Tequila Slammer

The Tequila Slammer cocktail is a popular two-ingredient shot synonymous with house parties and college parties in the United States and elsewhere, particularly during the 80s and 90s.

It’s made with tequila and ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. Despite being presented as a shot, the Tequila Slammer is traditionally served in a rocks glass, not a shot glass unlike most other shots.

Citrusy, gingery, and slightly sweet. You can taste the agave from the tequila, with its crisp, clean citrus profile and earthy undertones, which then intertwine with the sweetness and spiciness of ginger ale.

Although its history is unclear and undocumented, the Tequila Slammer is believed to have originated in Mexico some time during the 1930s, specifically in the state of Jalisco, tequila’s birthplace, where it’s known as a muppet or mópet.

The drink gained popularity in film during the early 1960s and became one of many “slammer” drinks that became popular in the 1970s among American college party culture and spring break enthusiasts.

Its popularity transcended continents, becoming a globally favored party shot throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

• Use Blanco (Silver) tequila
  Go for 100% Agave Blanco Tequila for a clean, sharp taste, which works incredibly well with the spicy ginger ale. You could also use Reposado tequila, which gives a smoother, slightly oaky finish.
• Chill your glassware
  Put your rocks glass in the freezer for about 30 minutes before making the drink. It’s all about the details.
• Chill your ginger ale
  We recommend refrigerating your ginger ale to balance out the warmth of the tequila.

• Hold the ice!
  If you prefer to stick to the original Tequila Slammer recipe, leave out the ice cubes.
• Lemon-lime soda
  While we prefer using ginger ale as our choice of fizz, many recipes and bars use lemon-lime soda instead. The lemon-lime works extremely well with the tequila, since lime and tequila is a popular cocktail combination. Both options are fantastic, so see which one you prefer.

• Use a rocks glass instead of shot glass
  Although the Tequila Slammer is a shot, we recommend using a rocks glass instead of a shot glass so you have ample space in your glass for ginger ale’s fizz. Plus, since we serve our Tequila Slammer with ice cubes, a rocks glass is the ideal choice.
• Lime wedge garnish
  Although this drink doesn’t usually have a garnish, you could perch a lime wedge of your glass as a nod to other classic tequila drinks.
• Salt rim
  Rub a lime wedge around the glass rim, then dip the rim of the glass into salt. Again, given that we make our Tequila Slammer with ice cubes, this salt rim will give the drink a Margarita-like vibe.
• Spice things up 
  Instead of kosher salt, you could use Cajun spice mix to rim your glass instead, which will add extra layer of spice to an already spicy drink!