There are certain holidays that rally the world to drink. We clamor for Caipirinhas at Carnival. Cinco de Mayo recalls our college days with tequila poppers and a bucket of Corona. Oktoberfest is all about German steins and buxom blondes.March, however, is the month that St. Patrick’s Day inspires even the least Irish among us to guzzle flat beer spiked with food coloring and kiss a leprochaun (or drunken midget). Do you know what we’re even celebrating on March 17? Me neither, but why not make this year different? Take a ride on the hipster bandwagon and opt for a Pickle Back instead...A Pickle Back is a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. Yes, that’s right, the brine. I know, I don’t totally relish the thought either – but then again I couldn’t bring myself to drink PBR when crappy beer became the cool thing to drink in the middle of the last decade. But that doesn’t mean YOU don’t want to know about it.
As one might expect, the Pickle Back trend is being popularized in New York and springing up in bars around the country. There’s even a facebook page for it, and yes, I joined their group. Where did it come from? Well, it appears that both Russia and Poland have been doing “pickle backs” with vodka for ages, and its rumored to have gone on in Mexico with tequila. Is it because they didn’t have coca cola or because they truly preferred a salty brine? Who knows but bartender TJ Lynch at the Rusty Knot in NYC says, “For me it all started when we began using our own pickle juice at the [Rusty] Knot... it's delicious!”
Don’t believe him? H. Joseph Ehrmann, bartender and proprietor of Elixir in San Francisco says, “I like it because it has a lot of history in culinary culture (pickling) and has a wide array of flavor profiles, so pairing it with multiple spirits is an open book right now. Also, it's fun. And drinking should be fun. I laugh at those who turn their nose at it because of some holier than thou attitude. If you don't like it, fine; but don't knock it because you think it is below you.”
So there you have it. Whether it seems fun, adventurous or simply the drink du jour, ask for it in a bar or try it at home. Or, heck, skip the pickle juice and just do a shot of Jameson to celebrate your “inner Irish.” Just, whatever you do, don’t drink green beer. Cuz, really, that’s just plain gross.