Ingredients
- 30 ml tequila silver or blanco
- 1 pinch coarse salt kosher or sea salt
- 1 wedge lime fresh
Instructions
- Pour 30ml of tequila into a shot glass.
- Lick the side of your hand (between thumb and index finger) and pour a small pinch of salt onto the wet patch.
- Hold a fresh lime wedge ready in the same hand.
- Lick the salt.
- Shoot the tequila in one go.
- Bite the lime wedge.
Notes
Where it came from
The lick-shoot-bite tequila ritual is American, not Mexican. In Mexico, good tequila is sipped from small Caballito glasses straight, often alongside a Sangrita chaser (spicy tomato-citrus juice). The salt-and-lime version came from US border bars in the early 20th century, where the salt and lime made rough industrial tequila more palatable.
The ritual stuck because it became a social moment. The three-step process is a small group ceremony; you do it with friends, on a count, and the lime bite at the end is the punctuation. As tequila quality has risen globally, more bars now offer the Sangrita chaser as a sippable alternative.
Why salt and lime
Cheap tequila has rough alcohol burn and a harsh aftertaste. Salt blunts the burn (it temporarily numbs the tongue’s pain receptors) and the lime acidity cuts through the sweetness and clears the palate. With premium tequila, the salt and lime mostly mask the flavour you actually want to taste, which is why they are unnecessary for sipping pours.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The tequila
- Use
- 100 percent agave silver/blanco tequila (Espolon, Casamigos, Patron Silver)
- Try
- Reposado for a smoother shot with vanilla notes from oak ageing
- Skip
- “Mixto” tequila (less than 100 percent agave). Read the label
The salt
- Use
- Coarse kosher salt or flaky sea salt
- Try
- Tajin (chilli-lime salt) for a Mexican twist
- Skip
- Iodised table salt, tastes metallic
The lime
- Use
- Fresh lime, cut into wedges (not slices)
- Skip
- Lemon, the flavour profile is wrong
- Why
- Wedges have more juice and grip in the teeth, lime is the traditional citrus
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Skip it. Salt is for cheap tequila; good tequila does not need it.
Lemon at a pinch. Or skip the chase and sip slowly.
Reposado (smoother) or Anejo (richer). Both work as shots, both are too good to need salt and lime.
Skip the salt and lime. Sip the tequila. Chase with Sangrita (spicy tomato-citrus juice).
Add a splash of grenadine on top. Tequila Sunrise shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
How do you do a tequila shot?
The classic ritual: lick a pinch of salt off the back of your hand, drink the tequila in one shot, bite a fresh lime wedge. Salt first, tequila second, lime third. The salt prepares the palate, the lime cleans up after the tequila.
Why do you have salt and lime with tequila?
Salt blunts the alcohol burn and the lime acidity cuts through the sweetness and clears the palate. The ritual originated at US border bars in the early 20th century to make rough industrial tequila more palatable. Good tequila does not need either.
What kind of tequila is best for shots?
For the classic salt-shoot-lime ritual, a 100 percent agave silver/blanco tequila (Espolon, Casamigos, Patron Silver) is ideal. For sipping shots without salt and lime, reposado or anejo are smoother. Avoid “mixto” tequila (anything not labeled 100 percent agave).
Is the lick-shoot-bite ritual Mexican?
No, it is American. In Mexico, good tequila is sipped from small Caballito glasses, often with a Sangrita chaser (spicy tomato-citrus juice). The salt-and-lime ritual is a US bar tradition that became globally famous.
What is Sangrita?
Sangrita is the traditional Mexican tequila chaser: a small glass of spicy tomato, orange and lime juice with chilli and salt. You sip the tequila and chase with Sangrita, alternating between the two. The Sangrita amplifies the agave flavour.
How strong is a tequila shot?
40 percent ABV. A 30ml shot of tequila contains the same alcohol as a standard pub measure of vodka or whisky. Stronger high-proof tequilas (overproof) push above 50 percent.
Can I do a tequila shot without salt and lime?
Yes, especially with good tequila. Sip slowly, let the agave flavour develop, and chase with sparkling water if you need it. Many bars in Mexico will look at you funny if you ask for salt and lime with a premium tequila.
What food goes with a tequila shot?
Mexican food: tacos, ceviche, guacamole, pozole. Also good with grilled meats and salty bar snacks. Tequila and salt go with savoury food rather than sweet.
