Sex In The Woods Cocktail Recipe? 97 Most Correct Answers

The structure of vodka and moonshine is essentially the same. Both are unaged neutral spirits, usually cut with water to increase volume and make them tastier to drink.

Can you add moonshine vodka? Yes, vodka can be substituted, but let’s have some fun with this one. Make sure to grab a bottle of moonshine with a bottle of moonshine and give it a try! Blood oranges or regular oranges are a perfect garnish in this drink and as an accompaniment, giving you something to nibble on once this cocktail begins to take hold.

What Alcohol Can You Mix With Moonshine? It doesn’t matter if Moonshine spent time in a barrel or not. …The classic combination of whiskey and cola works, no matter how old the whiskey is. Flavor-wise, it’s pretty similar to the Paloma, but it’s a lot cheaper. An ale with ginger in it… It’s a sweet vermouth. You can make lemonade. Icetea.

Which alcohols should not be mixed? A combination of red wine and vodka. A drink made with aniseed and mint liqueur (creme de menthe)…. We’ll have beer and vodka… One beer and one cigarette plus no food. Tequila and beer… There is no food with red wine. If you decide not to drink alcohol at night, you won’t be spared a hangover.

What not to mix with vodka? The symptoms of a hangover can be made worse by drinks that contain many congeners. Drinks with fewer congeners like vodka, gin, and white wine tend to cause less stomach irritation than darker drinks like brandy, whiskey, rum, and red wine.

Can I put vodka in my beer? The combination of vodka and beer is popular, has a loyal following and is perfectly safe when consumed responsibly. This drink is referred to as vodka beer, according to the Urban Dictionary. The mix of beer (usually very low quality) and vodka (always from a plastic stick) makes an excellent mixed drink.

What is safe to mix with vodka? Soda water is a type of carbonated water that comes from the process of carbonation. It’s called tonic water. …to squeeze some crunberry juice over some ice. Soda with Lemon and Lime. You can also use lime juice or lemon juice… Make a bloody mary from tomato juice or a bloody mary mix… You can make orange juice using orange juice. You can make pineapple juice at home.

Can you mix come and vodka? Various cocktails contain spirits with your favorite soda, including vodka and cola. The taste of good vodka is the perfect complement to the sweet and smooth taste of Coke. When it comes to liquor mixers, Coca Cola is probably the most popular choice.

Can you mix moonshine and beer? A simple cocktail consists of mixing light beer and moonshine. Fill a jar with moonshine and add 1 shot. Then pour 12 oz (350 ml) of your favorite lager or light ale into the glass. Ice can be added to make it cooler or left out for a hotter drink.

What can I add to Moonshine? However, you can dampen its bitterness by adding fruits like watermelon, peach, strawberry, and raspberry, as well as apples, lime, and lemon. If you want to make moonshine as potent as possible, add your fruit of choice during preparation. You will want to flavor your bourbon in the following ways.

Can you mix anything with alcohol? It’s not true that mixing alcohol will make you sick – drinking a beer and a gin and tonic will likely do the same thing to your body as drinking just one.

What is the best thing to mix with alcohol? Both gin and vodka taste bitter with tonic. A splash of seltzer adds effervescence to a heavy drink, while flavored vodkas add body for an understated, light take on a classic drink. Coca-Cola is a classic that goes well with whiskey or rum.

Is It Bad To Mix Different Types Of Spirits? Because mixing drinks can make it difficult for you to keep track of the number of standard drinks you’ve consumed, it’s not recommended. When you switch from a low-alcohol drink to a higher-alcohol drink, you may end up consuming more alcohol.

Is it okay to mix whiskey and vodka? Cocktail recipes using Ails with vodka + whiskey? no Mixing these drinks will get you arrested by the cocktail police.

Why Does Mixing Alcohol Get Stronger? Because mixed drinks contain more alcohol than beer, it’s best to start with the strongest drink and then slowly reduce it to allow your liver to metabolize it.

Is it bad to mix wine and vodka? If you plan to mix vodka and wine without adding anything else to the glass, mixing the two together is not recommended. A fruit cocktail that includes both vodka and wine is a great way to successfully mix the two drinks.

Why You Shouldn’t Drink Vodka If you drink too much vodka, your judgment will be impaired, your coordination will decrease and you will lose control of fine motor skills. For people taking medications or pain relievers that interact with alcohol, even small amounts of vodka can cause them to become extremely intoxicated.

If you google “how to use moonshine” you’ll likely come across some old myths and crazy rumors like “fill up your gas tank to use it as an alternative fuel” or “remove the enamel on your teeth”.

Just so it’s clear, the myths of olden glory aren’t what comes out of today’s high quality regulated distilleries, and moonshine is fast becoming one of the most popular liqueurs to create a variety of cocktails. Moonshine is versatile, powerful and aromatic. It’s a must-have in today’s liquor cabinet for any beverage maker to impress a party or just enjoy a good drink on the couch. But why make drinks with moonshine?

Any cocktail that calls for tequila, rum, or vodka can be made with moonshine.

Moonshine is the cocktail Swiss army knife

This means most classic drinks you can imagine can be made with moonshine, and our 90-proof and 40-proof flavored moonshines add a new twist to your favorite cocktails. Moonshine’s higher alcohol content means you need to use less to make it just as potent as you’re used to… and Moonshine flavors open up a world of flavor without sacrificing quality.

Here’s how to make the drinks you love with Moonshine:

The Sex and the City characters spent most of their time at the latest club or bar, but everyone needs a dose of caffeine at some point. The coffee giant wasn’t as big as it was when Sex and the City was still on TV. But if it were still being produced today, those characters would definitely be Starbucks regulars.

Since we already know their cocktail orders are consistent, they would all have their usual caffeinated drink as well.

Carrie Bradshaw: Black Coffee

Everyone knows that Carrie’s signature drink in the evening is a cosmopolitan drink, so of course black coffee would be her drink. Carrie always stays up late to finish an article of the week or to go into town, so it always needs a boost of energy. She also needs the strong kick to fight her frequent hangovers.

Samantha JonesPinot Noir

Samantha is as dedicated to the men in her life as she is to her public relations business. That means getting up early and going to bed late. Now that Starbucks has a few places that serve alcohol, Samantha would be there from dawn to dusk. She would probably just skip the coffee and wait for wine to be served.

Charlotte York: Pumpkin Spiced Latte

The PSL was practically made for Charlotte. She’s your typical Connecticut girl who moved to NYC after college and dreams of a perfect marriage and family. Charlotte has her outdated rules about how women should behave and is sometimes ridiculed for it by the rest of the group. PSLs are sometimes ridiculed too, but everyone still loves them.

Miranda Hobbes: Sweet Green Smoothie

Miranda might not be the favorite, but let’s face it, she’s definitely the one who’s closest to their life together. She would be the sweet green smoothie because she probably knows a health benefit that makes it better than coffee.

Mr Big: Espresso

As Samantha said in the pilot episode, Mr. Big will be the next Trump, but who knows if that’s what he wants now. Mr. Big obviously needs some coffee to keep up with his busy business schedule and Carrie’s late-night calls. Mr. Big would be espresso because he’s too bougie to drink filter coffee.

