Florida Shots: The Tracksuit, the Tea, and Five More Worth Pouring
There is a whole family of drinks named after Florida, and we have noticed they all share a personality. Citrus, sugar, a color that does not occur in nature, and absolutely no interest in restraint. It is a fair portrait of the place.
We have pulled together the seven we actually pour. Some are genuinely good. One or two are here because you will be asked for them.
The two everyone asks for
The Florida Tracksuit is the one people are actually searching for, and it is easy to see why. Orange vodka, Red Bull, raspberry sour puss. It arrives an unapologetic pink-orange, it goes down in one, and the caffeine keeps a table upright longer than it probably should. Pour it cold or it turns syrupy inside a minute. See recipe
The Florida Iced Tea is the other one, and we want to say something plainly about it: it is not a shot. Orange curaçao, light rum, vodka, gin, orange juice and 7-Up is a Long Island Iced Tea wearing an orange shirt, and four spirits in a glass means you sip it. We have watched people learn that the hard way more than once. See recipe
The good ones
Our pick of the whole family is the Florida Orgasm, which is grapefruit juice and Malibu and nothing else. Coconut and grapefruit turns out to be a lovely pairing — the bitterness stops the coconut going sickly, and the result lands somewhere near a beach. It is the only one on this list we would order twice. See recipe
Close behind it, the Florida Punch is the grown-up of the group. Dark rum, cognac, orange juice, grapefruit juice. The two spirits together give it a depth the rest do not have, and it is the only one here that scales properly for a crowd. See recipe
Then the Dirty Hooker, which is banana liqueur and raspberry sour puss and nothing more. Sweet, faintly creamy without any cream in it, and the simplest thing here. Chill it properly; warm banana liqueur is not an experience anyone needs. See recipe
Two more from the same shelf
The Florida Rain and the Florida Special are both citrus-forward and both a good deal gentler than their neighbors. Rain is the lighter of the pair, Special the richer. We pour them once the loud ones have gone round and somebody asks for something that will not strip enamel.
Two habits carry all seven of these. Everything wants to be genuinely cold rather than chilled-ish, because sugar-forward drinks taste cloying warm and clean cold — ten minutes with the bottles in the freezer beats any technique. And build them one at a time, since a shaker of pre-mixed sweet liqueur separates on the bar while you are still lining up glasses.
If this is the corner of the bar you like, our fruity shots and sweet candy-style shots roundups go a lot deeper — and Cocktail Builder will narrow any of it down to what is actually in your cabinet right now.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Florida Tracksuit shot?
Orange vodka, Red Bull, and raspberry sour puss liqueur. It is served cold and in one, and the energy drink is a full ingredient rather than a mixer.
What is a Florida Tea shot?
Usually the Florida Iced Tea — orange curaçao, light rum, vodka, gin, orange juice and 7-Up. Despite the name it is closer to a Long Island Iced Tea than a shot, so treat it as a tall drink.
What is in a Dirty Hooker shot?
Banana liqueur and raspberry sour puss, in equal parts. Two ingredients, served very cold.
Are Florida shots strong?
They vary enormously. The Dirty Hooker and Florida Orgasm are liqueur-based and mild; the Florida Iced Tea contains four spirits and should not be taken in one.
What is the best Florida shot for a party?
The Florida Punch scales best for a crowd because it is a rum and cognac build with juice, so it can be batched. The Tracksuit is the most requested but has to be poured fresh.
Last modified on August 16, 2026
