Skip to content 
If I want to turn the classic Liquid Marijuana cocktail into a smaller party shot, I keep the same basic flavor profile but change the proportions and serving size.
A Liquid Marijuana shot is a sweet, fruity alcoholic shooter made with rum, melon liqueur, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet-and-sour mix. It has the same bright green appearance that makes the full cocktail recognizable.
One point can cause confusion: despite the name, the classic alcoholic shot does not contain marijuana, cannabis, or THC. The name refers to the cocktail itself, not a cannabis ingredient.
In this guide, I’ll show you the ingredients I would use, how to mix the shots, how many servings you can make, and a few simple ways to change the flavor.
What Is a Liquid Marijuana Shot?
A Liquid Marijuana shot is a smaller version of the popular Liquid Marijuana cocktail.
The main difference is the serving format and proportions. Instead of serving the drink over ice in a tall glass, I shake a smaller amount with ice and strain it into shot glasses.
The common flavor combination includes:
- Spiced rum
- Coconut rum
- Melon liqueur
- Blue curaçao
- Pineapple juice
- Sweet-and-sour mix
The result is fruity, sweet, tropical, and slightly tart.
The exact recipe can vary because there is no single fixed formula used by every bartender or recipe source. For that reason, I treat the measurements below as a practical starting point rather than claiming they are the only correct ratios.
Does a Liquid Marijuana Shot Contain Marijuana?
No.
The classic Liquid Marijuana shot is an alcoholic shooter. It does not contain marijuana, cannabis, or THC.
Some drinks or products may use similar names for cannabis-infused beverages, but those are different from the classic rum-based cocktail.
Liquid Marijuana Shot Ingredients
For 4 shots, I would use:
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
| Spiced rum | 1 oz | Adds warm rum and spice notes |
| Coconut rum | 1 oz | Adds coconut sweetness |
| Melon liqueur | 1 oz | Adds melon flavor and green color |
| Blue curaçao | 1 oz | Adds citrus flavor and color |
| Pineapple juice | 2 oz | Adds tropical fruit flavor |
| Sweet-and-sour mix | 1 oz | Adds sweetness and acidity |
| Ice | As needed | Chills and dilutes the mixture |
| Maraschino cherries | Optional | Garnish |
This gives me about 7 ounces of liquid before dilution, which is enough for four small shots with some variation based on the size of the shot glasses and dilution from shaking.
If I want smaller 1-ounce servings, I can make more shots from the same batch.
What Each Ingredient Adds
I like this combination because every ingredient has a clear job.
Spiced Rum
Spiced rum gives the shot a warm rum base with notes that can include vanilla and sweet spices.
I use it to keep the flavor from becoming purely fruity.
Coconut Rum
Coconut rum adds a sweet tropical note.
It works especially well with pineapple juice and gives the shot a softer, tropical character.
Melon Liqueur
Melon liqueur, such as Midori, provides sweet melon flavor and a strong green color.
This is one of the main ingredients responsible for the shot’s familiar appearance.
Blue Curaçao
Blue curaçao contributes orange-citrus flavor along with its blue color.
When it mixes with green melon liqueur and the other ingredients, the final shot can take on a bright green shade.
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice brings the main tropical fruit flavor.
It also helps soften the concentrated flavor of the spirits and liqueurs.
Sweet-and-Sour Mix
Sweet-and-sour mix gives the shot both sweetness and acidity.
I find that this ingredient helps keep the combination of rum, liqueurs, and pineapple from tasting flat.
How to Make Liquid Marijuana Shots
The method is simple. I use a cocktail shaker because it chills the ingredients and mixes the juice and spirits evenly.
Step 1: Fill the Shaker With Ice
I start by filling a cocktail shaker with fresh ice.
The ice chills the mixture and adds some dilution during shaking.