Steve Brady: Bottled Iced Coffee

Miranda’s bartender boyfriend-turned-husband would be the bottled iced coffee that Starbucks sells. Steve wouldn’t want to deal with the lines from Starbucks, so he’d just go to the nearest store to buy a bottle of caffeine.

Stanford Blatch: Salted Caramel Mocha

Stanford Blatch is Carrie’s best friend on the show. He’s always salty about something, but occasionally has a sweet moment. Stanford would be a Salted Caramel Mocha because the drink’s contrasting flavors suit its moods.

This group of Sex and the City friends never missed a night out at a club or a morning brunch, even if it meant waiting in line to get in. If the show was still on today, they would surely have waited in the Starbucks line for their coffee.

In the final moments of the 2008 film “Sex and the City,” the four main characters of the HBO hit series – Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbs, Samantha Jones and Charlotte York – enjoy a nostalgic reunion with an old friend, Cosmo.

“That is expensive!” exclaims Charlotte as she sips a shimmering pink Cosmopolitan cocktail from an oversized martini glass. “Why did we ever stop drinking these?” Miranda wonders. Carrie, in turn, jokes, “Because everyone else started it!”

Their conversation is full of deliberate irony. In fact, many people started drinking Cosmopolitans (or Cosmos) in the late ’90s, arguably because of the drink’s association with the show and its sex column-writing protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw. Whether the Cosmo is, as Charlotte says, a “delicious” drink is a matter of historical and heated debate.

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Before “Sex and the City” (SATC) first hit the small screen in 1998, the bright pink cocktail had already amassed an impressive following among New York City celebrities and socialites by the late 1980s. Bartender Toby Cecchini is widely credited with introducing the drink to high-profile regulars at TriBeCa brasserie The Odeon, where he was then working.

Cecchini, who now owns the Long Island Bar in Brooklyn, has often told how he “modified” the recipe of another pink cocktail called the Cosmopolitan that was making the rounds in San Francisco’s gay bars. Cecchini learned about this drink from a colleague who was introduced to it by friends coming from the West Coast.

“It was gross, but it looked pretty,” Cecchini said in a 2017 interview with Punch. “I set out to recreate it.” He upgraded the drink’s ingredients, replacing Rail vodka and store-bought lime juice with the new-to-market Absolut Citron, a lemon-flavored vodka and fresh-squeezed citrus. Instead of grenadine, Cecchini used cranberry juice to give the drink its signature hue and added triple sec (by many reports Cointreau) for a sweet balance.

Ironically, the ingredients hardly mattered. What helped the drink gain popularity was its instantly recognizable pink hue. “It was always done wrong and you could tell because it looked like a Negroni,” Cecchini said. “Nobody made the right amount of lime juice. … It was too much cranberry. And yet, to this day, people never get it right.”

Unfortunately, the ubiquitous ubiquity of the Cosmopolitan and the myriad of overly cute artificial-looking replicas led to its demise. But at its core, the Cosmo belongs to the “sour” cocktail family and is a sibling of other hugely popular drinks like the margarita and daiquiri. In capable hands and avoiding gimmicky tools and ingredients, both can be crafted into stunning beverages. So is the Cosmo worth a second chance?

VinePair decided to find out. To do this, we thought it appropriate to give the drink another try at the major New York bars and restaurants featured in Sex and the City. After all, this was the show that helped make the drink famous.

Helping this writer on the Cosmo-fueled pub crawl was VinePair’s marketing director Jeff Licciardello, a late-to-game “Sex and the City” fan who regularly watches reruns of the show. VinePair columnist and cocktail enthusiast Aaron Goldfarb was also on hand to share his knowledge and taste buds (Goldfarb has been a staple at previous VinePair barcrawls).

Special guest was Melissa Stokoski, an actress and comedian who leads guided “Sex and the City” tours for On Tour locations two to three times a week.

To set the stage, our tasting began at Cosmo’s original NYC home, The Odeon.

Our review process was simple: if the restaurant had a Cosmo on their menu, we would order it. If this is not the case we would ask that one be made to house specifications. Each taster rated each drink on preparation, presentation, ingredients, balance of flavors and value for money. The results were then averaged to determine our final ranking.

Setting standards: The Odeon

The Cosmo’s NYC home has never been on SATC, but it feels like the sort of restaurant where the bougie’s mainstays would start the night. The institution TriBeCa captures the comfort and sophistication of a traditional French brasserie, while a long, incredibly well-lit Art Deco bar dazzles. (It also reportedly cost nearly 10 percent of the restaurant’s opening budget when it debuted in 1980.)

The tasting team told our bartender about the Cosmo Crawl, and he responded with excitement, discussing the drink’s association with the restaurant and its popularity — he makes an average of 20-30 per shift.

The perfectly pink Cosmos he served arrived in sturdy martini glasses. In other, more modern facilities, the thickness of the glass would have felt sticky; but in this nostalgic environment they were perfect. While our bartender poured ingredients freely, the drinks were remarkably balanced: tart, fruity, and sour, with just the right amount of sweetness. Average score: 21.75/25

6. Cipriani

In SATC Season 3 Episode 3, “Attack of the Five Foot Ten Woman”, the girls have brunch at Cipriani Italian restaurant in SoHo. As they flip through the wedding section of The New York Times, they learn that Carrie’s ex, John James “Mr. Big” Preston married his girlfriend Natasha Naginsky five months ago.

Drinking a Cosmo at Cipriani in 2020 proves to be a similar attack. The service is elite, and the experience is akin to an awkward first date that you really want to end and will pay any price to get out. In this case, that was $22. In return, we got a tiny, frothy Cosmo, served in the manner of thick stemmed water glasses designed for large-scale catering events and inexpensive New York restaurants.

Cipriani’s bartender chose not to shake our drinks but to mix them up using a milkshake frother. The result was undeniably attractive, but in no way a classic Cosmo supplement. It contained Stolichnaya vodka (unflavored), tasted like pink lemonade flavored with a sour mix, and came with an awkward lime wedge garnish. While the Cosmopolitan has become the epitome of free-spirited fun, drinking this frothy brew at Cipriani feels anything but. Average score: 8/25

5. Cafeteria

Known for its 24/7 service, Chelsea’s Cafeteria restaurant is also the setting for numerous brunch scenes throughout the SATC series. Nearly two decades after the show ended, the cafeteria’s ambiance is reminiscent of this late ’30s friend who, instead of settling down like many of his contemporaries, is trying to keep the party going for as long as possible. The music, a compilation of Ibiza dance hits from the early 2000s, blares several decibels too loud, and the after-dark lighting is unacceptably dim for any restaurant — even one that never closes.

