It’s Girls Night Out and the next round of shots is your call. Skip the usual list of recipe suspects. You know the ones; Blow job shots, Jello shots and the very popular Mini Beer. You’ve tried them, worn them out even. Old favorites are good, but finding new favorites keeps the party interesting.

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Girls Night Out Cocktail and Shot

Combine the best of both worlds. Have your shot and make it a cocktail, too.

Lemon Drop Shot

1/2 ounce Citrus Vodka

1/2 ounce Lemon Juice

Sugar Cube & Sugar Packet

Lemon Wedge

Rim an Old Fashioned glass with a lemon wedge. Dip half the rim in sugar from the sugar packet. Place sugar cube or additional sugar packet into the glass. Combine vodka and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Pour into prepared glass.

Variation: Lemon Drop Martini – 1-1/2 ounce Citrus Vodka, 1/2 ounce Triple Sec, 1 teaspoon Superfine Sugar or Simple Syrup to taste, 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice, Sugar Rimmed Martini Glass. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into sugar rimmed martini glass.

Melon Ball Shooter

1/2 ounce Vodka

1/4 ounce Melon Liqueur

1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shooter glass.

Try this: Grab a fresh melon, cut in half, remove the seeds, and cut out balls of melon with a melon baller or my favorite is a miniture cookie scoop. Place melon balls in a jar and top with 2 parts vodka, 1 part melon liqueur. Make sure fruit is completely covered with liquid. Seal with lid or plastic wrap and all the mixture to marinate overnight or eight to ten hours. Strain mixture, reserving liquid for shots. Add 2 parts pineapple juice to mixture. Chill or shake with ice. Strain into shot glass and add a boozy melon ball for garnish.

Variations: The Melon Ball shooter has many variations. Some call for equal parts vodka, melon liqueur and pineapple juice. Another calls for 1/4 ounce each vodka and melon liqueur with 1/2 ounce pineapple juice. Shots are all about having a little fun, so play with the ratio for your favorite flavor balance. By the way, the Melon Ball is also a cocktail… I ounce Vodka, 2 ounces Melon Liqueur, 4 ounces Pineapple Juice. Build over ice in highball glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

Ladies Love to Layer

Baby it’s cold outside and layering isn’t just for shirts, sweaters and cozy scarves. Learn to layer liquids in a shot glass and you will be the hit of the party. Psst…Chocolate is also a safe bet for a top ten favorites list, especially when Girls Night Out and shots are concerned!

Chocolate Almond

layered shot

1/2 ounce Amaretto Liqueur

1/2 ounce Dark Crème de Cacao

1/2 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur

Chill all ingredients prior to use. Place amaretto liqueur in the bottom of a shot glass. Carefully pour the crème de cacao over the back of a barspoon on top of the amaretto liqueur for layered effect. Layer the Irish cream liqueur on top of the crème de cacao in the same manner.

Double Chocolate

1/2 ounce White Chocolate Liqueur

1/2 ounce Crème de Cacao

Cocoa powder

Chill liquid ingredients before use. Pour each ingredient into a shot glass. Sprinkle with light dusting of cocoa powder.

Keep Them Guessing

So many recipes have multiple variations.

Jamaican Dust

1/2 ounce Light Rum

1/4 ounce Coconut Rum

1/4 ounce Pineapple Juice

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

Variation: Jamaican Dust Buster – 1 ounce Pineapple Juice, 1/2 ounce Light Rum, 1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

Sunset

1/2 ounce Coconut Rum

1/2 ounce Watermelon Schnapps

1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

Barspoon Grenadine

Chill ingredients prior to use. Place liquids in a shot glass in the order given saving the barspoon of grenadine to float on top last for slightly sunset layered look. This shot can also be shaken in a cocktail shaker if the ingredients have not been previously chilled. Combine rum, schnapps and juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass. Place barspoon of grenadine over the top.

Alternative Sunset Shooter: 1/4 ounce Orange Vodka, 1/4 ounce Sloe Gin, 1/2 ounce Sour Mix. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

Be a Straight Shooter

Be yourself. Shake things up. Drink what you like.

Vodka Passion

3/4 ounce Mandarin Vodka

3/4 ounce Passion Fruit Juice or Syrup

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

Naked Yellow Bird

1/4 ounce Vodka

1/4 ounce Raspberry Liqueur

1/4 ounce Blue Curacao

1/4 ounce Sour Mix

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

Lui Lui

1/2 ounce Vodka

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

1/2 ounce Peach Schnapps

1 to 2 teaspoons Sour Mix – according to preference

1 to 2 teaspoons Pineapple Juice – according to preference

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

Tropic Slammer

1/2 ounce Spiced Rum

1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

1/2 ounce Cream of Coconut

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a shot glass.

Light Someone’s Fire

Flirting is like playing with fire. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

Liberace

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1/2 ounce Milk

1/2 ounce 151 proof Rum

Chill coffee liqueur and milk before use. Place coffee liqueur in bottom of shot glass. Carefully layer milk on top of coffee liqueur by pouring milk over the back of bar spoon on top of the liqueur. Float 151 rum over the top. Carefully light the rum with a match or lighter. Extinguish the fire by placing an empty shot glass over the top of the shot before consuming.

Notation: The irony of flaming a Liberace cocktail is juvenile at best. Especially since it can be a dangerous proposition while under the influence of a few cocktails. Recommendation: Skip the fire. Skip going overproof for that matter. Use your head and go with 80 proof rum and make the night go just a little bit longer.

All content ©2014 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist