I kind of love that they managed to insult The Dude in that list. (I don't see a problem with a vodka tonic at all; I prefer mind with Absolut Mandarin, no ice, thank you very much.)
The Awl can bite me. I'm not a beer drinker and when I'm in a place that's more pub than bar, I'd rather ask for a hard cider than a mixed drink. I also generally don't like Chardonnay and if my white wine options are Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio - Pinot Grigio it is.
Try a gin and tonic (with something like Hendricks or with Tanqueray no.10) and you shall see the folly of your ways. Vodka is a wonderful spirit that is underappreciated by cocktail nerds and overvalued by all the new artisial vodka makers, but the combination of gin, tonic and lime (or cucumber with Hendricks) is a cohesive summery bubble of flavor perfection whose greatness is not quite matched by replacing the gin with vodka and the lime with lemon.
Writing about gin and tonic at 11 in the morning in my office on a grey, dreary day is putting me in the mood to sit outside in the sun with such a drink now.
I would agree that the vodka tonic is the only drink on that list that is acceptable to order in public, unless you're at Lebowskifest, in which case the White Russian is not only acceptable, but mandatory.
The problem with screwdrivers these days is that the quality of orange juice at bars is so variable. My wife had to give up oredring them. Her problem is she doesn't like carbonated drinks, so we're kind of in the ___tini neighborhood.
I myself favor the Sapphire martini (olives) or the Tanqueray and tonic (lime, of course).
Suprised it didn't say Kahlua & Cream, which my husband calls, "a pussy drink" but that's about all that I will drink. But they did have White Russian, so I guess that's the equivalent.
Andrew, I also enjoy a good gin and tonic, and those are my default gins, though I prefer my gin as part of a very dry martini with a lemon twist instead of an olive.
A gin and tonic is at the mercy of the quality of the gin, while a Vodka tonic may get by quite passibly on rail Vodka, given a decent spritz of lime. And I'm a cheap bastard.
I love a gin & tonic with Hendricks. In the summer, a nice addition to one is a splash of St. Germaine. It's been the summer cocktail of choice for me & my Pasadena peeps this year.
My summer go to is usual a gin-soda/vodka-soda rather than the tonic alternative, or anything on the cocktail menu with a little heat (i'm a sucker for a drink with any jalapeno/habanero spiced liquor).
With certain friends, I order a maker's old-fashioned (with fruit) and with my dad, a sapphire martini with blue cheese stuffed olives if we can convince the bartender to make them.
I kind of love that they managed to insult The Dude in that list. (I don't see a problem with a vodka tonic at all; I prefer mind with Absolut Mandarin, no ice, thank you very much.)
ReplyDeleteThe Awl can bite me. I'm not a beer drinker and when I'm in a place that's more pub than bar, I'd rather ask for a hard cider than a mixed drink. I also generally don't like Chardonnay and if my white wine options are Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio - Pinot Grigio it is.
ReplyDeleteVodka tonic is my default drink. I see nothing wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Watts. I don't do gluten, so hard cider is my main beer substitute.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they keep their mitts off my ginger ale, they can be as snooty as they like.
ReplyDeleteTry a gin and tonic (with something like Hendricks or with Tanqueray no.10) and you shall see the folly of your ways. Vodka is a wonderful spirit that is underappreciated by cocktail nerds and overvalued by all the new artisial vodka makers, but the combination of gin, tonic and lime (or cucumber with Hendricks) is a cohesive summery bubble of flavor perfection whose greatness is not quite matched by replacing the gin with vodka and the lime with lemon.
ReplyDeleteWriting about gin and tonic at 11 in the morning in my office on a grey, dreary day is putting me in the mood to sit outside in the sun with such a drink now.
I would agree that the vodka tonic is the only drink on that list that is acceptable to order in public, unless you're at Lebowskifest, in which case the White Russian is not only acceptable, but mandatory.
Hard cider is the drink of our forefathers and I will not stand to have it denigrated!
ReplyDelete"___tini"? Mar! MAR I say!!
ReplyDeleteLife is too short and alcohol is too necessary to worry about people judging you in bars. Just don't be stupid and don't throw up. Period.
ReplyDeleteI'd be ashamed to let the Awl make me feel ashamed for drinking what I want.
ReplyDeleteThat said, my usual isn't listed. Maybe I'm cooler than I thought.
Black and Tan? Hard cider?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing these children don't drink in my local. Thank Heaven for small mercies!
I think tonight I'll have some hard cider and watch some television. This way I can enjoy the 22 minutes I would have otherwise wasted.
ReplyDeleteThis list sucks.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with screwdrivers these days is that the quality of orange juice at bars is so variable. My wife had to give up oredring them. Her problem is she doesn't like carbonated drinks, so we're kind of in the ___tini neighborhood.
I myself favor the Sapphire martini (olives) or the Tanqueray and tonic (lime, of course).
Suprised it didn't say Kahlua & Cream, which my husband calls, "a pussy drink" but that's about all that I will drink. But they did have White Russian, so I guess that's the equivalent.
ReplyDeleteGin makes me throw up. Should I still order it over a Vodka Tonic?
ReplyDeleteA lot of times a bar is going to give you "orange juice" out of the same drinks gun that provides the soft drinks. So that's a problem...
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I also enjoy a good gin and tonic, and those are my default gins, though I prefer my gin as part of a very dry martini with a lemon twist instead of an olive.
ReplyDeleteWell, a black & tan is an abominable abuse of Guinnnsss so I'm with Awl on this one.
ReplyDeleteA gin and tonic is at the mercy of the quality of the gin, while a Vodka tonic may get by quite passibly on rail Vodka, given a decent spritz of lime. And I'm a cheap bastard.
ReplyDeleteWhatever, Tequila Sunrise is awesome when it's 1/2 tequila. (why do I always get ridiculously weak drinks in bars though?)
ReplyDeleteI love a gin & tonic with Hendricks. In the summer, a nice addition to one is a splash of St. Germaine. It's been the summer cocktail of choice for me & my Pasadena peeps this year.
ReplyDeleteToday's "drinks you should be ashamed of" are tomorrow's "retro-cool classics." Drink your screwdriver proudly, in honor of its future renaissance.
ReplyDeleteMy summer go to is usual a gin-soda/vodka-soda rather than the tonic alternative, or anything on the cocktail menu with a little heat (i'm a sucker for a drink with any jalapeno/habanero spiced liquor).
ReplyDeleteWith certain friends, I order a maker's old-fashioned (with fruit) and with my dad, a sapphire martini with blue cheese stuffed olives if we can convince the bartender to make them.