The pickleback is nothing new. Said to be invented by Brooklyn bartender Reggie Cunningham of the Bushwick Country Club, it’s as simple as can be—a shot of whiskey chased by a shot of your favorite pickling liquid. Of course, if you’ve ever read any of Chekhov’s plays, you already know those country escapes were very much fueled by shots of vodka with sides of pickles. 

And anyway, who says you need to have the booze? I regularly take a shot of pickle juice by itself for shits and giggles when I’m fridge-surfing for snacks, and some folks even say it’s ideal for muscle cramps and the occasional Charlie horse.