How to Celebrate National Bourbon Day with Glowing Neon Shot Glasses
National Bourbon Day lands on June 14 every year, and bourbon lovers treat it like a religion. Skip the basic tumbler this time — celebrate with a glowing neon shot tube, a lineup of your favorite pours, and a home bar setup that actually looks as good as the whiskey tastes.
Bourbon Deserves a Better Glass
Bourbon is America’s spirit — made with at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, and packed with more flavor complexity than most people give it credit for. So why serve it in a plain shot glass? LitShots’ neon shot tubes with LED-lit skull bases turn every pour into a moment. The neon glass tube sits in a skull base, an LED underneath illuminates both the base and the tube, and suddenly your bourbon ritual has some serious flair.
For National Bourbon Day, the Orange neon tube is the obvious call — it mirrors the warm amber tones of a good barrel-aged bourbon perfectly.
Host a Bourbon Tasting Night — Here’s How
A home bourbon tasting is genuinely one of the easiest parties to throw. Here’s a simple structure that works for any group size:
Step 1 — Pick 4 to 6 Bourbons
Build a flight that spans the style spectrum. A solid starting lineup:
- Entry-level: Evan Williams Black Label or Wild Turkey 101 — approachable and well-priced
- Mid-shelf: Knob Creek Small Batch or Four Roses Small Batch — rich, complex, crowd-pleasing
- High-rye: Bulleit Bourbon or Basil Hayden’s — spicier, dryer profile
- Premium pour: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked or Blanton’s — for the finale
Step 2 — Set Up Your Shot Station
Line up the LitShots neon skull tubes on your home bar or table. Light them all. Pour neat — about half a shot per bottle so guests can taste without going sideways early. Put water and plain crackers nearby to cleanse palates between pours.
Step 3 — Nose, Sip, Discuss
A quick tasting format goes a long way: swirl lightly, nose it for 10 seconds, take a small sip and let it coat your palate, then chase with water. Compare tasting notes between the group — you’d be surprised how differently people read the same bourbon.
For a deeper tasting guide and suggested pairing foods, MasterClass has an excellent whiskey tasting primer worth reviewing before your guests arrive.
Step 4 — End with a Cocktail Round
Once the neat tasting wraps, move into cocktail shots. Bourbon mixes brilliantly in short format — a mini Old Fashioned shot (bourbon, bitters, sugar, orange zest) or a Honey Bourbon shot (bourbon, honey syrup, lemon juice) hits perfectly in a LitShots neon tube. The Orange tube makes the honey bourbon shot look absolutely electric.
5 Bourbon Shot Recipes Worth Trying
All of these work beautifully served in a LitShots skull-base neon shot tube. Adjust quantities to a 1.5 oz pour per person.
| Shot Name | Ingredients | Best Neon Tube Color |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Neat | Straight bourbon, no chaser | Orange |
| Honey Bourbon Sting | Bourbon, honey syrup, lemon juice | Orange |
| Mint Julep Shot | Bourbon, simple syrup, muddled mint, splash of soda | Green |
| Cherry Bomb Bourbon | Bourbon, maraschino cherry liqueur, dash of bitters | Pink |
| Smoke & Ice | Smoky bourbon (e.g., Laphroaig), blue curaçao, dash of lime | Blue |
The Perfect Bourbon Day Home Bar Setup
Bourbon culture is built around ritual — the right glass matters. Pair LitShots skull neon shot tubes with a wood serving tray, some leather coasters, a bottle of good mineral water, and a charcuterie board. The LED glow from the skull bases adds dramatic, moody lighting that makes the whole setup look like a high-end tasting room rather than someone’s kitchen counter.
For more inspired home bar ideas and bourbon cocktail recipes, Serious Eats’ bourbon cocktail section is packed with recipes ranging from simple to showstopper.
Grab Your Glowing Shot Tubes Before June 14
National Bourbon Day comes once a year — don’t let it pass with a plain glass. LitShots skull-base neon shot tubes are available on Etsy in Orange, Blue, Pink, and Green. The Orange tube was practically made for a bourbon celebration, but all four colors are worth owning for the full tasting experience.
Shop LitShots on Etsy → — order early so they arrive in time for June 14.