Irish Breakfast Shot

Epic Irish Breakfast Shot that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime you want a fun cocktail shot.

Irish Breakfast Shot Recipe

When I told my husband I had an Irish Breakfast Shot ready for him, I don't think he was expecting what he got. LOL!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I am unsure if this is what they would call a breakfast of champions, but it is a fun Irish Whiskey Shot.

This recipe is also called an Irish Pancake Breakfast and pancake shot. I have no idea why since no pancakes or maple syrup are involved.

I have been working on making a ton of fun St. Patrick's Day Cocktail recipes. It seemed like the time of year to dive into St. Patrick's Day and have fun making fun new cocktails and food recipes. It has been a while since I tried making new holiday recipes specific to St. Patrick's Day.

Though it does feel like it was just Christmas and New Year's, March should be a lot farther away than it is. The past couple of years have felt like they are moving at sloth speed, but also, how is it 2022 already?

I have no idea why this drink is considered Irish. We did not have anything like this during our trips to Ireland.

I guess it earned its name because Jameson Irish Whiskey is the most commonly used whiskey for this cocktail shot recipe.

The most common ingredients in an Irish Breakfast Meal are bacon rashers, pork sausages, fried eggs, potato bread, and fried tomatoes. Depending on who serves it, fried mushrooms may also be present.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic Irish Breakfast Shot! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Butterscotch Schnapps
• Orange Juice
• Cooked Bacon

Equipment Needed

• 2 two oz shot glasses
• Measuring jigger

How to make a Jameson Irish Breakfast Shot

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Cook the bacon and set it on a paper towel to drain until needed.

You can use any preferred method to make the bacon - air fryer, microwaved, or oven-baked bacon.

Pour orange juice into a shot glass and set it to the side.

Combine Irish whiskey and butterscotch schnapps in another shot glass.

Top orange juice shot with a slice of bacon and serve.

The order to enjoy this drink is Irish whiskey shot, orange juice, and bacon.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: 

We recommend making this two-part shot as you plan to drink it for presentation and taste purposes. You need to take each part in the order above to get the pancake and maple syrup flavor.

 

Recipe Variations + Tips for the Best Irish Breakfast Shot

Substitutions:

To make this shot even sweeter, you can use candied bacon.

There are a few variations of this cocktail shot that mix all of the ingredients plus maple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake them together before straining into a shot glass.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: 

Replace the bacon with a meatless, plant-based alternative to make the Irish Breakfast Shot vegetarian and vegan.

Gluten-Free:

Jameson confirms on its website that the distillation process removes traces of gluten that may trigger allergies. As ingredient lists vary, look for gluten-free labels on your butterscotch schnapps and bacon.

Alcohol-Free Option: Replace the Jameson and butterscotch schnapps with NA alternatives to make non-alcoholic Irish Breakfast Shots.

Smaller Serving Sizee + Larger Group/More Servings:

The written recipe makes one two-part Irish Breakfast Shot. Since it requires two parts per shot, you’ll need to make them one at a time, even if you have a group to serve.

Make It Spicy: 

We have not seen spicy versions of this brunch cocktail shot, but you can spice it up with a slice of spicy bacon.

Sugar-Free:

The written recipe contains 10 grams of sugar per serving.

We are unsure whether it’s possible to make it 100 percent sugar-free since we have not seen alcoholic sugar-free versions of butterscotch schnapps, but you can use orange juice with no sugar added to lower the sugar content.

What to Serve with an Irish Breakfast Shot

There may not be anything directly Irish about this shot, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much it tastes like a breakfast favorite! It would be fantastic for a St. Patrick’s Day brunch or dinner party. Here are some menu planning suggestions.

Sides: Guinness Beer Cheese Dip, Celtic Knot Rolls, Guinness Glazed Pecans, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, 3 Ingredient Guinness Beer Bread, Crock Pot Reuben Dip

Main Dishes: CrockPot Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage, Corned Beef Shepherd's Pie, Crock Pot Guinness Braised Short Ribs, CrockPot Guinness Beef Stew

Desserts: Guinness Chocolate Balls, Lucky Charms Treats, Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake, Guinness Chocolate Cake Pops, Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes, Watergate Salad

Drinks: Nutty Irishman Drink, Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Liquid Marijuanas Drink, Fuzzy Leprechaun Cocktail, Incredible Hulk Drink, Leprechaun Beer Shot, Irish Frog Shooter

When to Serve

• Spring Brunch
• St. Patrick’s Day
• After-Dinner Drink

Great Recipe Collections

Epic Guide to Butterscotch Schnapps 

45+ Recipes with Bacon! The Best Bacon Recipes

60+ Breakfast for Dinner Ideas

35+ Funny Drink Names (Cocktails and Mocktails) 

St. Patrick's Day Drinks, Cocktails, and Shots! 

Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

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