And that is why I basically only drink wine and cocktails. When it comes to cocktails, however, personal history is relevant too. Inspired by this article, I decided to review my own essential cocktails. Here are the ones I have a history with:
- White Russian: As the drink of our generation thanks to “The Big Lebowski”, the PIFF loves it, Pip loves it and it’s my to-go-drink which I find most comforting of all.
- Mojito: Burn Notice Sam’s cocktail of choice, it’s one of my favorites too. Also a reminder of the only evening with too much alcohol I have ever had (two mojitos and a Long Island Ice Tea)
- Long Island Ice Tea: This is only in the list because it was the first cocktail I have ever heard of. It’s the infamous people-choose-it-because-they-want-to-show-off-their-alcohol-tolerance-drink, and due to its lackluster taste I will always perceive it as such.
- Whiskey Sour: Surprisingly enough, I find it hard to make a good Whiskey Sour. For me, it has to be the right proportions of sweet and sour, and perhaps also the right type of whiskey. This bar in Berlin made it so perfectly that I thought it was the best cocktail I have ever had. One of the guys attending the outing recommended it to me, and he was so spot-on.
- Grasshopper: One of my favorites, and a rare treat due to chronic lack of crème de menthe at home.
- Mint Julep: Since I like Grasshoppers, it is not surprise that I like other minty cocktails, and this one is a must thanks to Georgia Tech and “One, Two, Three”.
- Daiquiri: Shamefully, I have never had a proper daiquiri, and my inexplicable love for Hemingway calls for it. But the strawberry-infused type makes me fondly remember our girl nights in the Simon-Dach-Straße, when we typically start and end the evening with one of these (with one other cocktail in-between). It’s really easy to screw up a Strawberry Daiquiri though.
- Martini: Similar to daiquiris, I have not really tried this variety of cocktails sufficiently yet (though I love gin so my hopes are high). Mostly I remember the strange chocolate raspberry concoction I once had in Philadelphia. It was so good.
- Old-fashioned: We had one in the Loos bar in Vienna. It was pure brilliance, and the location suits the drink. It makes me believe that I do like manly drinks - when done right.
- Margarita: Like the Grasshopper, I really learned about the drink from “Bartender” the anime (hahaha), and what makes the drink so lovable is its salt border. Similar to the Long Island Ice Tea, I don’t really like the taste.
- Mimosa: It’s just a brunch drink, but it’s the best one. (Gosh I hate Bloody Marys even though I normally like tomato juice.) I encountered it the first time in Dante’s Kitchen, perhaps the best brunch I have ever had on one of the most lovely trips we have ever been to.
- Irish Coffee: The first cocktail I have ever had. I didn’t use to like it, but it reminds me of the ice cream outings back in high school (we got this huge parfait to be shared by 3 people).
- Gin and Tonic: Pip’s to-go-drink back in the day. Boy were we young. It should not really go into this list, but ironically this simple cocktail is the one that got me into mixed drinks in the first place. Just like Tom Collins or a Gin Fizz which, of course, I also like.
Overall, my alcohol preferences are Whiskey > Gin > Vodka > Rum > Tequila > Cognac. I like lemons/limes, mint and most sweet things in them, and dislike too many bitters and anything orangy or cranberry. Or Campari. But really, apart from my strong favoring of whiskey cocktails, the stuff I like is all over the place.
A propos that link above - there are so many cocktails I have never had! I find most intriguing the French 75, the Jack Rose, the Sazerac and the Last Word. My tastes are not very refined yet so I am definitely still a girlish drinker, but that will change. What will not change is the nostalgia associated with a lot of the drinks I already like.
And yes, I have not had a drink since 10 months.
