Combine the popular shot and chaser combo for a fun pickle juice cocktail! Garnish your pickleback cocktail with fresh dill and pickle spear.
Where are my pickle lovers at?! Y'all are going to love this fun and easy homemade cocktail.
This pickle juice whiskey sour takes happy hour to the next level. It's unexpected but somehow works brilliantly. Don't knock it till you try it!
What is a pickleback?
Pickleback shots originated from The Bushwick Country Club bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Reggie Cunningham is thought to be the originator of the popular shot back in 2006.
A pickle back is a shot of bourbon or whiskey, followed by a shot of pickle brine.
I haven't take a shot of liquor since my college days, but wanted to create a cocktail based off one of my favorite shots of all time! The end result tastes similar to a whiskey sour, but less sweet, more savory, and tangy.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this simple cocktail at home:
- Whiskey or bourbon
- Pickle juice
- Fresh lime juice
- Simple syrup
The citrus from the lime juice cuts the burn of the alcohol and the sweetness of the pickle juice.
The simple syrup makes this cocktail with pickle juice perfectly sippable.
How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails
Homemade simple syrup is surprisingly simple to make, budget friendly, and easily adaptable. It's an easy-to-remember 1:1 ratio using sugar and water.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and stir to dissolve. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat, then let cool. In total, this will take about 20 minutes.
Store simple syrup in a sealed squeeze bottle or jar in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.
1 cup sugar + 1 cup water yields approximately 1 ½ cups simple syrup.
Equipment
- Cocktail mixing glass
- Mixing spoon
- Double jigger
- Cocktail glasses
- Ice (I love my new nugget ice maker!)
How to Make a Pickleback Cocktail
Stir the whiskey, pickle juice, lime juice, and simple syrup together in your mixing glass. Pour into 2 cocktail glasses filled with ice. Garnish and serve.
Pickle Juice Drink FAQ
You can use any type of whiskey, although it’s commonly served using Jameson Irish Whiskey.
If you're not a fan of whiskey, use vodka or tequila instead.
Use your favorite kind of pickle juice. Both bread & butter pickles or dill pickle juice will work just fine.
I enjoy this cocktail during happy hour or as a nightcap served with dried fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate.
Related Recipes
Want more easy cocktail recipes? Check out these next:
- Classic Bloody Mary
- Bourbon Smash
- Classic Manhattan
- Easy Paloma Cocktail
- Apple Cider Margarita
- Aviation Cocktail
- Aperol Spritz
- Texas Ranch Water
I hope you enjoy this easy pickleback recipe! If you give it a try, please share a photo with me over on Instagram.
Pickleback Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces whiskey or bourbon
- 3 ounces pickle juice
- 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- Pickle spear and fresh dill to garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail mixing glass, stir together whiskey, pickle juice brine, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Pour into 2 cocktail glasses filled with ice. Garnish with a pickle spear and fresh dill. Serve and enjoy!
Suggested Products
Glass Cocktail Mixing Glass
Double Cocktail Jigger with Measurements
Cocktail Muddler and Mixing Spoon
Rubber Bar Mat
Mary A. Milan says
It is incredible how it faintly tastes like pickles and lime but not at all like bourbon! The tastes combine into something completely different! And, as my daughter, said, "It has a built in hangover cure with the electrolytes from the pickle juice" and, if you eat the pickle spear you are evening out the calories because pickles are negative calorie food - it takes more energy to eat a pickle than it creates in caloric intake! LOVE IT!
(Oh, and my daughter, who does NOT like pickles, does NOT like whiskey, but DOES like dill pickle potato chips, said "It's oddly delicious!")
Jenna Urben says
I'm so glad you and your daughter enjoyed this drink 🙂 I like the way she thinks!
jemma says
Had this tonight and will be making plenty more. What a satisfying drink! And we'll be trying the other recommendation of maple syrup too. Thanks & cheers!
Jenna Urben says
Thanks so much for the kind comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Cheers!!
MARILYN says
I substituted maple syrup for simple syrup, it's a Vermont thing. Yummy on a hot day. Thanks for the recipe.
Jenna Urben says
That sounds incredible, Marilyn! Cheers 🙂