In search of my drink
We went to a wedding this weekend in nothern Michigan. Many of our friends were there so we had a lot of fun with much dancing and eating and drinking. Except me, not the drinking part at least, because I was the designated driver at both the rehearsal and the reception. It wasn’t a hard role for me to take on though because I feel really strongly about having a completely sober driver at all times, but mostly because I just don’t like to drink that much.
I was never a big drinker anyway, but my taste for all things alcohol seems to have almost completely disappeared in the last couple years. Believe it or not, this often makes for really uncomfortable situations. Unless you’re pregnant or a recovering alcoholic, people don’t understand why you’d be drinking a Sprite when everyone else is downing 22oz drafts.
So here’s the deal. I need help finding “my drink.” You know, the drink that I can always order when the situation calls for ordering a drink. Not that I feel pressured to consume alcohol when everyone else does - if I can make it through four years of high school and two years of college without succumbing to peer pressure, believe me, you’re not affecting me now - but isn’t one of the joys of adulthood that you can order a drink with your meal?
Yes. I need a drink. Something that’s easy to get just about anywhere, something respectable, something relatively inexpensive. Here are my barriers:
Beer: This is generally my drink of choice when I do choose to drink alcohol. But it can’t be too dark or thick or strong or wheaty or watery. The only beer I almost always like is Canadian-brewed Labatt Blue. Everything else is usually too… something or other. Also, once it becomes anything but ice cold, I’m done. So I usually hand Brad my beer about half-way through and rarely order another one.
Wine: I’ve tried to acquire a taste for wine, really I have. Not happening. White, red, blush, it all tastes the same to me. Bad. I went to that wine-tasting once and tried sips of many varieties, all of which tasted alike to my palette. Again, bad. Even the 10 on the sweetness scale tasted like sugar-coated badness.
Champagne: Only Asti, the rest is shit.
Mixed drinks and cocktails: Anything that has liquor right in the name is out (Jack and Coke, Gin and Tonic, etc). If liquor is one of only two ingredients, I definitely won’t like it. Even if it’s the primary ingredient in a longer list (ie: Cosmo) it’s no good. I choke on the taste of liquor so it needs to be heavily disguised.
Frou-frou drinks: I used to be a big fan of the margarita until I drank one on the same night as my stomach virus. Now the very smell makes my stomach churn. I can handle other fruity drinks as long as they taste fruity, not alcoholy. But outside of the rare Girls Night Out, these drinks are too expensive and generally ridiculed.
Shots: I gag. Bottom line. Back in the day I could throw back a shot now and then, but in my old age I seem to have developed an extremely sensitive gag reflex. Don’t even suggest a shot I might like. Ever. The next time I hear, “No really you can do this one. Seriously, it tastes like candy, just try it,” I will slice the speaker’s tongue out with my homemade shiv.
What am I missing? What else is there? Suggest anything (except a shot) and I’ll give it a try (unless I’ve already tried and rejected it). I’ve been on a mission to find “my drink” for awhile now, but I’m so clueless I never even know what to sample. What’s your drink? What do you recommend?
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I find it really hilarious that you like Labatt Blue. I think that’s just one step above piss water, but I could be wrong. I’ve turned into a beer snob as of late. It must be from Belgium, and it must be served in a unique glass. Weird, I know.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:54 pm
How about White Russians…do you like those? They’re kind-of heavy..so I wouldn’t drink them all night long or anything…but I think they’re yummy.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I’m a Budweiser drink. In a case that Budweiser is not available, I love Smirnoff Ice - Raspberry and Smirnoff Ice with the red label. I tried the Black Cherry this weekend and it wasn’t as sweet and the others can be. A lot of people can’t drink them because they are so sweet.
In the off chance that neither of those are available or I’m just in the mood for something different, I’ll have a Tom Collins. http://cocktails.about.com/od/cocktailrecipes/r/tmclns_sr.htm
I have a girl at the local place in town that will make them in the blender like a daiquiri. She makes the best Tom Collins. I love them. I got another girl who is a bartender and had never heard of it hooked on them too. Yummmmm.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Smirnoff Ice and Mike’s Hard Lemonade are both well-disguised alcoholic beverages. Sometimes it takes an empty stomach and a hot day to have enough to actually feel it, though.
However, I’ve always believed that you ease into alcohol. I think it’s totally normal to shy away from badness cause that’s what it tastes like. But I think you eventually trick your body into liking it. Power through as always been my motto. Get some rum and mix it with your favorite cola. The more you drink from the glass the more cola you get to add. You know, a reeward system for drinking the rum. That’s the only way I gained any tolerance towards hard liquor. Now I can drink a glass that’s half rum, half Coke. And I still add more Coke as I go.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Amaretto Sour - trust me on this one!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Oh, I forgot that I wanted to say that my two friends Carrie and Molly both love Long Island Iced Tea’s. I am not a fan of tea in any shape or form but, if you are, you might like it. There’s supposedly a good place for those over by me so, if you should ever come to visit this way, I’ll take ya for one.
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Beer : Michelob Ultra with green olives. Or Boulevard with a lemon.
Mixed drink : MOJITOS!!! If you get one out somewhere, ask for an extra shot of bar syrup. Just makes it extra sweet. If you want to make the ones I make at home (the best in the universe, if you ask me) here’s the recipe :
Bacardi Limon
Club soda
Lime
Fresh mint leaves
Sugar
Muddle 5-7 mint leaves and 1/2 lime together gently. Pour in 2 ounces rum and 6 ounces club soda. Add 3-4 spoonfuls of sugar and mix well. Fill glass to the top with ice and stir gently.
It’s the best thing EVER. Especially in the summer.
Wine : Seriously…try this one. Banfi Rosa Regale. It’s a red dessert wine that goes great with chocolate and strawberries. I’ve not met anyone who doesn’t like it. It’s the ONLY wine I’ve ever liked.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:10 pm
It’s probably too girly, definitely not something they have the ingredients for at *all* bars, and sometimes overpriced, but here’s my drink:
The Blue Lagoon. Made differently almost everywhere. I prefer to go with Blue Curacao, Peach Schnapps, and Sprite — equal parts, then add vodka to strengthen.
It’s not overly fruity. Otherwise, I order Jack/Coke (I know, I know) or whatever Smirnoff or Bicardi malt beverage is available.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Well, my favorite drinks both have alcohol in the name, but I like them because I don’t think I can taste the alcohol in them. The first is a Midori Sour (especially good if you like sour stuff). The second is a Malibu Pineapple, which is Malibu rum mixed with pineapple juice. (I can’t usually taste the rum.) Oh, and if all else fails, I go for the strawberry daquiri! Mmm…
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I like white russians with malibu (coconut rum) instead of vodka. Very smooth. Kinda a caramel coffee kinda thing going on. I love beer most of the time, so I don’t drink it much anymore, but it was a favorite for years.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I’m with everyone else here who said they’re into the Smirnoff Ice. I personally love the raspberry flavor. It’s the bomb-diggety.
July 24th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
bacardi raz in drinks (with sprite) is good and doesn’t taste alcohol-y. also, building on nanette, i drink malibu with cranberry juice and a twist of lime–that’s been my “drink” for years. it’s sweet-sour and definitely not alcohol-tasting at all (i don’t like that either). lastly i love ace pear cider or woodchuck pear or raspberry cider. those are waaaaay good and not too sickening but still sweet and not alcohol-y. for wine i like moscato (it’s a dessert wine) or reisling. i also don’t drink much though–most of it i don’t like ( i hate beer) or it makes me feel sick and it’s not worth it. maybe one of those will work for you–i recommend them all. (the cranberry malibu is awesome and i swear it’d get you drinkin’). also, i used to love amaretto sours… until i drank too many.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I’m not much of a drinker either. It isn’t that I oppose it or anything, it just doesn’t fire me up like it seems to for most people. I’m just as happy with a glass of water.
I usually stick to a cranberry and vodka. I’ll have a White Russian every once and a while, but they can be heavy (and sometimes v. strong). And I’m liking mojitos, too.
July 25th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
i’m not much of a drinker either and mostly stick to water and lemon, tee hee ~ and i’m totally okay with that but when i do want to have a drink i usually go in one of a few directions. red wine ~ which is out for you so moving on … sangria ~ i love sangria and know people who don’t like red wine who adore it because of the fruity taste, it goes down so easy like pop, lol. a nice dry gin and tonic ~ which you have already vetoed but i have to say, the blue bottle (bombay) gin is kind of spicy and if you keep it low key (just a splash) with your tonic water and then throw in tons of lime and lemon, mmmmm ~ beats the head and really its mostly water, lol.
i too have to laugh at the labatt blue but i like big rock traditonal (in the winter) or grasshopper (in the summer) …
oh … have you tried bellinis ~ peachy summer drink that’s like having a slushy …
hmmmm … this comment makes me feel like i’m a drinker ~ too funny!!
July 25th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
errr .. not beats the head ~ that is just the weirdest typo .. i meant beats the heat …
: p