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New Yorkers lined the streets to cheer President Obama before yesterday’s somber wreath-laying at Ground Zero, then bellied up to the bar to uncork a decade of pent-up emotion and celebrate the demise of Osama bin Laden.
“Obama got Osama! Obama got Osama!” cried a flag-waving woman near the World Trade Center site as the president’s motorcade approached.
With the city reveling in victory, local bartenders got creative.
They made up an array of aptly named shots and cocktails that took aim at Osama and the way he was killed — including the Double Tap.
The drink has two shots — one for each Navy SEAL bullet that blew away the terror lord — and a splash of water, symbolizing his watery grave.
Amity Hall owner Tory Delany served hers up with “all-American” Jack Daniels and garnished them little American flags.
Obama’s whirlwind trip through the city, including visits to a firehouse, a police precinct and Ground Zero, sparked a renewed sense of celebration around the city that began when news of bin Laden’s death broke Sunday night.
Crowds gathered to get a glimpse of the commander-in-chief during each of his stops around Manhattan, then raised a glass to victory.
“Bin Laden is dead!” toasted NYPD Officer Shaun McGill as he and four fellow First Precinct cops — who all attended yesterday’s ceremony — clinked glasses and downed Double Taps at Walkers, on North Moore Street in TriBeCa, two hours later.
McGill, 38, of Staten Island, was nearly crushed when the first tower collapsed while he was evacuating survivors.
“I’ve had The Post’s ‘Wanted, Dead or Alive’ cover up in the office for almost 10 years. I’ll have to put the new ‘Got Him!’ cover next to it,” McGill said.
His buddy, Lt. Robert Murray of Rockland County, said, “I was working Sunday night. It reminded me of pictures from World War II. At Ground Zero, people were singing ‘God Bless America’ and the National Anthem. It’s great to see American pride.”
They were among the thousands of cops, firefighters, hardhats and suits who pulled up barstools at their favorite watering holes to hoist a few and blow off some steam.
“To a renewed sense of patriotism and closure,” toasted 1st Precinct Officer James Lorenzo, 38, of Staten Island, who was on patrol in the Financial District when the first plane hit. “Like most Americans, I’m very happy. I feel vindicated.”
At the Dark Horse, on Murray Street, Brooklyn hardhats Roger Small, 38, and Audie Smith, 25, downed a couple of Osama bin Shots — vodka laced with blood-red Grenadine.
“To this man living in the pits of hell for eternity with Lucifer and all the other devils that have plagued the earth, may he forever be in the pits of hell,” toasted Small, who, like Smith, is working to rebuild the WTC site. “It tastes good to taste bin Laden’s blood.
“Every day, I’m trying to rebuild what Osama bin Laden destroyed in a matter of hours,” he added.
Despite the celebratory mood, painful memories remained.
“I hope every shark eats a piece of him. That’s what I’m toasting to,” said George Schulgen, of East Harlem, whose father-in-law, NYPD Officer Ray Suarez, was killed on 9/11.
“It’s a time to celebrate his death,” said Schulgen, 27, who attended the wreath-laying with his wife earlier in the day. “I’m extremely happy that he’s gone, but it still brings back memories of her father, and that’s hard.”
Raise a glass to Osama’s demise! These drink recipes will juice up any “Osama is dead” party:
The Double Tap (a k a Two Shots and a Splash)
2 shots of any American whiskey in a rocks glass Add a splash or water
The Osama bin Shot
1 shot vodka in a shot glass topped with blood-red grenadine
The Bloody Terrorist
1 shot vodka 1 shot gin 1 shot tequila Tomato juice and a dash of Tabasco Throw it all in a tall glass with ice, and prepare to get bombed.