Step 2: Add the Ingredients
I pour the following into the shaker:
- 1 oz spiced rum
- 1 oz coconut rum
- 1 oz melon liqueur
- 1 oz blue curaçao
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz sweet-and-sour mix
I prefer measuring each ingredient instead of free-pouring. With several sweet ingredients in one drink, even small changes can affect the final balance.
Step 3: Shake Well
I close the shaker and shake firmly for about 10 to 15 seconds.
The goal is to chill the mixture and combine the ingredients properly.
Step 4: Strain Into Shot Glasses
I place four shot glasses on a flat surface and strain the chilled mixture evenly between them.
If there is extra liquid, I divide it between the glasses rather than filling one shot much more than the others.
Step 5: Add the Garnish
I can finish each shot with a small maraschino cherry.
A tiny pineapple piece can also work, but I would keep the garnish small because these are shots rather than full cocktails.
How Many Shots Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe is designed for about 4 small shots, but the exact number depends on your glass size.
If I want to make 8 shots, I simply double the ingredients:
- 2 oz spiced rum
- 2 oz coconut rum
- 2 oz melon liqueur
- 2 oz blue curaçao
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- 2 oz sweet-and-sour mix
I would still mix the batch with plenty of ice and strain it into the glasses.
For a larger gathering, I can scale the ingredients by the number of servings I need.
What Does a Liquid Marijuana Shot Taste Like?
I would describe the flavor as sweet, fruity, tropical, and slightly tart.
Pineapple is one of the first flavors I would expect to notice. Coconut rum adds another tropical layer, while melon liqueur brings a sweet melon character.
Blue curaçao adds a mild citrus note, and the sweet-and-sour mix provides acidity to balance the sweetness.
Because the serving is smaller than a full cocktail, the alcohol and liqueur flavors can feel more concentrated.
How Strong Is a Liquid Marijuana Shot?
The strength depends on the exact amounts and alcohol percentage of the brands used.
This version contains 4 ounces of alcoholic ingredients across the batch: 1 ounce each of spiced rum, coconut rum, melon liqueur, and blue curaçao.
Pineapple juice and sweet-and-sour mix add non-alcoholic volume, while shaking with ice adds some dilution.
I would not treat the recipe as having one exact alcohol percentage because the final result changes with the ABV of each product, serving size, and amount of dilution.
Since this is a concentrated serving, I would also keep the portions measured rather than adding extra spirits.
Tips for Better Liquid Marijuana Shots
Chill the ingredients
Cold shots are generally more pleasant to serve. Shaking with ice gives me both chilling and dilution.
Measure every pour
The drink contains several flavored alcoholic ingredients. Measuring helps keep the sweetness and alcohol level more consistent from shot to shot.
Do not overdo the sweet-and-sour mix
Pineapple juice, coconut rum, and melon liqueur already contribute sweetness. Too much sour mix can make the flavor heavy.
Use fresh ice
Fresh ice helps keep the mixture clean and cold.
Strain evenly
If I am serving several people, I divide the mixture evenly so that each person gets a similar amount.
Serve soon after mixing
I prefer to shake the batch shortly before serving rather than letting it sit with ice for a long time.
Liquid Marijuana Shot Variations
I can make a few simple changes without turning the shot into a completely different drink.
Sweeter Liquid Marijuana Shots
If I want a sweeter version, I can add a small amount of extra pineapple juice or sweet-and-sour mix.
I would make small adjustments because the liqueurs already add plenty of sweetness.
Less-Sweet Shots
For a less-sweet version, I would reduce the sweet-and-sour mix slightly and add a little fresh lime juice.
This gives the shot a sharper citrus edge without adding another sweet ingredient.
Coconut-Free Version
If coconut rum is not available, I can use regular rum.
The finished shot will have less coconut flavor, but the pineapple, melon, citrus, and rum notes will still work together.
Melon Liqueur Substitute
Another melon liqueur can replace Midori.
If I use an apple-flavored liqueur instead, the flavor will move away from melon and become more apple-focused.
Party Batch
For a party, I can prepare a larger batch before serving.
