“Chaser” is in the dictionary as, “A drink, as of beer or water, taken after hard liquor.” But that doesn’t give us the texture, context and subtext. Chasers can be used to cleanse the palette, or to cleanse your esophagus of harsh alcohol. Why would you want to add a chaser to your imbibing ritual?
For this, we consult the peanut gallery.
s_parker at answers.yahoo.com says, “It makes it easier to take shots!”
Nicky says: “For tequila, [chase it] with a lime (also [with] a starter-lick of salt). For Jack (or other low-end whiskeys) use a beer.”
Starwburry on Answerbag.com enlightens us with this: “…the best things are orange juice, Coke…. Soda is good so you can burp out air and not up what you just downed.” Profound.
Lauren adds: “The only chaser that I use is sweet tea when I’m drinking Jack Daniels or Jim Beam. It takes the burn away and it doesn’t taste as bad as it sounds.”
It’s a sad day when we quote a site named DrunkMansGuide.com, but here goes:
“When we talk about chasers, we usually are talking about taking a shot and then chasing it with a beer. However, some people do it the opposite way, they chug a beer and chase it with a shot. Many recipes also call for dropping a shot of liquor into a beer, or layering the liquor with the beer.
Following are a few of the most ordered chaser combos:
– Boilermaker: A shot of whiskey with a beer chaser. You can also make it a Carribean Boilermaker by substituting rum. You can make it a Russian Boilermaker by substituting Vodka. You can make it a Mexican Boilermaker by substituting Tequila.
– Dr. Pepper: (flaming version pictured above) Drop a shot of Amaretto into a half glass of light beer and chug.
– Bloody Brew: A Bloody Mary mixed with a light beer.
– Flaming Orgasm: Pour a shot of 151 Rum into a shot glass and then pour a mug of beer. Light the Rum on fire and drop the shotglass into the mug of beer. Make sure the fire is out before you slam it.
– Irish Depth Charge: This is basically a black and tan with a shot of Irish whiskey inside.
Do you have a favorite?
Please note: This article was originally published on 6/20/11 and updated on 2/13/23.
Chasers: What’s the Point?
Chasers = Bandage
Cutting yourself and use bandage after that’s the point!!
Graphic, but we think we get what you’re saying.
Cheers.
Wait… there’s no answer to the question? What’s the point of this article?!
I guess I’ll answer the unanswerable.
Chasers, what is the point?
There’s three ways to drink alcohol. As 1) some refined aficionado of the liquors and spirits, whom is able to taste hidden notes and an entire world of flavors in a sip… allegedly. 2) through sheer will and bravado you imbibe the pungent beverage in your hands until you get drunk enough where you can no longer taste it. 3) or you drink it and chase it with a palette cleanser, also known as a chaser.
The point of chasers is to cleanse the palette. Pickled ginger serves the same purpose at sushi bars.
Chasers aren’t necessary unless you’re drinking mass produced liquor, which is nasty and pungent out of the bottle. The taste ranges from “tastes of rubbing alcohol” and “tastes of acetone & paint thinner.” The flavor does improve as it breaths but if you’re drinking cheap liquor, chances are it’s to get drunk. Not to sip slowly.
Chasers also be healthy. The cleanse your esophagus of the harsh alcohol , Your tongue and brain enjoy but your esophagus takes the fall.