13 Best Rum Shots to Get the Party Started

These tasty rum shots are a simple and easy way to deliver massive rum flavors in a compact little package that’s hard to resist. 

You can opt for quick and easy staples like a buttery nipple (commence giggling) or break out the gelatin for fan-favorite Jell-O shots!

Liven up a summer BBQ or infuse festive flavors into your next holiday party. You can’t go wrong with these tasty rum shot recipes. 

1. Strawberry Smash Rum Shots 

These strawberry smash rum shots are delightfully pink and perfect for a hot summer afternoon by the pool. 

Using fresh muddled strawberries is the key to this light and summery poolside shot.

The strawberries add subtle sweetness, while a fresh lime juice accentuates the robust rum flavor. 

Garnish them with a slice of strawberry and line the rim of the glass with pink sugar. 

2. Buttery Nipple Shot Recipe (with Rum Floater) 

Despite its unfortunate name, this buttery nipple is rich and creamy. 

It earns its buttery flavors from butterscotch schnapps and Baileys Irish cream.

There’s no need for extra garnishes here. This shot looks so pretty in a simple shot glass. 

Make these at home and spare yourself the embarrassment of uttering the words’ buttery nipple’ to the bartender! 

3. Rum Punch Jell-O Shots 

Nothing screams summer like rum-flavors cocktails and Jell-O shots. 

Opting for unflavored gelatin lets the rich tropical flavors of pineapple, lime, and orange juice shine through. 

Top it with a dollop of whipped cream, and it almost feels like you’re on a tropical beach without a care in the world.

What’s great about this recipe is that you can make a big batch beforehand. They last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

4. Voodoo Shooter 

You must be careful when dabbling in the dark arts, just like you must be cautious with this very potent voodoo shooter!

They are a perfect option for a Halloween party or during the bleakness of winter when you need a shot to warm those chilly bones. 

It packs massive rum flavors using coffee liquor and rum topped with a delicious rum cream layer. 

These are not your easy tropical poolside shots, as they’re very potent!

5. Very Berry Strawberry Daiquiri Jell-O Shots 

Strawberry daiquiris are great, but they aren’t very portable. 

This recipe is an excellent option if you want to take all of the flavors of this classic drink with you on your next camping adventure.

It infuses strawberry flavors with a box of strawberry Jell-O (easy enough!) and a kick of tartness from strawberry pucker.

For a lime kick, it also adds lime margarita mix. 

The finished product is tart, bright, and doesn’t require chopping a single piece of fruit!

6. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Jell-O Shots 

Do you want to impress your party guest this summer with a hard-to-resist shot? 

It requires extra time hollowing out strawberries into shot glasses, but they are worth the extra effort!

It’s like a Jell-O shot, with a bonus edible strawberry shot glass!

Dip your shot glasses in melted chocolate, and watch an entire tray disappear before the party ends. 

Be careful, it’s easy to get carried away with this bright summertime shot!

7. Eggnog Pudding Shots 

This isn’t your grandma’s eggnog recipe. 

This festive shot includes vanilla pudding, eggnog (store-bought works great), and warm Christmas spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. 

The added rum (or bourbon) adds nutty and fragrant notes to this rich shot and feels more like a dessert than a twist on a classic cocktail. 

Garnish with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon. 

8. Banana Daiquiri Jelly Shots 

This recipe is worth checking out if you really want to impress with your elevated jello shot skills. 

Unlike other Jell-O shot recipes, this variation demands a fancy dinner party rather than a tailgate. 

It earns a powerful banana kick from flavored gelatine and banana liqueur that pairs well with rich rum. 

Skip the jello-shot plastic containers and pour them into fancy molds, and garnish with a dusting of sugar. 

9. Vampire Kiss Halloween Vial Shooter 

Do you take your Halloween parties seriously?

This recipe will impress (or horrify) and goes great with your charcuterie board of eyeballs and fingers. 

It earns its alarming blood-like hue from strawberry daiquiri mix and a drop of black gel food coloring.

Over time, the black food coloring settles at the base of the shot glass (or vial). 

It may look suspiciously like blood, but it tastes light, tart, and fruity. 

To further disgust your Halloween party guests, serve this shot in slender glass blood vials!

10. Sticky Canadian Shot 

The sticky Canadian shot is an excellent choice if you don’t have much time to tinker with fancy shots or many ingredients.

The recipe list is pretty short and incorporates maple syrup with rum. Easy peasy!

While it’s a relatively simple recipe, it’s so tasty! The sweetness and bright flavors from maple syrup pair so perfectly with rum. 

It feels like getting a hug from a friendly (albeit sticky) Canadian!

11. Flaming Dr. Pepper Shot 

There are few things as crowd-pleasing as setting a shot on fire, which makes this shot perfect if your party is starting to feel a little dull. 

While igniting the overproof rum on the top of the shot glass looks impressive, it also adds flavor. 

As the alcohol burns off the glass, it also caramelizes the amaretto liqueur for a nutty and sweet finish. 

While there’s no Dr. Pepper in this shot, once you toss the shot into a glass of beer, it tastes surprisingly like Dr. Pepper. 

12. Mojito Jell-O Shots 

Don’t let the fancy presentation of these lime mojito shots trick you into thinking it’s not very easy!

Fill hollowed limes with a fresh minty rum-infused gelatine to prepare these lime-wedge shots. 

Once the gelatin solidifies in the fridge, cut them into lime wedges and garnish with fresh mint. 

The lime peel delivers a fresh lime flavor that pairs well with refreshing mint and flavorful rum!

13. Pina Colada Jell-O Shots 

Is it even summer without a tropical pina colada? 

Your favorite summertime beach-side cocktail gets a fun and inventive shot makeover that’s simple. I

t delivers punchy tropical flavors in a tiny little Jell-O shot container. 

While they harness the tropical flavors from pineapple juice, they get an added creamy kick from the cream of coconut. 

Garnish each cup with a maraschino cherry for a touch of color and sweetness.