As for its Cosmo: a modern interpretation that deserves credit for its efforts, but the delivery, much like the bar/restaurant in general, is off. Served in a Nick & Nora glass, this Cosmo smelled like Starburst-infused vodka and tasted like an overly sweet, passion fruit-laced Sex on the Beach. It bears as much resemblance to a classic Cosmopolitan as an appletini does to a martini and is, at best, a successful Sandals resort cocktail. Average score: 12.25/25

4. Grand Bar & Lounge at the Soho Grand Hotel

Featured in episode 15 of season 4 (“Change of a Dress”), this hotel bar and lounge hosted a charity event for (fictional) hotel magnate Richard Wright, Samantha’s soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. During the Black and White formal party, Samantha learns that Richard is dating other women and is shocked to realize how bothered she is. “I think I’m monogamous,” she tells her friends. “I heard it from you people.”

IRL, the Soho Grand offers an authentic, glamorous SATC experience. The decor spices up simple royal appointments with elegant 21st century details. Both the bar and lounge feel expensive without being stuffy, and the staff provide remarkably friendly service.

If you’re looking for Cosmos, you’ll need to order an off-menu and there’s no Absolut Citron at the bar. The cocktails came in paper-thin, oversized coupe glasses garnished with a large spiral of orange. The sweet citrus garnish ultimately hijacked the drink, and the mix lacked the alcoholic punch. Since the beauty of this Cosmo is only skin deep, it’s acceptable for a one-time affair, but definitely not worth a long-term commitment. Average score: 13/25

3. Onieals Bar and Restaurant

Onieal’s, the show’s most well-known bar (On Tour Locations ends tours here), is better known to SATC fans as Scout, the bar co-owned by Steve Brady, Miranda’s husband, and Aidan Shaw, Carrie’s boyfriend of two and one-time fiancé.

The main appeal of this Nolita bar today is its familiarity from the show. But beyond that, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what the space is for. “Is it a pub, lounge or tavern?” We wondered. It’s dimly lit, has TV screens behind the bar, and is furnished with a mix of multicolored faux velvet booths.

Sipping a Cosmo at Onieal is an obvious must for SATC fans, but for cocktail enthusiasts the experience doesn’t offer the same appeal. Served in a sturdy (read: chunky) martini glass, the cocktail had a bright red hue, leading us to question whether the mix contained too much cranberry juice, or perhaps even an unauthorized squirt of Rose’s Grenadine. In each case, the drink lacked acidity and sourness, and came with unwelcome hints of Luden’s cough drops. Average score: 13/25

2. Buddakan

Carrie and her fiancé Mr. Big, who starred in the 2008 film Sex and the City, chose Buddakan as the location for their wedding rehearsal. As the evening progresses, Miranda inadvertently sows doubt in Big’s mind, paving the way for numerous plot twists throughout the film.

Located in a nondescript (from the outside) industrial hall in the Meatpacking District, the cavernous bar and restaurant embodies everything you want from a SATC experience. There’s sushi lounge music courtesy of a live DJ tucked away next to the bar; The kitchen serves Asian fusion dishes like edamame dumplings, while the bar area seems made for bottle service, overlooking the vast dining room below.

Of all the places we visited, this was the only bar where we weren’t the only ones drinking Cosmos. We certainly weren’t the only ones who enjoyed it either. Buddakan’s Cosmo is an alcoholic cocktail that’s pink in color and suggests just the right amount of cranberry juice (a notion backed up by its slightly astringent flavor profile). Tasters gave points for insufficient lime juice, but we doubted that would have been a big deal for Carrie and company. Average score: 16.5/25

1. Balthazar

“The most powerful woman in New York isn’t Tina Brown or Diane Sawyer or even Rosie O’Donnell,” Carrie says during the opening narration of Season 1, Episode 5 (“The Power of Female Sex”). “It’s the hostess at the Balzac, which had become the only restaurant that mattered overnight.”

“Balzac,” the fictional French restaurant, proves too exclusive even for Carrie and Samantha to get a seat, so they decide to leave and eat elsewhere. The exterior of the scene is from the real Soho brasserie Balthazar. The restaurant also has interesting ties to the Cosmopolitan: its owner, restaurateur Keith McNally, also founded The Odeon – he opened Balthazar in 1997 after selling his stake in The Odeon.

The brasserie shares similar DNA to The Odeon in terms of decor and ambiance. But the energy is livelier and you can easily imagine the girls spending Friday night here, lively discussing the past week over a few rounds of Cosmos.

Although the drink isn’t on the menu, our bartender, Willis, informed us that he had all the ingredients to whip up authentic Cosmos, including Absolut Citron. In no time at all, he was serving up a picture-perfect round of cocktails that closely mimicked The Odeon’s version, right down to the bubblegum-pink hue and the slightly dated but not out of place martini glasses. Refreshing, balanced and sweet without being cloying, these were amazing Cosmos. While The Odeon’s version was sharp around the edges, the slightly sweeter version of Balthazar was well rounded and perfectly balanced.

Sitting there with our perfect Cosmos in hand, we couldn’t help but wonder: wasn’t this just the best Cosmopolitan of our Sex and the City crawl, or does Balthazar offer the best version of the drink in Manhattan, period ? Either way, the jury was unanimous: after all, the Cosmopolitan is a delicious cocktail. Average score: 22.5/25

When you peruse a drink’s menu, you have dozens of options to choose from. They all look delicious, but trying to pick an option from the list has your head spinning before you’ve even had a sip. If you’re looking for a quick fix to your decision-making problems, go for classic fountain drinks. If you are not familiar with the term, we explain everything you need to know and which fountain drinks you should use in the future.

What’s a good drink?

(Unsplash / Patrick Tomasso)

Simply put, well drinks are cheap mixed drinks. In fact, the cheapest at the bar. Generally, the drinks are made using the cheapest spirits at the bar (tequila, bourbon, vodka, gin, rum, scotch, whiskey) and some sort of mixer (soda, soda water, and assorted juices).

Wondering why they are called Well Drinks? The term was coined to reflect the space behind the bar where the bartender typically keeps their tools such as assorted spirits, ice and mixers. It’s also the drinks, which are often made in pairs since they’re so frequently ordered.

How to order good drinks

If you go to the bar and ask for something like “rum and coke” or “rye and seven,” you’ve got yourself a good drink. Simply calling for a drink without naming a specific brand of alcohol will usually get you a good drink.

(George Rudy / Shutterstock.com)

On the other side of this coin is a call drink. If you request a specific brand of alcohol or a twist, ask for a very specific drink. For example, if you can ask for a “Crown Royale and seven” instead of “Rye and seven,” you’ll get a call drink.

There is a third type of drink: premium drinks. Asking for premium alcohol (Bacardi, Beefeater, Belvedere) in your drink is the premium way. That’s pretty much all there is to it.

Popular Well drink list

So now that we’ve figured out what the heck a good drink even is, let’s go through some of the most popular ones to order at the bar. We dive into what’s inside them and why they’re worth trying.

1. Rum and Coke

(KucherAV/Shutterstock.com

rum

Ice

Coke

Lemon or lime wedge for garnish

This is for sure one of the most well-known great tasting drinks available almost everywhere. It’s the perfect drink for those who don’t like strong drinks and appreciate a good glass of cola. It’s also watered down with ice and you can choose between a shot or two of rum to make it as potent as you like.

