Pineapple-Ginger Shot
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 11.1% ABV ∙
The Pineapple-Ginger Shot is bourbon shaken with pineapple purée, ginger and cinnamon syrups, and lemon juice, fine-strained into a chilled glass. A quick, silky hit balances warm spice against bright citrus tang, with a clean spirit backbone easing into a fruity, slow-burning finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 20 mlPineapple purée 10 mlGinger syrup 10 mlCinnamon syrup 10 mlLemon juice 10 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a fruit skewer
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before straining — with such a small pour, a room-temperature glass warms the shot almost instantly.
- Measure the ginger and cinnamon syrups carefully — both are potent and can easily overpower the bourbon and pineapple at this small volume.
- Fine-strain to keep pineapple pulp and ice shards out of the shot glass, so the pour stays smooth and drinkable in one go.
History
This bourbon, ginger syrup, cinnamon syrup, and lemon juice shot is credited to New York City bartender Rafa García Febles, dated to 2014. It was conceived as a more crafted, bartender-made alternative to the popular commercial cinnamon-whiskey shot, built around real ginger and cinnamon syrups and fresh lemon juice rather than a bottled spiced liqueur. Documentation of the shot's creation is thin, resting mainly on the bartender's own recipe records rather than period press coverage, so the story should be read as a single credited origin rather than a widely corroborated one.
FAQ
What alcohol goes best with pineapple?
Bourbon is a classic pairing, since its caramel and oak notes complement pineapple's sweetness rather than fighting it, which is why this shot builds on a bourbon base.
What do ginger and pineapple do for the body?
Ginger and pineapple are commonly used for their digestive properties, as ginger is linked to easing nausea and pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that may aid digestion. This shot is a cocktail rather than a health drink, so it also contains bourbon, sugar-based syrups, and roughly 121 calories per serving.
Is it safe to drink ginger and pineapple every day?
Plain ginger-pineapple juice is generally considered safe in moderate daily amounts for most people. This particular recipe is an alcoholic bourbon shot, not a juice, so it is not intended as a daily health drink.
Is too much ginger bad for the liver?
Ginger is not typically associated with liver harm at normal dietary amounts, though very high supplemental doses have occasionally been linked to digestive discomfort. This recipe uses only a small measure of ginger syrup, well within normal culinary use.
