smoky backbone entirely and the drink becomes much sweeter. It is a different drink at that point, but it is still enjoyable if that is what you need.
- Sweet & Sour Mix: Make your own with equal parts lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Replace whiskey with strong brewed green tea and use peach syrup instead of schnapps.
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How to make the green tea shot recipe
This is a one-shaker, four-shot recipe. Have your shot glasses lined up and ready before you start.
- Step 1: Combine the ingredients. Add the Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and sweet and sour mix to a cocktail shaker. Do not add ice yet; you want to combine the liquids first so everything is evenly distributed before the chill hits.
- Step 2: Add ice and shake. Fill the shaker about halfway with ice, secure the lid firmly, and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. You will feel the outside of the shaker go ice-cold and slightly frosted; that is when you know it is ready. Do not under-shake; a properly chilled shot should be noticeably colder than room-temperature liquid, and that chill is part of what makes the flavor balance work.
- Step 3: Strain into shot glasses. Pour evenly across 4 shot glasses. The liquid should be pale golden-yellow, slightly cloudy from the shaking. If it looks flat and clear, your sweet and sour mix may be thin; a good shake with fresh citrus mix gives it that slightly opaque look.
- Step 4: Add the optional soda. If you are using lemon-lime soda, add just a small splash to each glass right before serving. Pour it gently down the side of the glass so you preserve the bubbles. This step is optional; skip it if you want a cleaner, stronger shot.
- Step 5: Garnish and serve. A fresh lime wedge perched on the rim of each glass is the standard finish. Serve immediately; these do not hold well once poured.
Which Whiskey is the best to use?
Irish whiskeys like Jameson whiskey work well due to their blend of grain and malt whiskeys, giving a relatively light and smooth flavor profile that can complement the sweetness from the peach schnapps and sour mix.
Other quality Irish whiskey brands like Tullamore D.E.W., Bushmills, or Redbreast could potentially work as substitutes for Jameson if needed.
Make-Ahead Tip
Mix the whiskey, peach schnapps, and sweet and sour mix in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to serve, pour the pre-mixed liquid into the shaker with ice, shake, and pour. Do not add the soda until you are pouring into glasses or you will lose all the carbonation.
Troubleshooting:
- The shot tastes too sweet. Add a small squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice directly to the shaker before you shake. You are adjusting the acid balance; citrus juice cuts through the sweetness of the schnapps faster than anything else.
- The shot tastes too strong. Your sour mix may be thin. Add a little more of it or a splash of lemon-lime soda to soften the whiskey. Do not add water; it flattens the flavor instead of balancing it.
- The shot is not cold enough. You either did not shake long enough or your ice was already partially melted. Use fresh ice straight from the freezer and shake for a full 15 seconds. Chilled glasses also help here.
Top Tip - how to serve them chilled
You can achieve that frosty temperature by adding a few ice cubes to the cocktail shaker before combining and shaking the liquid ingredients.
Sarah's Culinary Insight
A few things I have learned from making these more times than I can count.
- The ratio matters more than the brand. Equal parts whiskey, schnapps, and sweet and sour mix is the standard, and it works because all three components are balanced. If you increase the schnapps, the shot goes candy-sweet and the whiskey disappears. If you add too much sour mix, it tastes like a lemon drop without the fun. Stay with equal parts the first time you make it.
- Shake longer than you think you need to. Ten seconds feels like a long time when you are holding a cold metal shaker, but under-shaking leaves the shot warmer and flatter. The ice needs time to do its job; 12 to 15 seconds is the target.
- Frozen shot glasses make a real difference. I have served these both ways; the glasses I pull straight from the freezer keep the shot colder from the first sip to the last. If you have 15 minutes, put your glasses in the freezer before you start mixing.
- Pre-made sour mix varies widely by brand. Some are thin and overly sweet; others are well-balanced. If your shot tastes flat or too sweet, your sour mix is probably the variable. Fresh-squeezed lemon and lime with simple syrup is always going to outperform a bottle.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
While I try to share all the information you need to make this recipe in your home with restaurant-quality results, there still may be a question or two. Or these are questions I have received from the community about this recipe. I do my best to answer them as clearly as I can. I hope this helps.
No. There is no green tea in this recipe. The name comes from the color of the finished drink, which resembles pale green jasmine tea.
Jameson Irish Whiskey is the standard. Irish whiskey is smoother and lighter than bourbon or Scotch, which keeps the peach and citrus flavors in front. Other Irish whiskeys like Tullamore D.E.W. or Bushmills work as well.
Yes. Mix the whiskey, schnapps, and sour mix in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Shake with ice and pour when ready to serve. Do not add soda ahead of time.
This recipe makes 4 shots using equal parts of each ingredient.
You can make a non-alcoholic version using strong-brewed green tea in place of whiskey and peach syrup instead of schnapps. It is a different drink flavor-wise, but it works if you need an alcohol-free option.
Your sweet and sour mix may be very thin, or you did not shake long enough. A good shake with ice slightly emulsifies the ingredients and gives the shot that cloudy, golden look.
Ingredients
- 4 Ounces Jameson Irish Whiskey
- 4 Ounces Peach Schnapps
- 4 Ounces Sweet & Sour Mix
- 1 Ounce Lemon Lime Soda optional
- Lime Wedges optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and sweet and sour mix to a cocktail shaker. Do not add ice yet; you want to combine the liquids first so everything is evenly distributed before the chill hits.4 Ounces Jameson Irish Whiskey, 4 Ounces Peach Schnapps, 4 Ounces Sweet & Sour Mix
- Fill the shaker about halfway with ice, secure the lid firmly, and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. You will feel the outside of the shaker go ice-cold and slightly frosted; that is when you know it is ready. Do not under-shake; a properly chilled shot should be noticeably colder than room-temperature liquid, and that chill is part of what makes the flavor balance work.
- Pour evenly across 4 shot glasses. The liquid should be pale golden-yellow, slightly cloudy from the shaking. If it looks flat and clear, your sweet and sour mix may be thin; a good shake with fresh citrus mix gives it that slightly opaque look.
- If you are using lemon-lime soda, add just a small splash to each glass right before serving. Pour it gently down the side of the glass so you preserve the bubbles. This step is optional; skip it if you want a cleaner, stronger shot.1 Ounce Lemon Lime Soda
- A fresh lime wedge perched on the rim of each glass is the standard finish. Serve immediately; these do not hold well once poured.Lime Wedges
Nutrition
Notes
I am Sarah Mock. Welcome!
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 17 years, Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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