If you don’t, you should.
In Holland, where they make Genever (Genever is a progenitor of dry gin that now has its own Geographic Indicator) it is a respected tradition to do kopstootjes as their version of “happy hour”.
What’s a kopstootje? It’s Dutch for “little head butt” and it is essentially a shot of genever with a beer chaser. The trick is in the way it is served and consumed.
At the end of the workday in Amsterdam you’ll see people performing the curious little ritual of kopstootjes. The custom is for the bartender to pour a brimming shot of genever in a specially designed small tulip glass. If the bartender is really good, the genever will cling tenuously to the rim of the glass. Pick it up and even the firmest hand will cause it to shake and tremble and spill, thereby occasioning the laughter and ridicule of your friends.
Instead, (and take note, Portland Hipsters) for the first sip you should bend slightly at the knees, tilt your head forward, touch your mouth to the rim of the glass, and delicately slurp the genever, then chase it with a shot of beer.
It has been said, and some will tell you they have seen, the hardcore kopstootje slurper who is able to take the entire rim of the tulip glass in mouth, tilt back his head, and knock back the entire shot of genever; but frankly, that’s just showing off.
Bols Genever sponsors periodic “Kopstootje Time!” events in various bars, with the word getting around via Facebook and Twitter. One of those happened at La Moule, the new mussels and frites restaurant at 2500 SE Clinton in Portland. Once you make it up to the bar (these kopstootje affairs tend to be crowded), a placemat explaining the kopstootje is put out for you and you have your choice of either Bols Genever or a special Bols Barrel Aged Genever with a beer back.
For an extra added attraction at La Moule, as if one were needed, the local Upright Brewing debuted a replay of their Kopstootje Bière, with the same botanical ingredients used in the genever fermented in the beer, a malty Belgian bière de garde style, as a perfect companion. This new version of a previous limited-edition favorite was maltier, slightly sweeter, and richly flavored; it was an absolute delight with the Bols Genever, and a comfortable companion once the genever was gone.