2. Long Island Iced Tea

(armano777 / Shutterstock.com)

triple sec

tequila

rum

gin

vodka

sour mix

Coke

Lemon slice for garnish

Okay, yes, this one added what appears to be a huge list of cheap alcohol, but you don’t need very much of it per pitcher or glass of Long Island Iced Tea. About half an ounce of each type of liquor and enough coke to fill the glass gives you just enough for an adult version of iced tea.

3. Vodka tonic

(Pcholik / Shutterstock.com)

vodka

tonic water

Ice

Lime or lemon wedge for garnish

A vodka tonic is another one of those good drinks that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients to make and isn’t very strong. If it’s not to your liking, you needn’t add more than an ounce or two of vodka with some tonic water for a good, easy fountain drink.

4.TomCollins

(Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock.com)

gin

Simple syrup

lemon juice

Soda

Ice

slice of lemon

Tom Collins is a sweet and sour blend of simple syrup and a double twist of lemon. A spritz of club soda and ice will dilute it all for you, and just a touch of gin won’t have you coughing up a ton of alcohol. You can also stick a cherry in if you really want an extra sweetness.

5. Screwdriver

(Oksana Mizini / Shutterstock.com)

Ice

orange juice

vodka

Salt

No, it’s not called “Orange…Vod-Juice-Ka” as Michael Scott thought. A screwdriver is a classic fountain drink made with just a hint of vodka and orange juice. There will also be more OJ than vodka, so you don’t have to worry about a super-strong drink. Not to mention the ice waters things down too. Throw in a pinch of salt and you’re good to go.

6. Damn Mary

(Oleksandra Naumenko / Shutterstock.com)

vodka

tomato juice

Worcester sauce

lemon juice

Hot sauce

horseradish

salt and pepper

Celery stick for garnish

Bloody Mary’s are great when you’re looking for something with a kick. You saw these ingredients correctly; Horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and horseradish give this drink the tangy touch needed to combat tomato juice and vodka. A crunchy stick of celery gives you something to munch on that’s not only healthy, but also clings to some of that sweet concoction.

7. Black Russian

(Ekaterina_Molchanova / Shutterstock.com)

vodka

Kahlua

Ice

A Black Russian is the perfect drink for someone looking for a few brands of alcohol and an ice cube or two. With three simple ingredients, this fountain drink gives you everything you need for a stronger concoction that’s cheap and delicious. Different bars may use different coffee-flavored liquors, but Kahlua is the most commonly chosen brand.

8. Whiskey Sour

(Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock.com)

whiskey

lemon juice

Simple syrup

Orange or lemon slice for garnish

cherry for garnish

Whiskey, simple syrup and lemon is a delicious, sour burst you can indulge in almost any time of year. You can also ask the bartender to change the garnish for your personal taste, and an added cherry makes things extra sweet.

9. Gin and tonic

(Flickr / AndrewJBourke)

gin

tonic water

Ice

Lime or lemon wedge for garnish

If vodka isn’t your thing, all you have to do is ask for gin instead. A gin and tonic is literally the same as a vodka and tonic with a different type of alcohol. Mix things up completely by changing your side dishes to suit your tastes (although a gin and tonic is usually served with lime if you order one).

10. Mojito

(unsplash / raw pixels)

rum

Soda

Ice

lime

Extremely fine sugar

Fresh mint leaves

Fresh mint, lime, rum, what more could you ask for? Mojitos are also served in tall glasses, so you can sip on that bad boy for a long time. A tablespoon or two of the finest sugar makes this fountain drink the perfect complement for the sweet tooth in all of us. Depending on the production method, the finest sugar is only added to taste.

11. Pina Colada

(Liliya Kandrashevich / Shutterstock.com)

coconut cream

pineapple juice

rum

Ice

Pineapple chunks or slices for garnish

If you like pina coladas and get caught in the rain, all you have to do is ask for this little beauty at the bar. Splashes of pineapple juice and coconut cream make this the ideal drink for those looking to relive their summer days. You can garnish this with a pineapple slice or a few chunks, the choice is yours. Some people even add a touch of sugar.

12. Moscow Mule

(Unsplash / Wine Dharma)

Ginger ale

vodka

lime juice

Ice

You can ask for this easy fountain drink at the bar, if all you’re looking for is a refreshing ginger beer with vodka then you’re in luck. The Moscow Mule is your one stop shop for an easy mix in a copper mug. The cool thing about this drink is that there are tons of variations to choose from.

Other types of fountain drinks

Of course, while these top 12 are the most popular, that doesn’t mean there aren’t many more to choose from. You can also try to catch these guys:

Greyhound (vodka, grapefruit juice, ice)

(vodka, grapefruit juice, ice) Dirty Shirley (Sprite, grenadine, ice, vodka, cherries for garnish)

(Sprite, grenadine, ice, vodka, cherries for garnish) Madras (vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, lime wedge for garnish)

(vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, lime wedge for garnish) Paloma (tequila, grapefruit juice, ice and lime soda)

(tequila, grapefruit juice, ice and lime soda) Mexicola (tequila, ice, lime juice and coke)

The possibilities are practically endless and there are many more than what we have listed here. You can ask the bartender what fountain drinks they serve during happy hour or which ones they recommend based on your tastes. There are many side dishes and variations that you can use with fountain drinks as well, which is why these drinks are so great. Keep in mind that if you make them at home, you can also change the type of alcohol used.

Everything you need to know about dirty Shirley

If you’re craving a cocktail with a nostalgic twist, the Dirty Shirley might be the way to go. It’s an alcoholic version of the iconic Shirley Temple mocktail and a perfect summertime sweet treat.

With its pink color and ultra-sweet flavor, the Shirley Temple is a childhood staple. It’s been appealing to everyone’s sweet tooth for nearly a century, reports USA Today. Better Homes and Gardens states that the rising popularity of the Dirty Shirley cocktail may be thanks to Millennial and Gen Z drinkers, who want to give a childhood classic an adult twist now that they’re all adults.

Although the original drink is heavily sweetened, Better Homes and Gardens states that adding alcohol to the cocktail can help reduce the overall sweetness, making it a more enjoyable drink for those who prefer to cut back on the sugar.

Did you know that Humphrey Bogart was once arrested for protecting his drinking buddies – who happened to be two stuffed pandas? Or that Ava Gardner would waterski to the set of Night of the Iguana with a towline in one hand and a cocktail in the other? That none other than “The Duke” John Wayne could have invented the margarita?

Barely legal Natalie Wood only let Dennis Hopper seduce her if he provided her with a bathtub full of champagne. Bing Crosby’s naughty antics earned him the nickname “Binge Crosby.” And sweet Mary Pickford hid alcohol in hydrogen peroxide bottles during Prohibition.

Below are a few anecdotes, pubs and boozy quotes from some of our favorite stars. They were beautiful, glamorous, smart too – and very often drunk.

