Over at The New York Times, a writer wonders if we’re choosing our drinks based on what we like, or what we think others like:
If I had to guess, I’d say that many of us aren’t drinking what we’d truly like to drink. A friend of mine frequently orders Pimms to remind people of her stints abroad, though I suspect she longs for vodka tonic. And in my household, in addition to my unrequited predilection for Drinks With Umbrellas, I recently learned that my husband hated the taste of beer in high school and so insisted on White Mountain, a “malternative” beverage. And by insisted I mean that he forced the kid with the fake ID to not only risk his neck buying beer but also his reputation by adding a case of White Mountain with nary a teenage girl in sight. My husband also sometimes pours himself a glass of apple juice and nurses it, pretending it’s whiskey. (I’m not sure why. Actually, I’m not sure why he even admitted that to me.) And yet the Macallan nestles up against the Hendricks in our liquor cabinet.
What are we all trying to prove? Clearly we should hop on the nearest jet ski and propel ourselves to a swim-up bar. But what we choose to drink can reveal more about us than, say, our astrological sign or whether we prefer Elvis or the Beatles. What a tense moment, to be the first to order a drink with a group of people you haven’t hung out with before. Do you order a beer to let them know you’re easygoing? Do you order champagne to convey that you’re the fun, sassy type who likes to celebrate ordinary moments? Do you order scotch to let them know that you might start to get kind of intense in a couple hours? Do you order a Merlot, as if “Sideways” taught you nothing?
For me it’s Tanquerey and Tonic, although I’m not adverse to a good glass or wine or two, including Merlot; I hated Sideways.
The only gins I will drink are Hendricks and Boodles (I’m open to others, so long as they are of similar quality); and if someone or some place has them I will gladly have a G&T, or a perfect martini.
If I like the quality of what they’re pouring, I love a variety of different cocktails. I prefer sour and bitter to sweet, unless the sweet comes from fruit juice.
I also prefer dryer liquors, like 151 (most rums are too sweet without a strong counterbalance), rye whiskey, good Irish, or good Scotch (which are all less sweet than poorer quality liquors).
If I don’t know, (or don’t like) the quality of what they’re pouring, I’m a “double vodka tonic double lime” guy, or a “cape codder double lime” (I loves the sour).
Tanquerey and Tonic is my first choice for a cocktail though I’m more of a beer guy myself. Nothing beats sitting back and having a bottle of Goose Island after a long day at work.
My typical cocktails are Cap’n & Coke, Tanq & Tonic, or the occasional white russian (thanks, Lebowski!) For shots, carbomb or straight tequila. And of course, with Mexican food a nice margarita.
A nice night drink I’ve had is Bailey’s on the rocks, or a nice port.
But I rarely drink hard liquor (partly because I have trouble moderating my drinking with those compared to beer, which I’m trying to work on).
For me it’s mostly beer, and never 64-calorie MGD and only VERY rarely is it “triple-hopped” Miller Lite. Usually I’m drinking a fine IPA, or just about anything I’ve brewed myself (drinking a Belgian Dark Ale as I type).
For wine, I’ve got a major affinity to Sonoma Zinfandel (typically Dry Creek Valley appellation being my favorite)… Far more of a fan of this than a huge Napa Cab… If you can find it, look for Belvedere Zin…
I love sweet&sour fruity mixed drinks. There, I said it. If it comes with an umbrella, so be it. At home I currently mix up a “Pomegranate lemon drop”, which oddly contains no lemon but does have a shot each of pomegranate vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice and pomegranate juice.
This is amusing because you’d probably figure me for a Jack Daniels straight up type by looking at me. I like beer, especially stout, but it disagrees with me.
I’m a beer snob almost all the way. And I drink for taste, period. EX’s of favored brews: sprecher’s abbey ale, New Glarus stone soup, Bell’s hopslam, Pint’s Pub’s scotch ale.
Red wine is good, too, esp. a meaty cabernet. So far as cocktails, I’m all about dark rums and I do like vodka on occasion. Overall, though, it’s beer for me.