Orange Tea Shot

The Orange Tea Shot is the orange-scented cousin of the popular green tea shot. With just 3 ingredients, this zesty whiskey shooter is quick and easy to shake up for a round of shots or to turn into an Orange Tea Martini.

What is an Orange Tea Shot?

The Orange Tea Shot is an alcoholic shooter recipe that combines orange-flavored Irish whiskey with the sweet taste of peach schnapps and zesty sour mix.

It’s a variation on the White Tea Shot and the Green Tea Shooter. And much like its counterparts, there’s no actual tea involved. Despite the absence of tea, these shot recipes get their names from their colors, which make them look like little glasses of tea.

Even if you don’t think you’re a fan of whiskey, the Orange Tea Shot may just change your mind. The orange-infused Irish Whiskey is balanced by the luscious sweetness of peach schnapps and tangy sour mix for an easy-to-drink shot that packs a punch.

You can even add a splash of lemon-lime soda at the end to give the shot a subtle effervescence that not only adds a delightful fizz but adds depth to the flavor.

Feel free to batch this recipe out ahead of time for parties or double the recipe and serve it in a martini glass for an Orange Tea Martini.

One of the best things about the Orange Tea Shot is its year-round appeal. It’s a refreshing pick-me-up during the warmer seasons. The vibrant orange hue and base of Irish whiskey add a festive touch to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

However, a gentle reminder: Though the Orange Tea Shot recipe delights with its sweet and easy-to-drink character, it is still quite strong, so do savor it responsibly!

Green Tea Shot vs. White Tea Shot vs. Orange Tea Shot

While these popular shots share similarities, they have a key distinguishing element — the base spirit. These important main ingredients lend their flavor and color.

The White Tea Shot incorporates vodka, peach schnapps and sour mix, resulting in a pale-colored concoction that resembles a mug of white tea.

On the other hand, the classic Green Tea Shot recipe uses Irish whiskey (typically Jameson Irish Whiskey) instead of vodka, producing a darker color that looks more like green tea.

And then there’s the Orange Tea Shot, which uses orange-flavored whiskey (typically Jameson Orange) to craft an orange-flavored version.

The White Tea Shot offers a crisp, fruity flavor, masking the vodka flavor with the addition of peach schnapps. In the two Irish whiskey versions, the fruity flavor is still strong but the whiskey makes it a little more complex.

Ingredients & essentials

Stock up on these ingredients for Orange Tea Shots at the grocery store or liquor store, and let’s get mixing! 

• Orange-flavored Irish whiskey: This is the foundation of the shot: Jameson Orange Irish whiskey is the main ingredient that gives these shots their orange flavor. Jameson Orange is an orange-flavored whiskey by the Jameson Whiskey Company. 
• Peach schnapps: This delightful peach liqueur brings a touch of fun to your bar cart ^* and adds a bright, peachy flavor to these alcoholic shots. 
• Sour mix: This is a sweet lemon-lime cocktail mixer you can buy and use in many cocktail and shot recipes. For an even better shot, consider making your own using fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, sugar, and water.
• Lemon-lime soda: For a hint of bubbles and added flavor, a splash of soda (like Sprite or 7-Up) does the trick. This ingredient is optional and can be skipped. If you prefer to go lighter but still want bubbles, you can use soda water instead. 

You’ll also need 1.5-ounce or 2-ounce shot glasses ^* for these Orange Tea Shots.

If you are crafting multiple shots, it’s best to employ a cocktail shaker ^* instead of building them directly in the shot glasses ^*. Plus, utilizing a cocktail shaker ^* allows you to mix the ingredients with ice, to get that perfect chilly temperature.

Be sure to use a jigger to measure the ingredients accurately.

How to make Orange Tea Shots

Creating this simple whiskey shot is a breeze. Just follow these steps:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker or mason jar with ice cubes and pour in orange Irish whiskey, peach schnapps and sour mix.
2. Shake the mixture thoroughly, then strain it into 1.5-ounce shot glasses.
3. If you want to add a splash of soda, use 2-ounce shot glasses. After adding the Orange Tea Shots, top them off with lemon-lime soda.

Substitutions

Good news: You can still whip up these Orange Tea Shots even if you’re out of a couple of the ingredients!

No orange whiskey? Add a splash of orange liqueur, orange juice or a few dashes of orange bitters ^* to give regular Irish whiskey some orange flavor:

• For orange juice and orange liqueur: Combine ⅓ ounce orange liqueur or juice with ⅔ ounce Irish whiskey.
• For orange bitters ^*: Add 2 dashes orange bitters to 1 ounce Irish whiskey.

No sour mix? Use margarita mix. You can also use 2 parts simple syrup to 1 part lemon juice and 1 part lime juice.

Make-ahead & batching tips

If you’re serving this Orange Tea Shot recipe at a party, you probably don’t want to be measuring out ingredients behind the bar all night.

Use the slider in the recipe card below to select the number of shots you would like to make. Add the listed amount of whiskey, peach schnapps, and sour mix to a pitcher, jar, or flip-top bottle and stir to combine. Cover and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make the shots.

You can easily prep this mix several days ahead of time when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When it’s time to enjoy, measure out 1.5 ounces of the prepared mix per shot. Shake and serve as noted in the recipe.

Serving suggestions

A small orange wedge makes for a pretty garnish and gives guests a heads up on the shot’s flavor before imbibing.

Tea shots are a popular choice at bars, so try pairing them with your favorite bar foods like beer cheese dip or fried pickles.

They would also be great with tortilla chips and fruity salsa like pineapple salsa.

For dessert, enjoy them with orange poppy seed muffins or margarita bars to mimic the citrus flavor of the shooters.

More shot recipes

• Classic Jello Shots
• Birthday Cake Shots
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Shots
• Washington Apple Shots