★RAINBOW BAR & GRILL★

9015 SUNSET BLVD.

The Rainbow was founded in 1972 by Roxy Theater owners Lou Adler and Elmer Valentine (the latter also owned Whiskey a Go Go), on property once owned by Villa Nova, an Italian restaurant famous as the venue Vincente Minnelli asked Judy Garland to marry him and where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their first date. However, his ties to the glamor of old Hollywood end there.

By the late 1960s, the Strip had started to look shabby, and while that didn’t fit the Villa Nova’s image (which reopened in Newport Beach), it fit the Rainbow like a glove. A grand opening party honoring Elton John established the Grill as the main gathering place for almost every major rock star of the day, including John Lennon and Led Zeppelin. (It should be noted that the Rainbow is also one of two places where John Belushi is said to have had his last meal — Dan Tana’s is the other.)

By the mid-’80s, the Strip had become ground zero for hair metal: members of Poison and Mötley Crüe were often seen at the bar; Guns N’ Roses showed it in three separate videos. (And while it would be sacrilegious to lump him in with the lipstick-and-spandex crowd, it should be noted that Motörhead’s lead singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister has been drinking Jack and Coke there for as long as anyone else.)

Now that hair-metal is long dead, Rainbow feels less like the hippest bar in town and more like a museum serving up steaks.

★MARGARITA★

lime wedge

COARSE SALT

2 OZ. SILVER TEQUILA

1 OZ. COINTREAU

¼ OZ. FRESH LIME JUICE

Rub the rim of the cocktail glass with a lime wedge and press into a salt plate. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime wedge. The margarita is also often served on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.

Doesn’t John Wayne seem like the kind of guy who eats the worm? After all, his favorite drink was tequila — sauza conmemorativo, to be precise — although there’s no worm in that bottle. Still, as he told Playboy magazine in 1971, Sauza is “as good a liquor as there is in the world. Jesus, I’m telling you, it’s better than any whiskey; it’s better than any liquor; it’s better than any drink I’ve ever had in my life.”

That’s quite an endorsement, and from a man who really knew. Wayne was, if you can believe it, one of the very first drinkers to try a margarita. It was 1948 and the place was Acapulco. The Duke had a holiday home down there near the Flamingo Hotel and befriended the likes of Lana Turner, Fred MacMurray and more – ‘dude’ is a euphemism for drinking your way silly. Conrad “Nicky” Hilton of the Hilton chain of hotels was also there, as was Joseph Drown, who owned the Bel-Air. The group met at the home of Dallas socialites Bill and Margaret “Margarita” Sames. (Maybe you can see where this story is going…)

According to legend, the gang grew tired of standard fare (Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers, beer). Wayne and his cohorts wanted something new under the sun, and they challenged their host, Margarita, to come up with something.

★ELIZABET TAYLOR★

1932-2011

ACTRESS

By the time Cleopatra was filmed, Elizabeth Taylor had been married four times, divorced twice, widowed once, had three children with two different men, and was in the process of adopting a fourth with her third. And she wasn’t even thirty yet.

It suggests a certain attitude of taking no prisoners. But despite Richard Burton’s halter-neck armor and leopard-print fur vest, his green silk tunic and matching leather wristguards, he would end up falling on his sword—at least as Mark Anthony. This was the beginning of Liz & Dick, a phenomenon whose magnitude and power was hard to fathom in hindsight – a magnitude 10 earthquake, magnitude 5 hurricane that would ravage the remainder of the 1960s and into the early 1970s .

Their first scene together had no dialogue; they should just look. Burton showed up hungover — the attraction was instantaneous and mutual. Still, the Welshman had intended, at least initially, to take it ‘on the light’, a brief dalliance – he was a man who kills women like pints.

At the moment, Taylor was married to Eddie Fisher. A feat she accomplished by destroying his marriage to her good friend Debbie Reynolds. Fisher and Reynolds were named America’s sweethearts, and the nation was not pleased. Now, three years later, in Italy, Fisher and Taylor’s relationship was coming to an end or, perhaps more accurately, exploding into a thousand pieces on the world stage. Fisher initially objected to Burton’s constant goading of his wife to drink, not that she needed encouragement. The grape and grain were something Taylor had embraced years earlier during her brief first marriage to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton — heir to the Hilton hotel fortune and a young man with a problem with gambling, booze, and woman caning.

Since then, there had been numerous stories of their drunken excesses – different movies, different leads. Taylor drinks chocolate martinis with Rock Hudson while on site for Giant. Taylor jumps into a public fountain with Montgomery Clift while on location for Raintree County. It seemed like standard movie-star fare, but in matters of the liver, like the heart, Taylor seldom took things by halves. As her third husband, theater and film producer Mike Todd (born Avrom Hirsch Goldbogen), remarked, “I’ve often seen her pouring herself champagne at breakfast.” And by that he meant a bottle, sometimes two.

Cleopatra would become the most expensive film of all time. And Liz & Dick’s affair would become perhaps the biggest scandal of all time. Taylor and Burton dubbed it le scandale, an ever-changing juggernaut that sent the paparazzi into an orgiastic frenzy never seen before. Even the Vatican followed suit, publishing a weekly open letter in Vatican City accusing adulterers of “erotic vagrancy.” Back in the States, Congresswoman Iris Blitch of Georgia tried to bar the couple from re-entry “on the basis of moral unwillingness.” In the media spotlight, Burton remarked, “It’s like fucking Khrushchev!” The man was good with words. “I’ve had affairs before – how did I know the woman was so damn famous!” But there was no stopping her now.

Not the suicide attempts, not the drunken brawls — often public and violent, Taylor gave as best she could. It was a love affair set in the scorching melting pot of movie magazine madness: flashbulbs, hands groping – constant chaos. When they arrived in Boston from their honeymoon in 1964, hundreds of mad fans flooded the runway and surrounded the plane. Bullied at the hotel, Taylor was thrown against the wall, hair pulled, Burton punched him. It was a non-stop circus for the next ten years as they criss-crossed the globe, downed bottles together, and made movies together – The V.I.P.s, The Sandpiper, The Taming of the Shrew, The Comedians, Boom! – Shit, really. The only exception is Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, arguably the best performance of each of her careers. But how far from reality was it? A drunken Martha and George romping around the set during the day. A drunk Liz & Dick romping around the bedroom at night.

MARTHA

I’m loud and I’m vulgar and I wear my pants around the house because someone has to, but I’m not a monster! I’m not!

GEORGE

You are a spoiled, rampant, wayward, filthy spirit, addicted to alcohol. . .

No longer limited to champagne, Taylor began her days with Bloody Marys and then handed things over to Jack Daniel’s; Burton plowed through three bottles of vodka each day, or maybe took it easy on five bottles of wine. It is disputed who could drink more. But they were quite a couple, throwing up in hotel lobbies, falling down restaurant stairs, beating up paparazzi, cops and co-stars. Taylor would admit her capacity was terrifying, saying, “I had a hollow leg. I could drink anyone under the table.” She called Burton a burnout, talentless. He called her a “fat little pie”.

