434197 Thu Aug 23 09:45:06 -0700 2007 53 36 Spirits 0 2873628 Please help me avoid being socially awkward! Do you have any suggestions on what bar drinks to order in specific situations (out with the bosses, out with the SO's colleagues, friends or family, etc.)? I am not a huge fan of wine, or else that would be the safest/easiest choice. I always find that cocktails with vodka is overpowering with what I think turpentine would taste like. I usually ask for a rum-based fruity drink and leave it up to the bartender, but they often don't like my indecision. I need a list of classic drinks, that any semi-incompetent bartender would know! TIA Thu Aug 23 09:45:06 -0700 2007 116353 jinxed 1 2873903 Rum and coke? Malibu and Cranberry? Cuba Libra? Captain Morgan's and Pineapple? These are all simple cocktails, ordered by ingredients. All have rum, and all are easy to drink. Thu Aug 23 10:43:50 -0700 2007 2873628 14838 Dave and Stuff 2 2875218 Thanks for your suggestions, Dave and Stuff. I actually like Malibu and pineapple (something about the coconut and pineapple flavours together -- very summery), but I feel like an unsophisticated kid ordering it! Maybe I just shouldn't care what I think others think. Not a fan of cola, so I don't order rum and coke (which is what I think Cuba Libre is basically?? plus lime juice). I guess I could just go back to a Rye & Ginger. Thu Aug 23 15:09:52 -0700 2007 2873903 116353 jinxed 1 2873935 Just a hunch, are you a beer drinker who is looking for something a little more sophisticated for certain social situations? I've been there. Where I can get it I like a black and tan, stout floated on top of pale ale ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tan ). It's still beer but it looks impressive and often that's enough to pass. Thu Aug 23 10:50:31 -0700 2007 2873628 41118 inuksuk 2 2875250 Thanks for your advice! If I had a beer, I'd probably only have one -- they're pretty filling, especially if you are layering it with Guinness! I don't mind a beer once in a while (prefer it to wine), and usually order a Keith's. Very smooth and not too bitter. Thu Aug 23 15:16:08 -0700 2007 2873935 116353 jinxed 1 2875590 Some you could try: Mojito Vodka tonic - Its not that overpowering with vodka, might be worth a try. Sidecar White Russian Rob Roy - Good drink when the weather is cooler Seven and Seven Thu Aug 23 16:44:39 -0700 2007 2873628 14573 Scott M 2 2875744 Mention of the Sidecar reminded me of this: http://waiterrant.net/?p=267 Despite the associations, I think I'll try to remember the Sidecar, White Russian and Rob Roy for my next "occasion"s! Thanks! I forgot...Amaretto Sours are a safety drink for me too. I need to write out a list... Thu Aug 23 17:25:51 -0700 2007 2875590 116353 jinxed 1 2875756 Actually, here is a handy list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cocktails Thu Aug 23 17:29:26 -0700 2007 2873628 116353 jinxed 1 2876066 One thing I often order is an amber rum with ginger ale. Almost all bars have ginger ale and an amber rum. Mount Gay is probably the most commonly available amber rum of decent quality. It's a very common drink among people who enjoy sailing, which is where I began to drink it. Rum and tonic with a good squeeze of lime or lemon also works ok. Thu Aug 23 20:02:10 -0700 2007 2873628 18017 Captain 1 2889570 the op seems to be a very occasional drinker, who doesn't care for the taste of alcohol much, hence the preference for the sweeter, more tropical, "summery" rum-based drinks. for this reason, i'd advise against some of Scott M's list-- while classic, some of these cocktails are pretty intoxicating, probably not what the op is after when having cocktails with the boss or SO's colleagues. it's also a reason not to order "a rum-based fruity drink" from the bt-- when people would ask me for that item, i'd whip up a velvet hammer of a mixed rum punch, stick an umbrella and cherries in it, and tell them not to drink it too fast or they might have trouble walking. umbrellas and too many cherries in drinks are a cue to other barstaff: "watch