Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Shots are a Thing: A LIQS Cocktail Shot Review

Our articles may contain affiliate links. For more information, view our policies.

Can a pre-mixed cocktail actually offer the same great flavor as a drink you mix yourself? Well, in this case, they might actually be better. As a seasoned cocktail writer, I was dubious. But then I tried LIQS, a line of premixed cocktail shots. LIQS cocktail shots are fun, flavorful and just as good as some of the drinks I’ve made myself. Best of all, they’re neatly packaged and ready for travel.

Table of Contents

These cocktail shots are picnic or party-ready

LIQS won’t replace a master mixologist but these party shots are a great addition to a summer barbecue, picnic or pool party. They come in 50ml recyclable crystal polystyrene shot glasses. They’re incredibly easy to transport and offer a no-mess solution for any festive occasion. (Just be sure to keep them chilled and don’t forget to recycle.)

How do they taste? My LIQS review

If you have low expectations for packaged cocktails, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. LIQS are made with real ingredients, including natural fruit juices. And they taste like handcrafted cocktails. In fact, if you tasted one blind, you probably wouldn’t guess that these are manufactured drinks.

These ready-to-drink shots take premade cocktails to a whole new level of quality. These are truly premium pre-made shots. The flavors are balanced, the drinks are relatively low in sugar. They’re also perfectly portioned with the essence of a great cocktail served up in a simple shot. Each individual cocktail is 50ml.

Those watching their figure will be grateful for the portion control. But those who want to watch alcohol intake should be warned that each shot is 20% alcohol by volume.

The flavors

LIQS cocktail shots come in five flavors:

Vodka Lemon Drop
Whiskey Fireshot
Tequila Cinnamon Orange
Vodka Kamikaze
Vodka Lychee Grapefruit.

My favorite LIQS cocktail shot is the Vodka Kamikaze, followed closely by Tequila Cinnamon Orange. That one is my pick for date night. I don’t think you could find a sexier mixture of ingredients than this well-balanced combination of tequila, citrus and the aphrodisiac of cinnamon.

The most popular flavor based on our office taste testing as well as online searches is Whiskey Fireshot. Their take on a Fireball shot, the drink combines whiskey with cinnamon and vanilla créme for a powerfully full-flavored shot experience. (It is interesting to note that the Fireshot drink is also the highest calorie of all the premade shots and also contains the most sugar. Keep that in mind if you’re planning to enjoy multiple servings.)

LIQS premade cocktails are made in the USA and all of the ready-to-drink shots are gluten-free. Additionally, they have a shelf life of 12 months if left unopened.

When to serve LIQS Ready to Drink Shots

These cocktail shots really represent low-stress entertaining. That, “Want to come in for a drink?” after a date becomes far less complicated when you can just pop the tops off of a couple of sleek mini-cups of your favorite cocktail. Store them in the refrigerator to be ready at all times.

The shots also travel well for simplifying the drink situation at a picnic or a concert. And cancel that bartender for your next party. You can just pass trays of icy LIQS.

They’re really good enough to impress your friends at an at-home cocktail affair. In fact, our team liked them so much that one of our editors wants to keep a carry case of them in the trunk of her car for cocktail emergencies. Now that’s love.

Where to buy

LIQS can be purchased online through the company’s website. They’re also available from major spirits retailers nationwide including Total Wine & More.

LIQS also makes full-sized premixed cocktails, if you prefer to shake and serve. The bottled cocktail mixes come in 1.5l glass bottles. Their cocktail boxes come in 3l serving containers and have a shelf life of three months after opening. (These are sold in Margarita, Strawberry Margarita and Mojito flavors.)

This article was written in 2017 and most recently updated in June 2023.

Author
Recent Posts

Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs and her work in the field of aphrodisiac food history and health science is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiacs and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac foods to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.