One thing shots haven’t done much of yet is make it onto cocktail-style menus of their own. While Cannon’s list at Eastern Standard contains a small section of specialty shots, at most bars, shots land in the realm of “bartender’s specialty.” For instance, pay a visit to “Irish Kate” MacCormack at McFadden’s (148 State Street, Boston, 617.227.5100) and you can sample her personal creation: the Irish Kate Knickers ($6.50), a mix of watermelon liqueur, Stoli Razberi, pineapple juice, grenadine, and sour mix. Or find bartender Chris Gallant at the Cactus Club (939 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.236.0200) and he’ll mix you up his Creamsicle ($6), which, with its blend of Stoli Ohranj and Stoli Vanil, tastes like the real thing. Other venues, such as 33 Restaurant & Lounge (33 Stanhope Street, Boston, 617.572.3311), have a list of recommended concoctions behind the bar that every bartender will know how to make.
So if you’re looking to expand your repertoire beyond that boring rum and Coke, there are plenty of shots worth throwing back. Head to OM to try Travers’s Raz Truffle ($8) or Yello Monkey ($8), or sample Cannon’s Holy Water ($5), a mix of sambuca, tequila, and Tabasco. House specialties at Redline (59 JFK Street, Cambridge, 617.491.9851) include the summery Bain du Soleil ($5), while 33 boasts the 33Style ($10), a mix of Stoli Strasberi, Hpnotiq, and Apple Pucker. Also worth tasting is the Breakfast of Champions ($6.99), on the new beverage menu at Sunset Grill and Tap (130 Brighton Avenue, Allston, 617.254.1331); it includes a fruity, beery splash of Lindemans Framboise Lambic. Just remember, no matter where your quest for great shots takes you, don’t forget that old collegiate adage: one tequila, two tequila, three tequila . . . floor.
