Kamikaze

Also known as Kamikaze Shot

A sharp, citrus-forward vodka shot that hits fast and cold.

tartcitruslimesweetstrongshotvodkaorange liqueurrefreshingsharp

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is all bright lime and sweet orange liqueur, followed by a clean vodka burn. The middle is a brief burst of sweet-and-sour before the spirit takes over. It finishes quick and warm with lingering lime zest.

Who will like it

For people who like tart, strong shots that go down easy but let you feel the alcohol.

When to drink

Best as a party starter or a late-night round to kick things up a notch.

Ordering tip

Ask for it shaken and served up in a coupe instead of a shot glass if you want to sip it rather than shoot it.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $2–$4Glass: ShotBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a bracing, tart shot that leans heavily on sharp lime and sweet orange liqueur to mask the vodka. It goes down cold and fast, leaving a warm, citrusy burn. There isn't much depth to it, but it's refreshing and gets the job done.

Finish: The finish is short and warm, with a lingering lime tang and vodka bite.

Primary tastes

soursweetfruity

Secondary

herbal

Aroma

lime zestsweet orange

Sweetnessfairly sweet
The triple sec and lime juice balance out, but the liqueur brings a solid sweetness.
Sournessquite sour
Fresh lime juice makes this a tart, mouth-puckering drink.
Strengthvery strong
Equal parts spirit and liqueur mean this hits hard and fast.
Refreshingvery refreshing
The cold, citrus-heavy profile makes it extremely refreshing.
Complexitylow complexity
It's a straightforward mix of vodka, orange, and lime without much depth.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Shot · equal parts on Vodka. Unflavored, neutral preferred

Before you start

Chill your shot glasses in the freezer for a few minutes if you have time. Juice your lime right before making the drink so it tastes bright, not flat.

Ingredients

VodkaBase SpiritNeutral, unflavored30ml
Triple SecLiqueurCointreau or generic triple sec30ml
Lime JuiceJuiceFresh squeezed30ml

Garnish: Lime wedge

Tools

Cocktail shaker · Shaking
Mixing and chilling the drink quickly
At home: Mason jar with a tight lid
Jigger · Measuring
Measuring the ingredients accurately
At home: Measuring spoons or shot glass
Hawthorne strainer · Straining
Keeping ice out of the glass when pouring
At home: Slotted spoon
Shot glass · Serving
Serving the drink
At home: Any small glass

Steps

1
Grab your shaker and pour in 30ml vodka, 30ml triple sec, and 30ml fresh lime juice. The equal parts make it easy to remember and scale up if you're making a round.
!Using bottled lime juice makes the drink taste flat and metallic.
2
Fill the shaker about three-quarters full with ice, seal it tight, and shake hard for about 10 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels ice cold and frosty. This chills the drink fast and adds a little water to soften the bite.
~10s
!Shaking too gently leaves the drink warm and harsh.
3
Pop the shaker open, fit the Hawthorne strainer over the top, and pour the drink into your chilled shot glass or coupe. Let it drain completely so no ice slips through.
!Pouring too fast can splash the drink over the side of the small glass.
4
Drop a lime wedge on the rim of the glass or right into the drink. It gives you something to squeeze in an extra hit of lime right before you drink.

Serve

Serve it ice cold right out of the shaker. Drink it quickly while it's still frosty.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Triple Sec

Triple SecCointreau
Match
Common availability
Triple Sec → Cointreau: Cleaner and less sweet, with a stronger orange bite.
Triple SecBlue Curaçao
Match
Common availability
Triple Sec → Blue Curaçao: Changes the drink to a Blue Kamikaze with a slightly more bitter edge.

Swap options for Vodka

VodkaWhite Rum
Match
Common availability
Vodka → White Rum: Makes it slightly sweeter and adds a subtle sugarcane note.
VodkaTequila
Match
Common availability
Vodka → Tequila: Turns it into a Margarita variation, adding earthy and vegetal notes.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Margarita

Margarita uses tequila instead of vodka, giving it an earthy, vegetal flavor.

Match

The Margarita has more depth and earthiness from the tequila, while the Kamikaze is cleaner and sharper.

In common: citrus-forward, uses orange liqueur, served cold

Ingredients

Both share

Lime Juice, Triple Sec

Only in Kamikaze

Vodka

Only in Margarita

Tequila

Swapping vodka for tequila changes the drink from a neutral spirit base to an earthy, agave-driven profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

tart lime and sweet orange backbone

How Margarita differs

earthy, vegetal, slightly bitter

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan adds cranberry juice for a pink color and tart fruitiness.

Match

The Cosmopolitan is fruitier and softer, while the Kamikaze is a sharper, more direct citrus shot.

In common: vodka base, citrus-forward, shaken

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Lime Juice, Triple Sec

Only in Cosmopolitan

Cranberry Juice

The cranberry juice adds a fruity tartness and pink hue that the Kamikaze lacks.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sharp citrus and vodka bite

How Cosmopolitan differs

fruitier, pink, slightly more tart

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop uses lemon juice instead of lime and often has a sugar rim.

Match

The Lemon Drop is a softer, brighter citrus drink compared to the sharp, lime-heavy Kamikaze.

In common: vodka base, sweet and sour, served cold

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Triple Sec

Only in Kamikaze

Lime Juice

Only in Lemon Drop

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup

Swapping lime for lemon and adding simple syrup makes the Lemon Drop slightly sweeter and less sharp.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sweet citrus and vodka

How Lemon Drop differs

brighter, softer, less sharp

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The exact origin is disputed, with some tracing it to American military bases in Japan after WWII and others to the 1970s US disco scene. The name means divine wind in Japanese, but the drink itself is a straightforward American sour variation.

Era: 1970s
IBA: Contemporary Classics
Data version: IBA current
Confidence

Origin is heavily disputed; the 1970s dating reflects its rise in popularity during the disco era.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use fresh lime juice; the bottled stuff tastes flat and metallic.
Shake it hard to get it as cold as possible; warm vodka is harsh.
If using a cheap triple sec, cut back to 20ml so it isn't too syrupy.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use cheap triple sec; it makes the drink cloyingly sweet.
Don't stir this; it needs a hard shake to tame the vodka bite.