Drinking is the ultimate social lubricant. It can turn an awkward relationship with a coworker into an all-night party with your new best friend. But while a few casual beers can help bring people together, nothing says “let’s kick-start this friendship” better than a few old-fashioned “drop drinks.” There’s something about taking a shot glass full of delicious alcohol, dropping it into a pint glass full of more delicious alcohol, and then chugging that concoction as fast as possible that can bring camaraderie to a bar full of strangers. And according to Jessie DeVille, a bartender at The Fire Escape Bar & Grill in Citrus Heights, CA, “People like to race their drop shots because it almost becomes more of a game—a game that gets you wasted really fast.”
You’ve probably downed classic drop shots like the Irish Car Bomb, Boilermaker, and Jäger Bomb, but there are new mixtures in line to destroy your liver, such as the elegant Sake Bomb and the vicious Mexican Sweat (see below). These aren’t just for college freshman. Once you revisit this glorious form of binge boozing, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made “drop and chug” your only form of liquid consumption. Then you’ll forget your name and fall down.