Sake oyster shooter at Hank's Oyster Bar

Shake Up the Seafood Routine with These Oyster Shooters

Oysters and booze in a single gulp. Does it get better?

by Jamie Liu Sep 21, 2016, 11:00am EDT

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Sake oyster shooter at Hank's Oyster Bar

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by Jamie Liu Sep 21, 2016, 11:00am EDT

Oysters and alcohol are a natural pairing. They make for a luxurious combination with champagne, and pair well with the white wines grown in the oyster shell-rich Loire Valley. So why not put them together in an oyster shooter?

The traditional oyster shooter features vodka and a dash of Tabasco and/or lemon juice. The next most common options is not a big departure from the usual cocktail sauce in the form of a Bloody Mary shooter.

At raw bars all over town bartenders are adding cocktails to the briny delicacies on the half shell. With takes on classic shots to classic cocktails, shooters are getting more exciting. Find them at seafood-focused restaurants like Hank's Oyster Bar and Brine, or in less intuitive locations like Founding Farmers. Some places, like Eat the Rich and Rappahannock Oyster Bar, even have multiple varieties from which to choose.

Have another favorite destination for oyster shooters? Share in the comments.

BLT Steak

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Find shooters made with tomato water and bacon-infused vodka at the bar at BLT.

1625 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 689-8999

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Brine

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The Brine oyster shooter keeps it pretty traditional with vodka, lemon, Bloody Mary mix, and the house hot sauce.

2985 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031

(703) 280-1000

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Catch 15

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At Catch 15, choose from a shooter with peppered or citrus vodka.

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1518 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 969-2858

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Eat The Rich

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There are five oyster shooter options at Eat the Rich using different varieties of oyster, and based on classic cocktails or shots. There's the Chessie with vodka and clamato, Oyster Back with rye and pickle juice, The Potomac Pastry War with mezcal and pineapple shrub, Oyster in the Afternoon with Herbsaint, lemon cordial and bubbles, and the G&O Canal with gin and grapefruit cordial.

1839 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 316-9396

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Founding Farmers Tysons Corner

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Head to the Tysons location of Founding Farmers for a shooter with spicy tomato, pilsner, blood orange, and vodka.

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1800 Tysons Blvd, Tysons, VA 22102

(703) 442-8783

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Grillfish

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Find oyster shooters at this seafood restaurant for $8 during their Shellfish Saturdays promotion.

1200 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 331-7310

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Hank's Oyster Bar

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The $4 sake oyster shooters at the three Hank's locations feature sake mixed with Bloody Mary mix containing Old Bay, Tabasco, and horseradish.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

(202) 462-4265

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Old Ebbitt Grill

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Old Ebbitt Grill keeps it traditional with a shooter of Absolut Peppar, horseradish and cocktail sauce.

675 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 347-4800

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PassionFish Bethesda

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At Passionfish order a trio of Bloody Mary shooters with vodka and spiced celery salt.

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7187 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815

(301) 358-6116

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Pennsylvania 6 DC

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During happy hour, $5 oyster shooters are on offer along with $1 oysters on the half shell.

1350 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 796-1600

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Rappahannock Oyster Bar

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Choose from three different shooter options. The basic Rappahannock features vodka and a mignonette; the Stingray has a sweet tinge with gin, honey, rosemary, and lime; and the Olde Salt takes on classic tequila mixers with orange, grapefruit, grenadine, and chili.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

(202) 544-4702

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Senart's Oyster & Chop House

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Senart's has three options for shooters. The Hair of the Dog is the traditional with horseradish-infused vodka and Bloody Mary mix. The Baltimore Bomb uses Pabst Blue Ribbon and cocktail sauce, while the Tequila Shooter uses serrano-infused silver tequila and lime juice.