Love pickleback chasers? Try a Bloody Mary Chaser!
Love pickleback chasers? Try a Bloody Mary Chaser!
A pickleback is a shot of liquor followed by a shot of pickle juice. It’s tangy, sour, herbal and instantly kills the burn and can even overpower the taste of the liquor. A pickleback is seemingly grotesque but if you like pickles and you’re in a pickle, say a shot of cheap whisky or your least favorite liquor is being demanded of you in a chanting manner and you have no choice but to take the shot, then a pickleback can be a lifeline.
A lesser-known “back” is a Bloody Mary Back. Variations are common in Mexico, Russia and Costa Rica where the custom of chasing a shot of local firewater spirit with tomato juice is the norm. The Sangrita (not to be confused with the fruit and rum drink, Sangria) hails from Mexico where Tequila and Mezcal are the poison of choice. Sangrita means “little blood” in Spanish and maybe it should be hot blood because they get spicy! The traditional recipe calls for tomato juice, lime juice, chili powder, salt and a splash of orange juice. Once you get a taste of it, you can customize it to your liking. Personally, we use Bloody Gerry with a dash of Tapatio and a squeeze of lime juice.
Costa Rica has the Chiliguaro, their version of a clear spirit from leftover sugarcane juice, and a mixture of lime juice, tomato juice, and hot sauce. Typically premixed and served as shots, chili-guaro is arguably the national shot of Costa Rica.
Next time you order a shot of chilled vodka, gin, tequila, mezcal or any other clear liquor we’re missing, try it with a bloody mary chaser. Bloody Gerry is particularly delicious as a chaser because of its fresh California lemon juice. We promise you won’t regret it. Cheers!
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