Lemon Drop shot
the recipe to start with
Rub the outside rim of the shot glass with lemon and dip it in the sugar. Chill the glass.
Shake the vodka, lemon juice, and syrup with plenty of ice for 10 seconds.
Strain into the chilled shot glass, filling it just below the rim.
Serve immediately — a shot left waiting loses its chill within a minute.
Two techniques, that’s all you need
Pouring layers. Liquids with more sugar are heavier and sink; liquids with more alcohol are lighter and float. So always pour from heaviest to lightest, letting each layer run over the rounded side of a bar spoon held just above the previous layer. That’s how the B52 works. Didn’t it work? Empty the glass and start again — topping up over a disturbed layer will never turn out right. Serve ice-cold. For anything drunk neat — Salmari, vodka, genever — put the bottle in the freezer, along with the glasses for twenty minutes. Cold softens the sharpness of alcohol and makes the liqueur more viscous, making it much smoother to drink. And one practical rule: only pour once everyone is ready.
The right glass
Shot glasses generally come in two shapes, and that choice matters. A straight, narrow model holding 5 to 6.5 cl keeps layered shots cleanly separated and makes the layers look optically thicker—this is the glass for a B52. A tapered shot glass holding 3.5 to 4 cl is intended for neat spirits and dropshots: smaller, thicker-walled, and easier to hold. In both cases, choose thick glass; shot glasses take a beating as they knock against each other throughout the evening. Count on at least twelve—shots are never shared between two people.
Arcoroc Islande Shot Glass 6.5 Cl (12 pieces)
RCR Opera Shot Glass 6 Cl (6 pieces)
€45.90 together—enough for a whole evening.
Eight shots
Frequently asked questions
How much goes in a shot glass?
A standard shot is 3 to 4 cl. Shot glasses are often slightly larger—5 to 6.5 cl—so you can make layered shots without having to fill them to the brim.
Which shot glass do you need?
Straight and narrow for layered shots, tapered and small for neat spirits. View our shot glasses and drinking glasses.
How do you get cleanly separated layers?
Pour from heaviest to lightest—starting with the most sugar-rich—and let each layer run over the rounded side of a bar spoon. Place the glass on the table while doing this, not in your hand.
Can you make shots in advance?
Shaken shots are fine: mix them in a bottle and put it in the freezer, then pour twelve at once. Always make layered shots one glass at a time.
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