Bartenders have seen it all, or so they think. From customers who can’t handle their alcohol to those who get a little too friendly after a few drinks, working behind the bar means dealing with all kinds of strange behavior.
But even for someone who’s witnessed countless odd interactions, there are moments that stand out as truly baffling.
For one Denver bartender, that moment came when a customer ordered a simple tequila shot and then made a request so unusual, so unexpected, that it left her completely stunned.
Customer Makes Strange Demand
In a trending video with more than 26,000 views, bartender Gabriella Masseran (@gabriellamasseran) shared one of the strangest customer interactions of her bartending career.
While working a busy night at her Denver bar—which was hosting members of one of Colorado’s sports teams for a gala event—a customer ordered a shot of Casamigos Blanco tequila and then insisted she do something highly unusual before he would drink it.
“This guy asked me to spit in his shot,” Masseran says in the video. “I mean, I’ve had a lot of weird interactions at the bar, but why do you need me to spit in your shot?”
The interaction started normally enough. The customer ordered the tequila shot, and Masseran asked if he needed a chaser, what bartenders call “training wheels.”
“He’s like, nah, I got it. I was like, cool. Hand him a shot,” she recalls. “And he was like, ‘You’re missing something.'”
Assuming she’d forgotten a standard accompaniment, Masseran offered salt and lime. But that’s not what the customer wanted.
Shot With A Side Of Spit
“He goes, no, your spit,” she says in the video. “I’m like, what the f—?”
Masseran was understandably confused by the request, thinking to herself that the guy thought he was “at a college … frat party right now.”
“You’re in a bar. You’re asking me to spit in your shot, dude,” she says in the video, still processing the bizarre interaction.
When she asked why he needed her to spit in his drink, the customer simply responded that he just needed her spit in his shot.
Unable to comprehend the request and wanting to move on from the uncomfortable situation, Masseran made an executive decision.
“I was like, I’m just going to let you have it. This one’s on me, man. This one’s on me,” she says in the video.
“I’ll buy you this shot sir just walk away,” Masseran wrote in her caption, summing up her desire to simply end the interaction and move past the strange request.
The video doesn’t clarify whether the customer was serious about the request or if it was meant as some kind of joke.
Masseran’s reaction, however, makes clear that regardless of intent, it was far outside the realm of normal bar interactions and made her uncomfortable.
How Bartenders Can Stay Safe
Bartenders deal with a lot—drunk customers, aggressive behavior, and yes, wildly inappropriate requests. It’s part of the job, but that doesn’t make it any easier when someone crosses a line.
According to Colorado-based security company Pikes Peak Security, service industry workers, particularly women, frequently face customers who become unruly or entitled after drinking.
The company emphasizes that bartenders should know their de-escalation tactics: Stay calm, set clear boundaries, and don’t be afraid to call for backup when things get weird.
One of the biggest mistakes workers make is not knowing who to contact when a situation gets uncomfortable. Security experts say bartenders should communicate with managers about concerning interactions and have a plan in place before something escalates.
“Your safety is worth more than any tip or comment a customer might make,” they note.
Masseran’s experience may have been more bizarre than dangerous, but it’s a reminder of the unpredictable and often uncomfortable situations bartenders navigate on any given night and why trusting your gut when something feels off is so important.
@gabriellamasseran I’ll buy you this shot sir just walk away😂 #bartender #bartenderlife #denver #bar #shots
Commenters React
“God forbid a dude had hobbies,” a top comment read.
“Should have just charge $50 cash,” a person said.
“Sooooooo, don’t do this the next time I go out?” another asked.
BroBible reached out to Masseran for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message.