Ugliness enhanced by the backdrop of such incredible movie star finery. Biographer Robert Sellers describes celluloid gods with Rolls-Royce, mink coats (also one for him), diamonds and more diamonds – Burton outbids Aristotle Onassis on a $1.1 million rock. In their huge dressing rooms, butlers and maids tended to a sprawling entourage of barbers, publicists, makeup artists, personal assistants, not to mention friends, family members, and hangers-on. Vacation homes and film locations, traveling with a pack of incontinent dogs and ninety-three suitcases – how did they survive it all? Physically, emotionally, let alone financially? And why did they want that?

Burton privately commented, “Elizabeth is more famous than the Queen. I wish none of that had ever happened.” Taylor told the press, “I don’t know how many plates I broke over his head.” Eventually in 1972, while filming Divorce His – Divorce Hers (a two-part TV movie) , the well began to dry up. There’s a lot of irony here: they were back in Rome, telling the story of a marriage that was destroyed beyond repair. Burton was a mess physically, Taylor a mess emotionally, that’s nothing new. There’s a story where he invited an attractive extra to his room and Taylor jumped out from behind the couch. She breaks a liter of vodka and chases it around the room with the bottleneck – that’s nothing new either. Except maybe after a decade it was finally starting to feel old.

Back in Hollywood, the fighting would continue. One day, Taylor showed up at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She walked into the bar where she knew Burton would be and slapped him in the face. divorce from him – divorce from her had recently been televised – and Taylor soon announced that she and Burton were officially separated. A year later they divorced.

Of course, they would remarry a year later.

★BROWN DERBYCOCKTAIL★

2 OZ. BOURBON

1 OZ. FRESHLY SQUEEZED

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

1/2 ounce. HONEY

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The commonly accepted story is that Robert Cobb, President of Brown Derby, was there one night hastily preparing a meal. Sid Grauman, showman and owner of the famous Chinese Theatre, had stopped by, but the restaurant’s kitchen was almost empty. Impromptu, Cobb threw lettuce, bacon, and blue cheese together — and the Cobb salad was born. As for the Brown Derby Cocktail, its history is a little more sinister. Some say it was absolutely created in the restaurant. Others credit nearby Vendome Restaurant with inventing the drink and naming it after its neighbor. Still others argue that the cocktail just looks like a brown hat. Regardless, both the drink and the restaurant were hugely popular in the 1930s.

★ BOOZY QUOTES ★

Tallulah Bankhead – “My father warned me about men and alcohol, but he never said anything about women and cocaine.”

Jean Harlow – “I like to wake up every morning and feel like a new man.”

Joan Crawford – “If you want to see the girl next door, let her go next door.

Steve McQueen – “When a horse learns to buy martinis, I learn to like horses.”

Dennis Hopper – “People used to ask me how much drugs I used. I only took drugs so I could drink more.”

Orson Welles – “There are three unbearable things in life – cold coffee, lukewarm champagne and over-excited women.”

Ava Gardner – “A party ain’t a party without a drunk bitch laying in a pool of tears.”

John Barrymore – “You can’t drown yourself in alcohol. I tried; you float.”

Errol Flynn – “I can’t reconcile my gross habits with my net income.”

Humphrey Bogart – “The whole world is about three drinks behind.”

★GREYHOUND★

2 OZ. VODKA

5 OZ. FRESH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

Judy Garland’s favorite drink was vodka and grapefruit juice, which is essentially a greyhound. It’s not just a perfect eye opener; On tour, her assistant kept two thermoses ready—one filled with premixed vodka and grapefruit juice, the other with ice. Garland even had a thermos on hand while working on A Star Is Born and drank until the film premiered. For the occasion, she had her dress designer make her a hand muff big enough to hide a bottle inside.

Pour vodka and grapefruit juice into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently.

_____________________________

MARK BAILEY is an author and Emmy-nominated screenwriter. Bailey’s books include American Hollow, Hemingway & Bailey’s Bartending Guide to Great American Writers, and the children’s book Tiny Pie. His films have appeared on HBO, PBS and Lifetime. Bailey lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

EDWARD HEMINGWAY has illustrated several children’s books including Bump in the Night, Bad Apple and Tiny Pie, as well as his previous book with Mark Bailey, Hemingway & Bailey’s Bartending Guide to Great American Writers. He has done reportage for GQ Magazine and written comics for Nickelodeon and has been featured twice in American Illustration. His artwork has appeared in The New York Times and other publications.

Fancy cocktails served in delicate glasses with fruit garnish aren’t just for ladies these days. Across the country, bartenders are defeminizing cosmopolitans, appletinis, and margaritas to appeal to male drinkers by renaming these drinks and updating their flavor profile for a more balanced drink.

Men like sweet drinks just as much as women do. Remember Marshall Eriksen from the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother admitting that he “…likes yummy pink drinks with pieces of real fruit that guys secretly can’t order because they’re made fun of”?

According to Anthony Liota, head bartender at upscale New York sports bar The Ainsworth, “men look for something other than dark liquor in a glass.” Bartenders are responding by toning down the feminine attributes of some classic cocktails in hopes of attracting a wider audience. “The goal is to create a drink that anyone can enjoy without feeling pressured to order,” says Davide Crusoe, beverage director at CHOPPS American Bar and Grill in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Many “girl” cocktails were originally created to please the palates of guests who didn’t like the taste of the alcohol…

Many “girly” cocktails were originally created to please the taste buds of patrons who didn’t like the taste of the alcohol, says Jeremy Allen, general manager of MiniBar in Hollywood, California. In the past, to hide the taste of liquor, bartenders used sweet ingredients like pre-mixed, heavy syrups.

But today, bartenders are much more adept at blending spirits with homemade syrups and bitters to create less sweet, more sophisticated drinks. “We don’t have to hide anything anymore,” says Steven Fowler, food and beverage director at the Capella Hotel in Washington, D.C. “We can let the base spirit do its job and create a balanced drink.”

The fuzzy navel – a cocktail often associated with young women – was traditionally a sweet cocktail made with peach schnapps and orange juice. To update the potion, Allen simplified the recipe and lowered the sweetness level in a version he calls Fuzzy del Navel, made with fresh orange and lemon juice and apricot liqueur.

The Regal Beagle Twinkle Toes is one of the MiniBar’s most popular drinks and one that looks like a classic feminine drink thanks to its rose color and champagne flute vessel. However, it is most popular among men. Infused with sloe gin, grapefruit juice and sparkling rose, the cocktail pokes fun at the homophobic Mr. Furley from the popular 1970s sitcom Three’s Company. “We have a whole contingent of men ordering it,” Allen says. “It’s great to see a room full of guys with pink sparkling drinks.”

Many people forget that the Cosmopolitan was originally a martini and primarily a men’s drink sipped during three martini lunches until the popular 1990’s series Sex in the City transformed it into a trendy pink cocktail for ladies, who eat lunch.