out for me, i'm a complete yahoo," btw. jinxed is right, malibu-pineapple is a kid's drink-- as is rum/coke, morgan/coke (though you see lots of post-grad frat & sorority types drinking them too)--as is an amaretto sour, but it might taste good to the op, and you can get away with it in an italian restaurant. Captain's rec of mount gay with ginger ale is a good one for a lighter mixed cocktail. there is nothing wrong with rye and ginger or whiskey sours either. my apologies to Scott M, on second thought, a white russian might be good, too. a little more intoxicating, and caloric, though. maybe some fruitier cordial-based cocktails would taste good: chambord and soda, chamord/cran or chambord and 7. they are a little weird to order though. i almost hate to mention them, but some of the flavored vodkas are not bad at all, they can all be ordered with plain soda, 7up, or juices, and they effectively mask the "turpentiney" taste of some vodkas. i'm not talking about smirnoff twisters or crap like that-- try stoli raspberry with lemonade, absolute curant with cranberry or 7up, and if you do like white russians, ask for stoli vanilla instead of reg vodka the next time you order one. pretty much every bar will have these nowadays-- safe/easy/foolproof. Tue Aug 28 10:55:48 -0700 2007 2873628 46030 soupkitten 2 2898430 Thanks for your insight and advice! Indeed, your take on me is quite correct (very occasional drinker). I *am* on the young side, but I don't want to scream it out with my drink order when I'm at my SO's work functions...and at the same time I'd like to drink something that I'd enjoy without looking like a ya-hoo. (ha! let me think of all the cherry'd drinks I've had! no umbrellas though..) I'll give vodka-based drinks another try with the Stoli raspberry and lemonade (sounds good!) and white russians. What does Bailey's on the rocks say about the drinker? (Honest assessment please! I really appreciate your comments -- good mentoring for moving away from sophomoric drinks.) Or maybe you can provide a list like waiterrant (matching drink to personality) Thu Aug 30 16:56:50 -0700 2007 2889570 116353 jinxed 3 2898500 We chowhounds probably have a hard time with this board because I think most of us are pretty good little drinkers. I would find it disgusting to drink Bailey's before dinner (and, yes, I'd probably knock some points off if I saw you order that). If you really have no interest in drinking at all, please remember that there's no shame in ordering a sparkling water with some lime (chowhounds will just assume you're a recovered alcoholic), or just nurse a good ole gin or vodka and tonic. You don't like wine or beer at all? Thu Aug 30 17:24:59 -0700 2007 2898430 120945 ccferg 4 2898561 I don't mind a drink or two, but I just don't know what to order! I don't mind beer, but I only want it with greasy foods...and wine is fine paired with food, but I don't have more than a glass by itself. Still developing my palette.. I appreciate everyone's input in expanding my 'spirited' horizons! Thu Aug 30 17:52:05 -0700 2007 2898500 116353 jinxed 3 3593156 To me, Bailey's on the rocks says "I'm done with dinner." Ordering it before dinner is like having ice cream for the appetizer: It might sound fun, but doesn't really set things off on the right foot. Mon Apr 14 12:19:55 -0700 2008 2898430 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 2 2931205 I tried a martini made with vodka (banff or skyy? i forget) with raspberry chambord and lime, and it went down quite nicely. No umbrellas or cherries! Tue Sep 11 12:07:53 -0700 2007 2889570 116353 jinxed 3 2931321 right on. :) hope you have a lot of fun with new cocktails--remember not to mix your liquors up too much on the same night, though! Tue Sep 11 12:35:28 -0700 2007 2931205 46030 soupkitten 1 2889679 Dark and stormy is a bit more sophisticated than most rum drinks and I think most bartenders are familiar with it -- ginger beer and rum. Tue Aug 28 11:19:48 -0700 2007 2873628 120945 ccferg 2 2928935 Hard to find a good one though -- most bars don't carry