The Stoplight Shot

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 01/13/23
Stoplight Vodka Shots

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
252 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 8mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The stoplight is an interactive and challenging shot. Okay, it's actually a line-up of three vodka shots flavored with colorful fruits. This one is definitely not for timid drinkers and it's a fun addition to any party. Better yet, it actually tastes good!

The novelty of this shot is the presentation, which resembles the colors of a stoplight. The idea is that you need to drink each of the red, yellow, and green shots, one right after the other without stopping. The best part is that it's a flavorful medley of fruits—cranberry, orange, and melon—with a little vodka for good measure.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place three shot glasses in a line on the bar.

  3. Pour one shot of vodka in each.

  4. Add a splash of cranberry to the first shot glass, a splash of orange juice to the next, and a splash of melon liqueur to the third.

  5. Drink right down the row, and enjoy.

Tips

  • Chill your vodka before pouring the shots to make it taste better and go down a little easier. You can also keep your shot glasses in the freezer so they're frosty as well.
  • If you like, switch from a regular vodka to a flavored one. Almost any of the fruit-flavored vodkas will go great with the three fruits, so choose your favorite. Citrus, berry, or melon vodkas would be great places to start. To retain the stoplight colors, just make sure the vodka is clear because some flavored vodkas are not.
  • The fruit ingredients suggested are not your only options, they just happen to be standard in most bars and taste really good together. You can use alternatives, such as another red juice or grenadine rather than cranberry juice, or pineapple juice instead of orange.
  • On the other hand, a green melon liqueur (like Midori) may be your best option for the green shot. However, you can go with one of those electric green juice drinks kids love or a green sports drink if you have them on hand and want to save money.

How Strong Is the Stoplight Shooter?

Let's be honest, the stoplight is nothing more than a series of straight vodka shots that you're going to drink in a minute or less. The fruit is just a flavor and color additive, so while it may look pretty, this is not a shooter for the faint of heart.


Rather than do the math, let's just assume that these shots are the bottling proof of your vodka, which is typically 40 percent alcohol by volume or 80 proof. Take it easy or you may end up with a nasty hangover in the morning.