How To Drink A Tequila Shot: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Drink a Tequila Shot PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Bryan Sullivan

Last Updated: October 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • With Lime or Lemon
    • |
  • With Sangrita
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Interview
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
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  • Tips
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  • Warnings
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  • Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Bryan Sullivan. Bryan Sullivan is a Bartender and the Owner of Bryan Sullivan Bartending in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in craft cocktails and has a thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and champagne. He currently holds a MAST Class 12 Mixologist Permit and has provided bar service for 100s of events. Additionally, his business has a 5-star rating and is a listed vendor on The Knot. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,933,189 times.

In Mexico, tequila's homeland, people often drink it straight, sometimes with a side of sangrita.[1] 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.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

With Lime or Lemon

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  1. Step 1 Lick the skin between your thumb and forefinger or the back of your hand. 1 Lick the skin between your thumb and forefinger or the back of your hand.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 2 Sprinkle a small pinch of salt onto the area. The saliva will help it stick.[2] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 3 Hold one slice of lime/lemon with your thumb and index finger, using the same hand that contains the salt.[3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 4 Breathe out, lick the salt, down your tequila shot and bite the lime.[4] 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.[5]
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

With Sangrita

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 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:[6]
    • 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
    • 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
    • 1 tsp grenadine
    • 12 dashes hot sauce (Cholula is best)
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 2 Portion out the sangrita so that each shot of tequila is paired with a shot of sangrita.[7]
  3. Step 3 Serve sangrita with tequila blanco. 3 Serve sangrita with tequila blanco. Traditionally, this is what sangrita is served with, although tequila reposado can also pair with sangrita.[8]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Drink a Tequila Shot 4 Sip, don't shoot, the tequila and sangrita. Native Mexicans tend not to shoot their tequila, preferring instead to sip it.
  5. Step 5 Pair the sangrita and tequila with a shot of lime juice for "The Mexican Flag." 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.[9]
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question How do you make a tequila shot go down easier? Bryan Sullivan Bryan Sullivan Bartender Bryan Sullivan is a Bartender and the Owner of Bryan Sullivan Bartending in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in craft cocktails and has a thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and champagne. He currently holds a MAST Class 12 Mixologist Permit and has provided bar service for 100s of events. Additionally, his business has a 5-star rating and is a listed vendor on The Knot. Bryan Sullivan Bryan Sullivan Bartender Expert Answer You don’t have to do shots if you don’t want to. Tequila shots aren’t really meant to be enjoyed, they are meant to be a type of willing torture that a group of people engage in as a means of bringing them together over shared misery and trauma. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 27
  • Question Can I mix tequila with other alcoholic beverages? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but only try this once you have tried both beverages separately. They might not taste good mixed. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 12
  • Question Tequila is a brand? Saranz Dahal 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 34
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

  • If you don't like taking tequila shots, just order your favorite tequila drink to enjoy the flavor even more.[10] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • For a fun variation, ask someone to lend his or her hand (or other part) for the salt. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • It is also possible to attempt the "Tequila Strong Love". One person takes the salt in his/her mouth, and then makes out with the drinker. After that the person takes the lime in his/her mouth, a bit stuck out, so the drinker can easily bite it. Take it easy, as you can miss the lime or lemon and bite the tongue instead. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 3
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • This way of drinking, specially if low quality tequila is involved, can lead to a long talk with the toilet. Thanks Helpful 141 Not Helpful 33
  • Drink responsibly. Thanks Helpful 135 Not Helpful 48
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Things You'll Need

  • One shot glass
  • One shot of tequila
  • Slice of lemon or lime
  • Small quantity of sea salt
  • Courage

Sangrita

  • 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
  • 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tsp grenadine
  • 12 dashes hot sauce (Cholula is best)

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about drinking a tequila shot, check out our in-depth interview with Bryan Sullivan.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/sangrita-recipe/
  2. ↑ https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/how-to-drink-tequila
  3. ↑ https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/how-to-drink-tequila
  4. ↑ Bryan Sullivan. Bartender. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Craig%20David
  6. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sangrita-recipe-1969508
  7. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/sangrita-recipe/
  8. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2022/04/01/why-sangrita-is-the-perfect-accompaniment-to-your-blanco-tequila/
  9. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/3-shot-cocktail-bandera-and-sangrita-recipe-2172318
More References (1)
  1. ↑ Bryan Sullivan. Bartender. Expert Interview

About This Article

Bryan Sullivan Co-authored by: Bryan Sullivan Bartender This article was co-authored by Bryan Sullivan. Bryan Sullivan is a Bartender and the Owner of Bryan Sullivan Bartending in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in craft cocktails and has a thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and champagne. He currently holds a MAST Class 12 Mixologist Permit and has provided bar service for 100s of events. Additionally, his business has a 5-star rating and is a listed vendor on The Knot. This article has been viewed 1,933,189 times. 14 votes - 91% Co-authors: 65 Updated: October 11, 2025 Views: 1,933,189 Categories: Spirits and Liqueurs Article SummaryX

To drink a tequila shot, start by licking the skin on the back of your hand, then sprinkle a small pinch of salt over the area—the saliva helps the salt stick! Next, grab a lime or lemon slice with your salted hand and pick up the tequila shot with your other hand. Then, lick the salt off your hand, throw your head back, and down the shot. Try to swallow it all in one gulp! Bite immediately into the lime or lemon slice to temper the sharp taste of the tequila. Drink responsibly and have fun. If you want to learn how to take a tequila shot with sangrita, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • George Karas

    George Karas

    Dec 9, 2022

    "It cleared up whether salt or lime came first. Thanks!"
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Bryan Sullivan Co-authored by: Bryan Sullivan Bartender Co-authors: 65 Updated: October 11, 2025 Views: 1,933,189 91% of readers found this article helpful. 14 votes - 91% Click a star to add your vote George Karas

George Karas

Dec 9, 2022

"It cleared up whether salt or lime came first. Thanks!" Xiomara S.

Xiomara S.

Sep 19, 2023

"We wanted a drinking game, but this helped a lot!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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