Shots. There are just so many kinds, it's hard to choose between fun and fruity, or just good ole' straight-up tequila. And let's not forget the ones you pound back while submersed in a pint of beer.
But, when it comes to new and different, my girlfriend -- a bartender at a popular tiki bar in Palm Beach Gardens -- has it topped.
Recently, she told me about her favorite "first," a shot order compliments of a customer from the night before. Apparently, he and his friends asked her to make a shot -- or, rather, deliver a shot -- in a pretty offbeat sort of way.
He asked for "a wave."
"They wanted me to throw a glass of cold water at them as they were taking their shots," Katie tells me, turning in her chair and gesturing towards me with a large pint glass full of beer. "They said it gave them a rush. So I had to get all the other bartenders to fill up these big cups and just toss it in all their faces. It was weird. And I have to say, it made me a little uncomfortable."
While you probably can't think of any reason you'd ever want cold liquid thrown in your face mid-shot, it's a factor to consider if you do decide to participate in a new shot-taking ritual going on over at Grease Burger Bar in West Palm Beach.
At Grease, custom-made "shot boards" have started to create quite a stir, says General Manager Dean Perna of the bar's new wooden planks that allow multiple people to take a shot in sequence.
The idea is simple: pick your poison and test your shot-taking skills alongside your friends. As many as six people can take a shot at one time with boards that range in size from the Three Amigos (three shots), Cuatro, and Cinco de Drinko -- all the way up to the Six Shooter.
The largest is currently in the making, adds Perna, an eight-shot board that will be called the Octo Mother Board.
So how did the idea come about? According to Perna, "one of the owners came up with the idea," after being inspired by shot skis he'd seen made from actual wooden skis.
"The idea isn't completely original, but it's certainly been expanded," said Perna, adding the largest boards measure up to 13-feet long, and are custom-engraved with the word "cheers" in 30 different languages.
Since they first debuted at Grease about three weeks ago, the tandem shooting has been a hit. It's most popular with the college crowd, said Perna. The younger people are familiar with how the boards work, taking their drinks without any instruction, while others need a little prep before -- well -- diving in.
Apparently, it takes a certain skill to simultaneously shot-take. If you aren't careful, one could land in your lap instead of your mouth. Certainly better than a glass of water to the face, but definitely a mild inconvenience.
Interested in communal shooting? Prices range from well liquor at $4 a shot to mid-grade $5 shots, and premium liquor at $6 a shot.
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