I would combine the measured ingredients in a pitcher or sealed container and keep it chilled. I would add ice during the final mixing stage rather than leaving a large amount of ice sitting in the batch for a long period.
For the best consistency, I would shake smaller portions with ice before serving if time allows.
Can I Make Liquid Marijuana Shots Ahead of Time?
Yes, I can prepare the liquid ingredients ahead of time and keep them chilled.
However, I would avoid adding ice too early because melting ice will gradually dilute the mixture.
For the best result, I would keep the mixture refrigerated and shake it with ice shortly before serving.
If I am preparing a large batch, I would also keep it covered and chilled until it is ready to serve.
Can I Make Liquid Marijuana Shots Without Alcohol?
Yes. I can make a non-alcoholic version, but it should be treated as a Liquid Marijuana-style mocktail shot, not the classic alcoholic shot.
For a simple version, I could use:
- Pineapple juice
- Coconut water or coconut syrup
- Fresh lime juice
- Simple syrup
- Non-alcoholic blue curaçao syrup
- Non-alcoholic green melon syrup
- Ice
I would go easy on the syrups because they can make a small shot very sweet.
The final drink will have a tropical green appearance and similar flavor notes, but it will not taste exactly like the alcoholic version.
Liquid Marijuana Shot vs. Liquid Marijuana Cocktail
The two drinks share many of the same ingredients, but I use them differently.
| Feature | Shot | Cocktail |
| Serving size | Small | Larger |
| Glass | Shot glass | Highball or Collins-style glass |
| Ice | Used for shaking | Used for shaking and serving |
| Pineapple juice | Smaller amount | Larger amount |
| Main purpose | Small party serving | Full mixed drink |
| Garnish | Small cherry or fruit | Pineapple wedge and cherry |
I would use the cocktail version if I want a longer drink to sip.
I would use the shot version when I want a smaller serving for a party or gathering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Liquid Marijuana shot the same as a Liquid Marijuana cocktail?
They use a similar ingredient combination, but the serving size and proportions are different. The shot is made for a small serving in a shot glass, while the cocktail is served as a larger mixed drink.
Does a Liquid Marijuana shot contain marijuana?
No. The classic alcoholic shot does not contain marijuana, cannabis, or THC.
What alcohol is in a Liquid Marijuana shot?
A common version uses spiced rum, coconut rum, melon liqueur, and blue curaçao.
Can I use Midori?
Yes. Midori is a melon liqueur and works well in this style of shot.
Can I make these shots without pineapple juice?
I can replace some or all of the pineapple juice with another tropical fruit juice, but the flavor will change. Pineapple works especially well because it pairs with coconut and rum.
Can I prepare Liquid Marijuana shots for a party?
Yes. I can scale the ingredients for several servings and keep the mixture chilled until it is ready to serve.
Why is my shot not bright green?
The color depends on the melon liqueur, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and their proportions. Different brands can also produce slightly different shades.
Can I make the shots less sweet?
Yes. I would reduce the sweet-and-sour mix and add a small amount of fresh lime juice. I can also adjust the amount of pineapple juice to suit the flavor I want.
Liquid Marijuana Shot Recipe Card
Recipe: Liquid Marijuana Shots
Yield: About 4 shots
Prep time: 3 minutes
Total time: About 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 oz spiced rum
- 1 oz coconut rum
- 1 oz melon liqueur
- 1 oz blue curaçao
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz sweet-and-sour mix
- Ice
- Maraschino cherries, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger
- Strainer
- 4 shot glasses
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the spiced rum, coconut rum, melon liqueur, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet-and-sour mix.
- Shake firmly for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Strain evenly into four shot glasses.
- Garnish with a small maraschino cherry if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
I use this recipe as a practical starting point because published Liquid Marijuana shot recipes can vary in their ratios.
The classic version is an alcoholic shot and does not contain marijuana or cannabis.
The alcohol content can vary based on the brands used, their ABV, serving size, and dilution during shaking. I recommend measuring the ingredients and serving responsibly.
