5 O’Clock Somewhere

[Pancake]

So no secret I enjoy the occasional cocktail, wine or spirit although I’ve always been a cheap drunk with a low tolerance for alcohol so it’s rarely a significant amount.
Last Summer I found myself drinking mainly Lynchburg Lemonades or Moscow Mules on those days I wanted a cocktail enough to put in effort. My usual go to is Mike’s Hard Black Cherry Lemonade out of a can though lol.

In restaurants I almost always order Caesars because I prefer a savoury drink with my meal instead of sweet.

Now that it’s winter I’ve transitioned to liqueurs in coffee or hot chocolate mainly.

I’m in a rut, looking for ideas, or just to see if others have these patterns.


I realize I’m supposed to like beer, and I wish I did because the craft beer scene is hot locally and looks like a fun community to be part of, but if you see me with a beer it’s probably because I’m DD or don’t feel like drinking and want people to stop asking why I’m not drinking. I can nurse the same beer for 9 hours then dump it still more than half full.

 

[Free]

A decade back I had this job for about 18 months that I really liked. One of the non-work reasons I liked it was, it put this great Asian market in my homeward path. Another was, as a company we went out for lunches and dinners, as a group, quite a bit. And with the meals there were drinks.

And sometimes there were no meals.

Also, there were a couple of those martini bars near our office, and we hit them more than a few times. I don't know my drinks but I'm always willing to experiment. The problem is, since I don't know my drinks I can't recall a single name for any that I liked. But I do know I liked quite a few of them.

 

[Isabeau]

Well, Fancy Shmancy Panky, drinking cocktails...

During these exciting times () I’ve been sticking to beer and wine. I don’t know if my neighbours think I’m an alcoholic, but they keep gifting me bottles for things like shovelling snow, etc. Drinking alone, one or two glasses is pretty much my limit. After that, I conk out. *snore* I did also get a cheesecake... double conk after that.

I miss get-togethers for 5 à 7’s/apéros. Last cocktail I made myself were daiquiris last-last Christmas for everyone. They were terrible, ha. We drank them anyway...

Like you, I prefer savory to sweet in general and love Bloody Caesars.I hear about pickle juice drinks but have never tried them. Something to consider doing with the leftover juice after pickles have all been eaten.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I'm more a straight sort - tullamore dew or wine. About to try Reisling to see if I like it, but if not, back to some sort of red wine.

 

[Rose Karuna]

My favorite cocktail is the Negroni

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce Gin or Vodka (traditional is made with Gin but I'm not fond of Gin unless it's really a good brand so I often use Vodka). Recently someone told me to try this with Orange Vodka so if I can find that in a liquor store I'll pick it up and make it that way just to see. I can always use orange vodka in a screw driver anyway.
• Garnish: with an orange slice

Also love the Aperol Spritz

• 3 ounces Aperol - Aperol is better in this cocktail Aperol has a bright orange taste with herbal and a touch of vanilla which I don't taste in Campari even though they are similar.
• 3 ounces Prosecco - an inexpensive Italian sparkling wine similar to Spanish Cava or French Champagne. I recommend choosing a dry (brut) Prosecco so the drink isn't too syrupy or sweet.
• 1 ounce Club soda (basically just a splash) Any unflavored sparkling water will work.
• Garnish: with an orange slice

In the summertime I LOVE a Bellini which is just 1/4 Prosecco and 1/2 peach purée and is SO good and refreshing.

Also, give me a Manhattan any day

• 2 ounces bourbon (I only use bourbon because I don't care for Whiskey or Rye)
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Garnish: brandied or maraschino cherry

I make my Manhattan dirty with a bit of the cherry juice .

I won't turn down a good Martini either but I like them made with Vodka, dirty, dry and with an olive (or two).

 

[Veritable Quandry]

If I have a cocktail, it's probably a vodka gimlet (vodka and lime syrup). Occasionally a mojito.

The craft beer scene is now overrun with IPAs. An IPA is what you make when you don't understand how hops work. I prefer darker, malty beers. Stouts, porters, and red/brown ales.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

An IPA is what you make when you don't understand how hops work.

I gotta line you up with an IPA nerd and watch the fight.

Over a Coors.

 

[Lady Darnk Juniorette]

As i've said before, pineapple rum, cherry coke and lime.

Also another is coconut rum, rumchata, chocolate syrup and milk to thin it out to your taste (whole milk, not 2%) ADD AMARETTO IF YOU ARE A CHAMPION. MIX WITH ICE.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

I had a really bad experience with beer in my younger years, and to this day, even the smell of beer makes me want to hurl. I'm strictly a wine and liquor girl. I love sipping whiskey or rum on the rocks.

Like you, I prefer savory to sweet in general and love Bloody Caesars.I hear about pickle juice drinks but have never tried them. Something to consider doing with the leftover juice after pickles have all been eaten.

Okay, that actually has me intrigued. If you, or anyone here, have recipes, please share! I have a pretty ready supply of pickle juice I'd love to make into something with a little kick!

 

[Willow Matthews]

Posting because it's 5 o'clock now.

 

[Lady Darnk Juniorette]

Coming back to thread, one idea is to buy a bottle of booze you like and see what cocktails are made with it and see if any interest you.

Also I enjoy how to drink.
They have lots of drinks to check out.

 

[Rose Karuna]

I made my own coffee liqueur recently and it was super easy and tastes really great. I also made my own Irish cream but I'm not as happy with that because I think I should have used a different whiskey. But it's drinkable and can be used in a B52 anyway.

Anyone else here make their own liqueurs?

Next I'm going to try making my own limoncello. Most of the stuff I get in the store is too sweet for me and I know a lot of families and restaurants in Italy make their own that is much less sweet. So I thought I'd give it a go.

I'm going to make my husband and I Amaretto sidecars tonight. I haven't tried it before but we both like Amaretto.

Upscale Amaretto Cocktails to Make This Season

If a sour is the only amaretto cocktail in your repertoire, it's time to think again.

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