Introduction: How to Make Rainbow Shots

By Paige Russell Design
About: Made in Canada, I grew up crafting, making, and baking. Out of this love for designing and creating, I pursued a degree in product design from Parsons School of Design in NYC. Since then I've done work for Mar…

This is one of the best party tricks I've ever seen. There's nothing like a good magic show and Rainbow Shots definitely deliver - when you pour seven different colored shots out of the same shaker right in front of your guests eyes?!! A perfect presto.

How it works: The different densities of the four liquids used to make these, allow the separate liquids (i.e.: colors) to stack up in the shaker. As the shots are poured out, slight blending occurs between the layers creating the transitional colors like orange and green.

Note: All the shots will not have equal amounts of alcohol, nor will they all taste equally awesome. (ex: the red will be mostly grenadine. Ew.) This is more meant to be an "oohh, aaaahhh" party moment that comes before the really tasty, if less magical, drinks are served...

And the best thing? With just a little practice they're surprisingly easy to make. So let's go chase that rainbow!

Step 1: Supplies

Ingredients

  • 6oz Pineapple juice
  • 1/2oz grenadine
  • 1oz vodka
  • 3/4oz blue curaçao
  • crushed ice

Tools

  • metal shaker*
  • double jigger
  • cocktail strainer
  • 7 shot glasses
  • big spoon
  • unicorn head (optional - but I mean, where do you think rainbows come from? So maybe not optional...)

*I used a glass one to make this Instructable more clear, but to maintain the mystery when doing this in front of others, a non-transparent/steel one is best.

Step 2: The Bottom Layer: Grenadine

Set up your 7 shot glasses in a line in front of you. Place your shaker just in front of the line of glasses and put everything else you'll need within reach.

Measure out 1/2oz. of grenadine and carefully pour it into the bottom of the shaker, being careful not to get it on the sides.

Step 3: Ice Ice Baby

Gently add crushed ice to the shaker until it is 3/4 full.

Step 4: The Middle Layer: Pineapple Juice

Place a big spoon over the ice and SLOWLY pour 6oz. of pineapple juice into the shaker.

Step 5: The Almost Top Layer: Vodka

Leave the big spoon resting atop the ice and pour 1oz. of vodka slowly onto the spoon.

Step 6: The Tip Top Layer: Blue Curacao

IMPORTANT: The blue curaçao is actually the heaviest of all these liquids, so it's very important to start pouring the shots immediately after adding it to the mix.

Slowly add 3/4oz. blue curaçao to the tip of the spoon only.

Step 7: It's Pouring

As soon as the blue curaçao's been added, remove the spoon and place the cocktail strainer into the shaker. Start pouring the shots right away from the side of the shaker your added the blue curaçao to.

I find it helps to count as you pour to try and get the shots even-ish. I counted to four for each pour.

You may have to try 3-4 times to get your pour timing down to avoid having a brown shot instead of yellow. (Especially if you choose to wear the unicorn head while doing it.) But once you get it, you will be able to pull this trick out anytime a party needs a pick-me-up.

Step 8: How to Make Friends and Impress People

Maybe that should have been the title of this 'ible. : )

Have fun with this one you guys!