Chaser
Serving instructionIn the US, a chaser is a drink, usually water, soda, juice or beer, drunk right after a shot of spirit.
Also called: back · with a back
What chaser means
A shot goes down in one go, and many people reach for a second drink right after it. That second drink is the chaser. It stays apart from the spirit, so you sip or drink it on its own before the next round.
On a menu you may see the phrase with a back, as in a shot of tequila with a beer back. A bartender may also ask if you want a chaser. The usual choices are water, soda, juice or beer, each in its own glass.
Some people think a chaser means the same thing everywhere. In the US it is usually a soft drink or beer after a shot. In the UK it can be a small spirit drunk after a beer, so the word changes meaning when you cross the Atlantic.
How to order a drink with a chaser
Name the spirit first, then the chaser or back. You get two glasses, one for each.
- Bourbon shot, beer chaser.A shot of bourbon in its own glass, with a cold beer to drink right after it.
- Tequila shot, beer back.A shot of tequila and a cold beer in a separate glass, which you sip in turns with the drink.
- Rye neat, water back.The rye poured neat at room temperature, plus a glass of water to sip in turns with it.
Chaser compared
- BackA back is a side drink you sip in turns with your main drink, such as a water back. A chaser is drunk once the shot is gone.
- BoilermakerA boilermaker pairs whiskey with beer, either dropped into the glass or drunk as a chaser.
- PicklebackA pickleback is a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle brine.
- MixerA mixer goes into the drink itself, which is the main difference from a chaser.
Examples
- Pickleback
- Boilermaker
- Beer back
- Water back
Related terms
Ingredients
Put it to use in your next drink
Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.