Do you drink your whiskey as a shot, neat, or on the rocks? Adding a chaser to your order can give you a brand-new experience with your favorite whiskey brand.
A chaser is a drink you consume after or alongside another beverage. Chasers can help reduce the harshness of an alcohol shot and improve the flavor.
Whiskeys come in many different flavors and quality, and depending on what one you’re drinking, you’ll want to find the perfect chaser to match. You’re in luck. Today, we compiled a list of the best chasers for whiskey.
1. Beer
Beer is one of the most popular chasers for whiskey. As you spend your night at the bar, chances are you’ll have a few beers. If someone orders whiskey shots, you’ll be ready with a beer in your hand.
A beer and whiskey shot is traditionally called a boilermaker. Depending on the bar, the bartender will serve the two drinks separately, or you dunk the whiskey shot into your beer and you chug the drink. If you’re doing the second method, you might need a second water chaser to freshen yourself up.
Unfortunately, you can’t just order any beer to chase your whiskey drink. While it’s fine to drink your favorite beer with any whiskey, there are tried and tested combinations that deliver the best flavor and experience.
- You can pair light and delicate whiskey with pilsner beer
. - You should order a lager to go with a spicy or dry whiskey
. - If your whiskey has sweet or fruity flavors, pair it with a lambic or other sweet beer
. - Younger whiskeys go great with wheat beer brands
. - A spicy and sweet whisky shot goes excellent with a pale ale
. - Fruity beer is a great chaser for rich and fruity whiskeys
. - Dark German beers offer complimentary flavors to old and dignified whiskey
. - IPA fans will love to pair their pint with whiskeys that have oak and vanilla flavors
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Of course, don’t hesitate to mix and match flavors to find a boilermaker that is right for you.
2. Water
You should always stay hydrated while drinking. A rule to live by is the 1:–1 rule. For every alcoholic drink you consume, you should drink one glass of water. This helps you stay hydrated throughout the night and may reduce your hangover in the morning.
While avoiding dehydration is important, water has other non-health-related benefits. Drinking a water chaser helps stop the alcohol burn you may experience. Water does not cover up the whiskey flavor and lets you experience the taste. Just remember, drinking water does not reduce the amount of alcohol you drink in a night.
If plain water sounds boring, order soda water with lime or lemon for your chaser. Flavored seltzer is also an incredibly popular water chaser that you can get in many different flavors, from vanilla to orange.
3. Cola
Jack and coke is a worldwide classic mixer drink for a reason. Whiskey and cola taste delicious together. The sweetness and carbonation of the cola smooth the whiskey’s harshness and forms a wonderful oak, caramel, and vanilla-flavored cocktail.
While most bar patrons consume whiskey and cola as a drink, a cola chaser for your shot will work just as well. This lets you experience the full flavor of an expensive whiskey shot without diluting it with cola.
Coke is the most common cola used for these drinks, but feel free to use Pepsi or any other brand for your chaser. For whiskey, most bar patrons order Jack Daniels with their Coke.
We suggest avoiding young and cheap whiskeys for whiskey and coke shots as they may be too spicy or hot for the experience. Sweet, smoky, oaky, and caramel-flavored whiskeys work great with cola chasers.
4. Pickle Juice
It might sound weird, but pickle juice is a wonderful compliment to many different whiskeys. If you want to try this combination at a bar, just order a pickleback shot.
Do you have a favorite type of pickle? You can pick a whiskey that matches the flavor profile of your pickle.
Most pickle backs come with kosher dill pickle brine. These pickles ferment are often sour but can have other spices added in the fermentation process. Sour fermented dill pickles pair best with oaky and malt whiskey flavors. The contrast between the flavors bursts in your mouth and makes drinking the shot easier.
If you prefer sweet pickles, you can use bread and butter pickle juice with whiskeys that include sweet, vanilla, or caramel flavors.
Garlic dills are always popular and work best with smoky and oily flavors.
While not as popular as cucumber pickles, you can use any pickled vegetable brine as a chaser if you are daring. For example, banana pepper brine is an excellent chaser for spicy whiskey or rye.
5. Fruit Juice
Fruit juices can improve any shot. You have to pick the right one for your tastes and flavor profile.
Citrus-based juices are common chasers for many liquors, including whiskey. Orange juice is light on acidity and can pair with all types of whiskey. Grapefruit juice is another option, but its tartness may overpower the flavors in your whiskey.
What’s better than a pumpkin spice latte in the Fall? A whiskey shot and a hot apple cider chaser. This combination turns your shot into a delectable apple pie-tasting dessert. This also works great with cinnamon-flavored whiskey if you like a little extra kick in your drink.
Cranberry is commonly ordered with vodka, but its subtle sweet flavors make it a good option to cleanse your palate after taking some shots.
It might not work as a chaser, but whiskey and tomato juice do mix. Many bars have their whiskey version of the traditional vodka bloody mary. The whiskey adds brand-new flavors and characteristics to the classic brunch drink.
6. Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet tea is a tradition in the south, and so is whiskey. The combination is just as good. Sweet bourbon and Tennessee whiskeys go best with sweet iced tea.
Combined into a cocktail, the whiskey and sweet tea flavors meld into a sweet, tart, refreshing drink. Adding a lemon slice to the drink helps bring out the sweetness of the drink. Be sure to serve the cocktail over plenty of ice.
Shot drinkers can order sweet tea on the side to chase their whiskey. This lets the drinker enjoy the flavors of the shot and the complexity of their whiskey. You won’t have to worry about the sugar or tea flavors during the shot. Following up the shot with a tall iced tea lets you cool off and enjoy the experience.
While not a chaser, hot tea with whiskey is also a popular drink. A hot toddy combines black tea, whiskey, honey, lemon, and a cinnamon stick. This warm and cozy drink works great at holiday parties or as a nightcap.
7. Mountain Dew and Other Soft Drinks
Mountain Dew fans can be proud that their drink of choice pairs well with many different whiskeys. This sweet carbonated beverage is known for its citrus flavors and odd yellow-green color.
Mountain Dew owes its origin to whiskey in the 1940s. Bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman created Mountain Dew as a mixer for cocktails. While living in Knoxville, the duo created the Mountain Dew formula to mix with whiskey.
Designed from the ground up as a whiskey mixer, Mountain Dew also tastes great as a whiskey chaser.
Non-Mountain Dew fans can substitute any soda as a chaser. Sprite and Ginger ale are common chasers used for many different shots.
Why Should You Use a Chaser With Whiskey?
It’s perfectly normal to drink your whiskey neat or on the rocks without a chaser. For example, you may not want to combine flavors of soda or juice while enjoying expensive whiskeys. Still, there are many benefits of using a chaser when drinking straight whiskey.
Reduce Alcohol Burn
Even the most expensive whiskey can burn. A chaser quickly removes the pain and helps you get back to having fun. If you’re prone to feeling sick after taking a shot, a chaser can also alleviate that problem.
Improve Flavor
Not all whiskey is created equal. For example, top-shelf whiskey might be fine without a chaser, but if you’re doing shots of cheap whiskey, a chaser makes the experience much more enjoyable. The good chaser can make that $1 whiskey shot taste fantastic.
Flavor Combinations
With so many different whiskeys available, it’s fun to experiment with other chasers. While most whiskeys go great with coke, they might not taste great with your favorite beer.
Our list offers many options, but feel free to experiment, and maybe you’ll find the perfect whiskey chaser combination that meets your flavors profile.