Embers Ski Lodge in Nashville, Tennessee serves the largest selection of whiskeys in town, but that doesn’t stop men from ordering a Cosmopolitan. Sometimes people apologize if they don’t order whiskey on the rocks, says general manager Matt Buttel, who is a member of the Intergalactic Federation of Cosbronauts, a group of bartenders who enjoy mixing and drinking Cosmos. “Either they’re funny and say, ‘Give me the strongest Cosmo you have,’ or they’re very factual. As a bartender, it’s my job to make them feel good about the drink they’ve ordered. ” he added.

Sometimes the key to making a cocktail more acceptable to men is to give it a bolder name. Manhattan experimental beverage lab Booker and Dax offers a pink-colored beverage called CosBro made with milk-washed vodka, hibiscus, oleo saccharum, cointreau, lime, and angostura. Their menu asks diners, “Are you man enough, big and bad enough?”

The margarita is another drink that often appeals to more women than men. Embers found a unique way to signal that their margarita — made with tequila, lime, orange, tamarind, turmeric, coconut, and pink peppercorns — is special. The drink is named Prince Hubertus after a popular Mexican slalom skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and was known for wearing a skin-tight snowsuit that resembled a mariachi costume. “Women loved him and men wanted to be him,” says Embers bartender Gary Hayward.

“It’s great to see a room full of guys with pink sparkling drinks.”

And then there’s the Appletini. Two East Coast bars have made the drink more robust by adding an alcohol rinse to the glass. Not An Apple Martini, available at The Rye Bar at the Capella Hotel in Washington, D.C., features an absinthe glass rinse. Although the drink is the same color as an appletini, its flavor profile is completely different – based on vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and sparkling wine, garnished with basil and apple.

Deuxave in Boston offers The Orchard, a smoky, Scotch-washed, homemade apple and rum drink with a dash of vanilla syrup and bitters. The drink is served in a Rocks glass, says co-bar manager Emily Warren, because most men don’t like drinking from stemmed glasses unless they’re enjoying a glass of wine.

Sometimes the glassware makes the difference. “I’ve worked in bars before, where big guys or tough guys would order cocktails and try to show off, not knowing what they were getting, and be embarrassed or offended when given a baby drink in a thimble-sized coupe,” he tells MiniBars everyone

Most men find anything served “on top” or in a martini glass, coupe, or flute too “girly” to order, says Dave Danger, head bartender at the Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden in downtown Brooklyn. “Men prefer to have something substantial in their hands.”

Danger offers one of its most popular drinks, No Sleep Till, in a glass made by Nick and Nora. Made with Aperol, lychee liqueur, sparkling wine, lemon and mint and named after the popular Beastie Boys song, the drink “evokes nostalgia in the 30-something male crowd,” says Danger. However, it’s not uncommon for guys to ask for it to be served in a Rocks glass on the second round.

Men often request that cocktails be served in a Rocks glass, especially when they’re on a date, says Garrett Mikell, bar manager at Eveleigh in Los Angeles. Mikell makes a fruity libation called The Thorn with Reyka vodka, lemon juice, Aperol, and passion fruit bitters, which he serves in a coupe glass. While Mikell is always accommodating to customer’s glass requests, he worries that switching glasses compromises the integrity of the drink, as it heats up faster if you’re handling the glass instead of the stem. If he serves the drinks on ice, the melting ice could water down the flavor of the cocktail too much.

But ultimately, bartenders agree that the key is to order and enjoy your drink with confidence. “Just being yourself,” says MiniBar’s Allen, “is probably the most manly thing you can do.”

I think we can all agree that drinking is one of our favorite hobbies and extracurricular activities. Over the years we have developed games and specific social environments to make the activity more fun and exciting, but have you ever wondered who the face behind the drink is?

Why is this person really drinking exactly what’s in their cup, and what does that say about them? If you’re like me and had this on your mind, here are my interpretations of what that liquid courage really says about a person.

Beer

This is your manly man or girl actually claiming to be a “brother”. You know how they say that people who drive nice cars or have flashy things compensate? The beer says it all. Unless it’s an exotic imported beer, you’re really just trying to prove how manly you are by drinking it.

For a girl, it’s about how much a guy you can really be, which some guys really like when they’re looking for a girl who doesn’t fit the typical shy cliché.

shots

If you’re with a person who’s recording, they’re likely to be the adventurous leaders of the group. Shots tend to have the biggest impact on your blood sugar levels and probably lead to the craziest nights out. I don’t want to blow off all the girls who take shots, sometimes I indulge myself, but usually a girl who takes shots gets very loud and very sloppy.

A guy who takes shots probably drinks them because of his liquid guts. He sees a girl who is clearly out of his league and starts putting her down. Rejection doesn’t hurt as much if you don’t remember it.

Scotch

I don’t know many women who drink Scotch, so I’ll only be talking about men when it comes to this drink. When I think of scotch, I think of a man with money. In movies and TV shows, we always see businessmen or handsome celebrities enjoying a glass of this golden liquid with their friends in fancy penthouses or clean CEO offices.

If I see a man ordering scotch in a bar, I assume he has money and is probably older. I mean seriously, what college student orders scotch in a bar? None that I know.

Wine

This drink is my personal favorite. Any man who drinks wine is my type. It takes a sophisticated palette to truly enjoy this drink and says a lot about the person drinking it. A man or woman who knows how to pair wine with food properly has talent and heaps of finesse.

There’s a certain sexy and sophisticated way about you. I’ve also always associated wine with someone who is a bit mysterious and dark. Any of you reading 50 Shades of Gray will know what I’m getting at, but wine is definitely a little romantic aphrodisiac. The wine drinker is sexy, mysterious, tasteful and pure class.

Cosmopolitan

A Cosmo is the girliest of drinks. With its pink color and sweet taste, this drink is for someone trying to look chic, pretty and upscale in a bar that’s probably quite the opposite. I have nothing against Cosmo drinkers; In fact, I was drinking them all the time at family weddings when I was 17, but Cosmo drinkers, I don’t know who you’re trying to fool. You are no better than anyone else because of your classy glass and your pretty colored drink.

This isn’t Sex and the City. The only time I really approve of drinking these pink frou-frou drinks is on a girls’ night out. Men drinking Cosmos is a whole different story that I’m not sure about. If you are a man who likes Cosmos please contact me so I can analyze your personality and decide what a Cosmos actually says about you. I’m tired of hearing that this drink determines your sexual orientation.

Martini

A martini is a classic. I always picture a girl next door drinking this, or the complete opposite, a James Bond guy in a smart suit. There are so many different types of martinis that you can get now that I can’t pin this one down to any one type of person. The more exotic flavors like pomegranate or watermelon show the adventurous, bold personalities trying new things.

The classic dirty martini or apple martini showcases the chic simpleton you’d find in a big city. In a place like New York, a martini is definitely the first choice for locals after a long day at work. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s sure to wow you after a long week.

Is this article 100% correct? Can I actually tell you what a drink says about someone? No, but it’s definitely thought-provoking. The next time you’re at a bar or a party, you’ll definitely think about talking to someone based on what they’re drinking. Just try it for fun.

Sarah | Elite.

Orange liqueur has gotten a bad rap over the last few decades. Take Curaçao for example. When many people think of Curaçao, they immediately think of bright blue cocktails, sticky sweet and bright — drinks they might have had in college or even just last weekend.

