How to Drink a Tequila Shot

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References Tested

In Mexico, tequila's homeland, people often drink it straight, sometimes with a side of sangrita.^{[1]
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Research source} Outside Mexico, however, it's common for tequila to be served as a shot, along with salt and a slice of lime or lemon. These additions help to compensate for the harshness of lower-quality tequila, and are consumed in a specific order, as outlined below.

Things You Should Know

Take a traditional tequila shot by licking a little salt, drinking the tequila, and biting on a lime slice.
Enjoy a serving of tequila blanco with a small glass of sangrita. Sip the tequila instead of downing it like a shot.
Drink "The Mexican Flag" by sipping glasses of sangrita, tequila blanco, and lime juice.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

With Lime or Lemon

1
Lick the skin between your thumb and forefinger or the back of your hand.
2
Sprinkle a small pinch of salt onto the area. The saliva will help it stick.^{[2]
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3
Hold one slice of lime/lemon with your thumb and index finger, using the same hand that contains the salt.
4
Breathe out, lick the salt, down your tequila shot and bite the lime. Some people prefer biting the lime before they breathe in, so they don't taste the liquor as much.
- When you drink the shot, throw your head back and try to swallow all of the tequila in one gulp. You are taking a shot, after all.
- Try using pineapple juice as a chaser to the tequila instead of a lime. Enjoy the shot of tequila but before taking a breath, drink the pineapple juice. It will cut the taste of the liquor.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

With Sangrita

1
Prepare the Sangrita you'll enjoy along with your tequila. "Sangrita" means "little blood" in Spanish, called this way because of the color of the liquid. The Sangrita is non-alcoholic. In a separate cup, mix together and refrigerate:
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp grenadine
- 12 dashes hot sauce (Cholula is best)
2
Portion out the sangrita so that each shot of tequila is paired with a shot of sangrita.^{[4]
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3
Serve sangrita with tequila blanco. Traditionally, this is what sangrita is served with, although tequila reposado can also pair with sangrita.
4
Sip, don't shoot, the tequila and sangrita. Native Mexicans tend not to shoot their tequila, preferring instead to sip it.
5
Pair the sangrita and tequila with a shot of lime juice for "The Mexican Flag." This combination gets its name because the three shots each represent one color of the Mexican flag — red, white, and green.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I mix tequila with other alcoholic beverages?

Community Answer

Yes, but only try this once you have tried both beverages separately. They might not taste good mixed.
Question

Tequila is a brand?

Saranz Dahal

Community Answer

No, it is the name of a drink. Tequila is a regionally specific name for a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant.
Question

What kind of salt is preferred for use?

Community Answer

It doesn't matter. You could use table salt, Kosher salt or any other available salt.

Warnings

This way of drinking, specially if low quality tequila is involved, can lead to a long talk with the toilet.

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Drink responsibly.

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