acceptable ginger beer. My advice is to try to develop a taste for something like rum and tonic -- Mount Gay and Tonic is actually quite a nice drink. Mon Sep 10 19:06:56 -0700 2007 2889679 10669 Amuse Bouches 3 2949929 Violet Hour in Chicago is doing a great version of a Dark and Stormy Mon Sep 17 15:12:53 -0700 2007 2928935 49180 jpschust 1 2931335 Rum and soda with a squeeze of lime not only sounds sophisticated bu is a great drink... Tue Sep 11 12:38:45 -0700 2007 2873628 50037 jungleboy 1 2932544 Baileys. on the rocks. Perfect drink when out with others. It is a very classy as well as delicious drink. (and as a bartender I can assure you they can't screw it up) Tue Sep 11 18:03:34 -0700 2007 2873628 54116 gryphonskeeper 2 2949512 Disagree with every element of your post. Mon Sep 17 13:32:45 -0700 2007 2932544 11148 Alcachofa 2 2952431 as another bartender, i think the only time a bailey's on the rocks is acceptable (and then only barely) is as an after-dinner drink, while still sitting at the table. and before i poured it i'd tell the server to go back and double-card the person who ordered it. Tue Sep 18 10:43:31 -0700 2007 2932544 46030 soupkitten 3 2953551 Bailey's, "cider" and some blue concoction called a "blue lagoon" were my first (under-age) drinks in a Welsh pub, so I'll always associate it with my first taste of alcohol! That being said, Bailey's is a tasty but artery-clogging (50% cream!) drink that I usually have at a friend's house as part of a shot or on the rocks. Tue Sep 18 15:03:24 -0700 2007 2952431 116353 jinxed 1 2935752 One consideration for work related drinking is not getting too plastered and telling the boss "waj-I-rilly-zhink-of-ya." That being the case, you might order an Americano--it's Campari w/soda (and in some cases a little sweet vermouth). It's a real drink with a cool sounding name, though not too strong. You might think it tastes a little medicinal, given the remark about vodka, but you should give it a go. --Cheers! Wed Sep 12 15:20:31 -0700 2007 2873628 19813 Poindexter 2 2936824 Haha, thanks for the suggestion! I'm familiar with the coffee drink by the same name, which is what I'd probably need after a few drinks -- I tend to get sleepy after an alcohol buzz, rather than loud and obnoxious (or so I'd like to think...) Wed Sep 12 23:03:32 -0700 2007 2935752 116353 jinxed 2 2952380 An americano is actually campari, soda and sweet vermouth. It's a negroni minus the gin. Tue Sep 18 10:32:41 -0700 2007 2935752 15217 gini 3 2952959 That's what I said, no? '...it's Campari w/soda (and in some cases a little sweet vermouth).' So actually it's a Negroni w/soda in lieu of gin, which is how Count Negroni took his Americanos. Tue Sep 18 12:53:05 -0700 2007 2952380 19813 Poindexter 4 2953021 You said "In some cases"... but an Americano is always served with Campari and an EQUAL PART of vermouth (not "a little bit"... the same amount). Otherwise, it is simply a Campari and soda. :o) It's all gooooooood. Tue Sep 18 13:04:50 -0700 2007 2952959 11148 Alcachofa 5 2953037 Roger. Tue Sep 18 13:07:51 -0700 2007 2953021 19813 Poindexter 2 3616166 Be warned: I love to make Americanos (Americani?) at home, but each time I have tried to order one at a restaurant, I get a blank stare. Why bartenders don't just sneak a peak at a guidebook rather than embarass you by making you explain the recipe to them, is beyond me. I suggest whiskey sour as a great fallback drink. Almost as easy to drink as Ameretto Sour but without the stigma. Mon Apr 21 14:39:47 -0700 2008 2935752 184210 fieryredhead 1 2936826 Thanks everyone for their suggestions! Keep 'em coming! Wed Sep 12 23:04:17 -0700 2007 2873628 116353 jinxed 1 2938689 My safe drink when I was a youth in social/work situations was always a gin and tonic. If you start feeling like you've had enough, you can switch to tonic only and no one can tell the difference, and if you spill some on your tie you just drink until it dries off. dave Thu Sep 13 12:59:42 -0700 2007 2873628 119739 davebough 1 2944672 A moscow mule might be a good choice for you - it's