Enjoying a cool drink with friends is just as much a part of having a fun night out at a bar or club as it is being a young adult. The problem is that most people don’t really know what the best drinks to order really are. Whether you’re 21 or 91, these are then ten alcoholic drink categories that you should try at least once.
#10 Mainstream Domestic Beer
Brands like Coors, PBR, an d Busch have been poo-poo’d by many beer snobs because of their ubiquity. Often branded as flavorless, these misunderstood beers are often very refreshing, light in taste, and pair amazingly well with a burger, a steak, or almost any party food out there. They’re also cheap, making them a great pick for college students on a budget.
#9 Lambic
This is the beer that beer-haters love to drink. Fizzy, sweet, tangy and fruity, lambics are amazing beers that are made with some of your favorite fruit juices. When compared to your average beer, lambics are pretty hard to find. However, it’s well worth the search and the higher price tag.
#8 Straight Vodka Shots
It doesn’t matter whether you try it with Popov or Grey Goose. Having a straight shot of vodka is a Russian tradition that made its way to the US for a reason. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s definitely a drink that everyone should try at least once. (Note: Tequila and whiskies also can suffice.)
#7 Sake
Sake, which is Japanese plum wine, can be served hot or cold. It is a huge deal in Japan, and it makes for a great accompaniment to sushi, steak, and stir fries. Recently, sake has become a huge trend among anime fiends and geeks alike, so why not give it a shot?
#6 Absinthe
Although the original recipe is technically lost to time, and though the US has outlawed its hallucinogenic herb ingredient, there are plenty of companies which have been able to get the flavor of the classic Green Fairy drink close to what researchers believe it must have tasted like back in the day. As the favorite drink of geniuses like Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Baudelaire, and Oscar Wilde, drinking it is just as much an homage to famous thinkers and drinkers as it is a personal experiment.
#5 A Random Novelty Drink
There’s a lot, and we mean a lot, of novelty alcoholic drinks that are ready to try sitting on store shelves across the country. Some are funny-looking, like Popsy (pictured below), while others are just super exotic in ingredients. Either way, some of these novelty drinks are just begging for a taste – if only because they’re funky and hilarious.
#4 Cheekily Named Bar Drinks
In this category lie shots and mixed drinks that are popular, but often seem to be designed solely to embarrass the drinker. Such drinks include the Buttery Nipple, Sex on the Beach, the Alien Secretion, and the Brain Hemorrhage. The flavor and quality of each drink can vary greatly, so this category of drink may be one that you want to try multiple times. After all, with great variety comes great opportunity for enjoyment.
#3 Wine
Wine was one of the staples of civilization since historians can remember. Entire industries and sommelier schools are devoted to the subject of wine, wine tasting, wine creation, and wine storage. There’s a good reason for this. Anyone who wants to experience wine culture should definitely do so – ideally by trying a couple of red varieties, some white varieties, and some rose varieties as well.
#2 Classic Mixed Drinks
Margaritas, mojitos, sangrias, and cosmopolitans are popular for good reason. The fruity, often candylike taste of many mixed drinks make them a favorite among those with a sweet tooth. More traditional, heartier mixed drinks like martinis, Manhattans, and Tom Collins tend to be a hit with folks who love tradition, a strong drink, and a little elegance. It’s hard not to love a classic, time-tested drink or two!
#1 Exotic Mixed Drinks
Exotic mixed drinks are the kind of drinks that you may find being served in sushi bars, tiki bars, and other bars that channel faraway places. Unlike margaritas and mojitos, these drinks are not always easy to find on a menu. Such drinks include Chi Chis, Mai Tais, Hula Girls, and almost anything that mixes sake with another liquor. Most of these drinks are very sugary, very fruity, and a smash hit with girls who want to get their hula on!
Each of these alcoholic drinks categories will have fans and detractors from every walk of life. The only way to find out which drinks suit your palate is to experiment with it. So, go ahead. Have fun with it. You might find that new magical alcoholic drink that always lifts your moods!
Stay Thirsty My Friends.
