Recess, a bar in Chicago's West Loop, announced a new world record on Sunday, August 30, 2026, when 1,969 patrons took a shot of Malört at the same moment. The coordinated effort surpassed earlier attempts that involved only a few dozen participants and drew an estimated 18,000 viewers who watched the event via a live stream.
Malört, a green liqueur known for its intense bitterness, has long been a symbol of Chicago's drinking culture. Prior record attempts typically featured between 20 and 100 drinkers, making the scale of Recess's gathering a significant departure from the norm.
The bar organized the mass shot by arranging participants in rows and timing the pour with a synchronized signal. The event was streamed online, allowing thousands of remote observers to witness the simultaneous consumption. According to the bar's spokesperson, the logistics required careful coordination to ensure that each participant received the same amount of the liqueur at precisely the same instant.
The record was documented by witnesses on site and by the live‑stream audience, who counted the participants in real time. The bar spokesperson confirmed that the figure of 1,969 participants had been verified and submitted to the appropriate record‑keeping organization. No injuries or medical incidents were reported during the event.
Recess's achievement marks a notable moment for the city's nightlife scene, highlighting both the popularity of Malört and the capacity of local venues to organize large‑scale participatory events. The record may inspire future attempts by other establishments seeking to match or exceed the number of simultaneous drinkers.