mostly ginger ale (or ginger beer), with lime and vodka. Not too strong, but not froofy, and it looks fine. A gin and tonic is a decent summer alternative, and mojitos are trendy now. You can always tell the bartender that you want the drink on the light side, and they should be amenable to that. As for the Americano, some people think Campari tastes too much like cough medicine. Unfortunately, I'm one of those! Sat Sep 15 14:01:45 -0700 2007 2873628 23840 Bluebell 1 2949446 Can't get any more basic than Scotch and Soda. Dewars or Walker Red and seltzer. It's classic, adult, tough to screw up and no one will look at you funny for ordering it. Mon Sep 17 13:17:25 -0700 2007 2873628 14412 wontonton 2 2949467 Or Scotch and water, with water back. That way, you can always continue to add water as you sip, stretching the drink in a work situation. The other plus about scotch and water...you never lack for mixer. I learned to drink them in college, when we never had anything lying around to mix with! Mon Sep 17 13:23:08 -0700 2007 2949446 116345 ChefBoyAreMe 2 2949500 I agree with the scotch / whiskey route. You can get it neat (how I like it), on the rocks, with a finger or two of water, or other ways. If you are going to start drinking scotch, try out a few; there are 100's out there to choose from. The Johnnie Walker / Glenfiddich / Bushmills (technically an Irish whiskey) are all safe bets to begain with. If you want to get a little more sophisticated, order a Highland Park, Lagavulin, or a Caol Ila. Mon Sep 17 13:30:40 -0700 2007 2949446 101467 eberhard49 3 2949532 Agreed, but for a beginner, well watered down Dewars. It gives them a lot of control over how strong it tastes, and as their palate adjusts, they can cut back on the water. Eventually, break out the single malts with a bit of water, but as the Scots say, "doo na droon the malt"--just a splash Mon Sep 17 13:37:27 -0700 2007 2949500 116345 ChefBoyAreMe 3 2949599 That was my thought. Good single malt can be made to last a long time, and it's the farthest thing from frou frou there is. Mon Sep 17 13:52:28 -0700 2007 2949500 60923 MobyRichard 1 2952374 Pick a spirit you like (scotch, rum, gin) and try it with soda, water, gingerale, etc. Given your concern over what your drink says about you, a glass filled with liquor + soda doesn't say much. Save the pina coladas for the beach and the bailey's for your house. Tue Sep 18 10:31:56 -0700 2007 2873628 15217 gini 1 3030154 My default drink is a Tom Collins... Not entirely sure what that says about me, but I think it's tasty and not too strong. Fri Oct 12 16:09:36 -0700 2007 2873628 106307 southern transplant 1 3030261 I stick to amaretto sours and malibu and pineapple when out with friends. That being said- chambord and prosecco (an italian sparkling wine) is an excellent choice when trying not reveal inexperience. A mojito is a bit trendy, but with good reason- its quite tasty, ask for extra twist of lime. If available you must try Lillet on the rocks with an orange twist. Very, very good. I think the suggestions of scotch, bourbon and gin are going to be overwhelming, and quite frankly- gross for someone who doesn't drink much. Fri Oct 12 16:38:17 -0700 2007 2873628 65067 jme1beachbum 2 3593022 I'd completely NOT recomend amaretto sour, Malibu and pineapple or prosecco and Chambord unless the poster wants to look like a 19 year old borrowing her older sister's ID. The whole point of the initial post was to look for more mature cocktails, which none of those are. I DO agree about the Lillet though, especially in the summer. OP- What did you choose? Mon Apr 14 11:45:34 -0700 2008 3030261 92744 invinotheresverde 3 3627831 Invin- I see nothing in the original post re: maturity of the drinker. I simply suggested simple drinks that any bartender could make, comparable to a fruity rum based drink that the poster has ordered in the past (which was in the original post). Personally I'd rather someone think I am 19 and drink what I like. I couldn't care less what other people think of my drink order, seems like an awfully silly thing to judge people on. Thu Apr 24 20:01:56 -0700 2008 3593022 65067 jme1beachbum 4 3628697 Per the OP, "I actually like Malibu and pineapple (something about the coconut and pineapple flavours together -- very summery), but I feel like an unsophisticated kid ordering it!" Silly in your eyes or not, lots of people consider those kiddie drinks, and the drinkers of such having unsophisticated palates. Some people care about such things, others don't. Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead drinking a glass full of sugar, but hey, bottoms up. You can have my share. Fri Apr 25 07:49:33 -0700 2008 3627831 92744 invinotheresverde 3 3628701 Lighten up a bit, taste is important, I serve all of the above to a huge age range, all depending on taste, not what decade they were born in..... Fri Apr 25 07:49:59 -0700 2008 3593022 133355 jspear 4 3628714 Said the man who drinks Chambord with a splash of vodka in it. :) Fri Apr 25 07:52:53 -0700 2008 3628701 92744 invinotheresverde 5 3628718 Amen, stress the MAN part don't forget the curly twist Fri Apr 25 07:54:10 -0700 2008 3628714 133355 jspear 6 3628789 That actually just made me laugh out loud. Good one! I just think that the OP can have ther best of both worlds: more mature cocktails that taste great as well. It's all trial and error. Some people, like yourself and jme1 like sweeter drinks. I definitely don't care for the calories OR the throbbing in my head the next morning, so I try to drink slightly drier drinks. Also, having worked in very high end dining for years, sometimes customers DO get judged by what they eat/drink. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to do so, but it happens all the time. I don't think it's so much of a "Malibu and pineapple tastes disgusting", but more along the lines of "Malibu and pineapple with a $50 Ribeye? Nasty!". I mean, there's a time and a place for everything. Hell, I drank Baybreezes while floating in a pool in Mexico recently. They were delicious. But the OP is looking for drinks to have at dinner with her husband's work colleagues. It's implied she's looking for something a bit more indicative of the situation. Fri Apr 25 08:13:54 -0700 2008 3628718 92744 invinotheresverde 7 3628850 Ditto on the life experiences with food and I agree, you can be seen as what you drink. I am not at all worried about what I drink (demonstrated by my taste selections here and other posts) and think you need to feel comfortable in your skin. This post has had both ends of the spectrum and lots in between, the benefits of a free society I guess. Fri Apr 25 08:29:30 -0700 2008 3628789 133355 jspear 2 3594342 Lillet isn't that easy to come by in many restaurants and if the OP is not already familiar with the drink it could be awkward trying to explain to a server what it is. Mon Apr 14 18:10:08 -0700 2008 3030261 60923 MobyRichard 3 3609271 I'm not a huge fan of very alcoholic-tasting drinks, either, but I recently discovered the joys of the old-fashioned. The bit of sugar and the bitters make it taste delightful, but it's still a good, classic sipping drink. Fri Apr 18 21:15:02 -0700 2008 3594342 21830 pamiam 4 3628693 thank god someone added an old fashioned, the most modifiable drink known to man, sweeter, more bitters, more fruit, burbon, whiskey. Great to try. I agree with the rum and tonic suggestion, especially a white rum with lemon wedge in a large glass. cosmo's are passe but still a good order at any bar. Here's my new favorite, the hypnotist. Chilled Hypnotique, a few drops of casis for a bottom color topped off with a bit of champagne on top, cherry for garnish. A champagne cocktail with muddled casis, touch of sugar and twist with champagne in a champagne glass is kind of a classy classic. Don't forget coffee and ....... based drinks, especially after dinner, an Irish coffee, baileys and coffee or any number of cordials and coffee. LI iced tea as well. Fri Apr 25 07:48:21 -0700 2008 3609271 133355 jspear 2 3628705 Yum, big fan of Chambord.....beach bum Fri Apr 25 07:51:07 -0700 2008 3030261 133355 jspear