Big Bang Rum Shooter

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/8/21
A tray of four big bang rum shooters in shot glasses

The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 shots

The big bang (or big bamboo) is a potent shot that uses the two strong and full-flavored rums. To help it go down a little easier and tame all the rum, there's a good dose of orange and pineapple juices. It's rather tasty and definitely an interesting shot.

Unlike many mixed drinks, the big bang uses a full 2-ounce pour of high-proof rum. It's a rum that's typically reserved for floating on top of drinks that you want to light on fire. That is then backed up by a dark rum before the sweet and tart fruit flavors come in to combat the harsh burn the duo creates.

The good news is that you don't have to—and really shouldn't—go it alone. The recipe makes four 2-ounce shots, so it’s perfect for sharing with friends.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make big bang rum shooters

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  2. In a cocktail shaker with filled ice, combine all of the ingredients.

    A hand pouring orange juice into a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  3. Shake well.

    A hand shaking a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

  4. Strain into 4 shot glasses and serve.

    A hand pouring a cocktail shaker of big bang shooters into shot glasses

    The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

Tips

  • For years, the big bang was made with Bacardi 151. It was the best-known high-proof rum and used for all sorts of flaming tricks that sometimes got dangerous. In 2016, the rum was discontinued.
  • As an alternative, Cruzan, Don Q, and Gosling's all make rums bottled at 151 proof. None of them should be drunk straight because they're simply too strong in both alcohol and the burn.
  • For the dark rum, you'll find plenty of options at the liquor store. You can spend as little or as much as you like on a bottle, though the higher-end options will be more versatile and can be used to make some really nice mixed drinks.
  • Chill your glasses before pouring the shot to make it go down a little smoother.

Recipe Variations

  • The triple sec doesn't make a big impact in this shot, so if you're out, just skip it. Alternatively, any other orange liqueur will work.
  • If you run out of either of the juices, just pour 4 ounces of the other. You can also use any tropical fruit juice blend that has a focus on orange, pineapple, or both.
  • Aged rums are a good alternative to dark rum, though they don't have quite the same flavor profile. Dark rums tend to have more of molasses taste where aged rums are oakier.

How Strong Is a Big Bang?

Surprisingly, with all that rum, the big bang is not the strongest shot you can mix up. On average the drink has an alcohol content of 24 percent ABV (48 proof). That's almost half of what you'd get from a straight shot of tequila or whiskey.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
74 Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 74
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 15mg 73%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 52mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)