The Kamikaze shot recipe
for your table
Put the shot glasses in the freezer for twenty minutes.
Add the vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and plenty of ice to the shaker.
Shake for 10 seconds, nice and hard. The lime juice needs to emulsify with the other ingredients, or it will taste harsh.
Strain into the ice-cold shot glasses and serve with a lime wedge.
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Email the Kamikaze shot recipe to yourself so you have it on hand when you’re ready to make it. You’ll also get a €5 discount code for the matching glasses when you spend €50 or more.
The story
The Kamikaze emerged in American bars in the 1970s. That was the decade when vodka overtook whiskey as the most-consumed spirit. Like many classics, it's made with equal parts spirit, liqueur and citrus. Like the Sidecar and the White Lady, but with vodka. Later, bartenders added cranberry juice, creating the Cosmopolitan. It became much better known than the original. The Kamikaze remained a shot. A shame, really, because it's also a great cocktail over ice in a tumbler.
The right glass
For this recipe, choose a shot glass holding 5 to 6.5 cl. Three measures of 2 cl make six centiliters, and with the meltwater from shaking, the glass will be filled to just below the rim. Choose thick glass. It stays cold longer, which is handy because you serve these ice-cold and they often have to wait a little while until everyone has one. Want to turn it into a cocktail? Double everything and use a tumbler or a coupe.
Arcoroc Vigne Shot Glass 6 cl (6 pieces)
Mammoet Budgetline Boston Shot Glass 3.5 cl (6 pieces)
Together € 22,90, in two sizes, for shots and drinks.
The right tools
For a Kamikaze shot, in addition to the glass, use a small shaker, a jigger for precise measuring, and a citrus press. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you'll find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glassware set (our pick 01) + 3 bar tools together € 55,80.
Variations & twists
Add cranberry juice and it becomes a Cosmopolitan. Use gin instead of vodka, and you have a White Lady. With cognac, it becomes a Sidecar. If you serve it over ice as a proper cocktail, add half a centiliter of sugar syrup. That balances the acidity. Make a blue version with blue curaçao instead of triple sec. Find more ideas in all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Always use fresh lime juice. There are only three ingredients, and bottled lime juice ruins it instantly. It tastes bitter and bland at the same time. And really shake it with ice. Poured straight in, a Kamikaze is sharp and harsh. After ten seconds of shaking, the same shot is smooth and well-rounded.
Frequently asked questions
What glass do you use for a Kamikaze?
A 5 to 6.5 cl shot glass. Take a look at our shot glasses.
What is the ratio for a Kamikaze shot?
Equal parts of everything, so 1 to 1 to 1. Too sour for your taste? Use 2 parts vodka to 1 part triple sec and 1 part lime.
Is a Kamikaze the same as a Cosmopolitan?
Almost. A Cosmopolitan is a Kamikaze with cranberry juice added. Serve it in a cocktail glass, not a shot glass.
Can you make a Kamikaze alcohol-free?
Yes. Use 0.0 vodka and orange syrup instead of triple sec, and keep using fresh lime juice. The acidity makes this shot, not the alcohol.
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