The recipe
for your table
Put the shot glasses in the freezer for twenty minutes.
Add the vodka, triple sec and lime juice to the shaker with plenty of ice.
Shake vigorously for 10 seconds - the lime juice needs to emulsify as well, otherwise it will taste thin.
Strain into the ice-cold shot glasses and serve with a lime wedge on the side.
The story
The Kamikaze appeared in American bars in the 1970s, the decade when vodka overtook whiskey as the country's most-consumed spirit. The structure is classic: spirit, liqueur and citrus in equal parts - the same principle as the White Lady and the Cosmopolitan, but with vodka. When bartenders later added cranberry juice, the Cosmopolitan was born, becoming far more famous than its predecessor. The Kamikaze remained a shot, which is actually a shame: served over ice in a tumbler, it is an excellent cocktail.
The right glass
A shot glass measuring 5 to 6.5 cl is just right for this recipe: three 2 cl measures come to six centiliters, and with the dilution from shaking, you fill a glass of this size to just below the rim. Choose thick-walled glass that holds the cold - you serve them ice-cold, and they usually have to wait a little until everyone has one. If you want to serve it as a cocktail, use a tumbler or a coupe and double all the quantities.
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 sipping.
The right tool
For a Kamikaze shot, in addition to the glass, you need a shaker, a jigger for precise measuring, and a citrus juicer. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 3 bar tools — together € 56,80.
Variations & twists
Add cranberry juice and you have a Cosmopolitan; replace the vodka with gin and it becomes a White Lady, or use cognac for a Sidecar. If you serve it as a full-sized cocktail over ice, add half a centilitre of sugar syrup to balance the acidity. Make a blue version with blue curaçao instead of triple sec. Find more inspiration in all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Always use fresh lime juice. This recipe has only three ingredients, and bottled lime juice is the fastest way to ruin it — it tastes bitter and bland at the same time. Always shake with ice; a Kamikaze that you simply pour is sharp and harsh, while the same cocktail becomes smooth and rounded after ten seconds of shaking.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Kamikaze?
A shot glass of 5 to 6.5 cl. View our shot glasses.
What is the correct ratio?
Equal parts: 1 to 1 to 1. If you find it too sour, use 2 parts vodka to 1 part triple sec and 1 part lime.
Is a Kamikaze the same as a Cosmopolitan?
Almost. The Cosmopolitan is a Kamikaze with cranberry juice added, served in a cocktail glass instead of a shot glass.
Can you make a Kamikaze alcohol-free?
Yes: use 0.0 vodka and orange syrup instead of triple sec, and keep the fresh lime juice. The acidity carries this shot, not the alcohol.
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