But orange liqueur doesn’t have to be limited to Blue Curaçao and other sugary concoctions. In this guide, we’ll look at a range of orange liqueurs, from high-priced brandy-infused products to budget-friendly triple sec.

A taxonomy of orange liqueurs

Before I dive into a tasting of different brands, I should start with a few terms. It’s difficult to give precise definitions of these terms, but I’ll try.

Orange liqueur is the easiest term to define, so I’ll start here. Orange liqueur is simply a sweetened alcoholic beverage flavored with orange. The alcohol itself can be either a column distilled neutral spirit (similar to vodka) or a cask distilled spirit such as B. Grape brandy.

Curaçao

Historically, Curaçao is a product of the island of Curaçao, made from a pot still brandy and flavored with the dried peels of Curaçao oranges. These oranges were first brought to Curaçao by Spanish settlers as Valencia oranges. But the Valencia orange does not tolerate the dry climate of Curaçao well, and over time the oranges became bitter and inedible. Plants began to grow wild, but then someone—who is unclear—discovered that the peel of a Curacao orange dried in the sun gave off a pleasantly fragrant aroma. Up until 1896, Curaçao distillers used the peel of the Curaçao orange to add flavor and aroma to their distilled products.

Curaçao is not a protected appellation. Some products, such as cognac and champagne, are protected and by law must be produced in their region of origin. However, Curaçao does not enjoy this level of protection and therefore can be made anywhere and by any method. Earlier I said that historically Curaçao is a product of Curaçao made from brandy and dried Curaçao orange peel. However, modern curaçaos are not necessarily made this way.

Some traditional Curaçaos are still available, notably a brand called Curaçao of Curaçao made by the Senior family of Curaçao. The blue stuff, needless to say, isn’t traditional Curaçao.

triple sec

Triple sec is originally a French product. It was originally made with less sugar than Curaçao, leading to the name “sec”, meaning dry. No one knows for sure where the term “triple” came from. Triple Sec is not triple distilled as some claim, nor is it three times as dry as Curaçao or other liqueurs. The most reasonable explanation is that “Triple” was pure marketing, a way to invent new products and denigrate the competition.

Tip The most reasonable explanation is that “Triple” was purely marketing, a way to tout new products and denigrate the competition.

What’s the deal with Grand Marnier and Cointreau?

Perhaps the two most well-known brands of orange liqueur are Grand Marnier and Cointreau, and you may be wondering where they fit into this taxonomy. Easy. Grand Marnier is an orange liqueur in the Curaçao tradition and Cointreau is a triple sec.

Grand Marnier is a blend of cognac and triple sec, so while it’s not a traditional Curaçao, it’s a similar product. Cointreau, on the other hand, is a triple second straight. In fact, Cointreau initially called themselves Cointreau Triple Sec, and you can sometimes find old-school collectible bottles with this inscription on internet auction sites.

In response to the crap other distilleries were spouting and branding as triple sec, Cointreau repositioned itself as a non-triple sec product and removed those words from its label and marketing.

Big brands of orange liqueur

There are numerous orange liqueurs on the market, but here is a basic guide (in alphabetical order) to distinguish between well-known brands and to illustrate which ones are worth looking for.

bols

Style: Triple Sec. 30 Proof or 15% ABV.

Country of origin: United States.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: Intense, almost artificial, orange. Smells like cheap orange perfume.

Palate: Tastes better than it smells. Very sweet, orange, hints of clove and cinnamon.

Overall Impression: At around $9 for a liter bottle, Bols is among the cheaper brands and is perhaps the best of the Will Gordon set. Although the main impression is of mock orange, notes of warm spice complement the main flavor, making Bols less of a one-note product than other brands. Still, I’d avoid this unless you’re really throwing a party on a tight budget.

Clément Creole shrub

Rum Clemens

Style: Rum and Orange Liqueur, 80 Proof.

Country of origin: Martinique.

Colour: orange gold.

Nose: bitter orange, funky rum, spices.

Palate: Dry, sharp, bitter orange, hints of rhum agricole and spices.

Overall Impression: This liqueur is made by Rhum Clément, a producer of Rhums Agricole in Martinique. It is made in a similar style to a Curaçao, using a basic pot still spirit flavored with bitter orange and spices. The base spirit here is Cléments Rhum Agricole, which gives this product a healthy (and delicious to my palate) note of funk and complexity. Such a spirit is wonderful in tropical rum drinks like Mai Tai. Expect to pay around $40 for a 750ml bottle.

Cointreau

Style: Triple sec, 80 proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: Subtle orange, spices, some alcohol.

Palate: Well balanced. Dry, bitter orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove.

Overall impression: Cointreau is not regarded for nothing. The flavors are perfectly balanced between bitter orange and sweetness. Warm spices add complexity to the spirit and complement the orange. In a great orange liqueur, the other flavors should serve to enhance the orange flavor, not mask it, and this is where Cointreau excels. It’s not my pick for a pure after-dinner sipper, but it’s tops for cocktail versatility. A 750 will set you back around $40, but most stores also stock them in 12 oz bottles, which you can expect to pay around $20 for. A 375 should last a while, so this is a perfect option for most drunks.

Tip As a standalone sipper, Cointreau is better, but for cocktails, save a few bucks and buy the combiner.

Combiner Liqueur d’Orange

Style: Triple sec, 80 proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: Subtle orange, alcohol.

Palate: Medium dry, bitter orange, not much spiciness. Not as balanced as Cointreau, rather sweet.

Overall Impression: Combier is a more recent arrival in the United States and is marketed as a slightly cheaper Cointreau replacement. I found Cointreau to be more balanced on the nose and palate, but I’ll admit when mixed into cocktails I don’t notice much of a difference. As a standalone sipper, Cointreau is better, but for cocktails, save a few bucks and buy the Combier ($32 per 750mL).

Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier

Style: Curaçao-inspired blend of cognac and orange liqueur, 80 proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: amber gold.

Nose: brandy, orange, alcohol.

Palate: Dry, bitter orange, subtle brandy notes, very subtle hints of aged wood, some spice.

Overall Impression: As I said, Grand Marnier is a Curaçao-style liqueur made from a blend of pot still cognacs, bitter orange peel and spices. Grand Marnier is a clear winner as a standalone after-dinner sipper. The flavors are nicely balanced and the palate is overall dry and not overly sweet. As a blender, Grand Marnier can be tricky. For example, many bartenders find it too spirity for sidecars and distort the flavor profile of such cocktails overly alcoholic. I urge you to experiment for yourself and enjoy the endeavor, but know that you must tread lightly with Grand Marnier. You can add more at any time. A 375ml bottle will leak about the same as a similarly sized Cointreau: $20.

Hiram Walker Triple Sec

Style: Triple sec, 60 proof.

Country of origin: United States.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: orange.

Palate: Very sweet (sweet), artificial orange.

Overall Impression: Another keg scraper at around $9 for a 750ml bottle. Sweet and unpleasant, it tastes mainly like artificial orange. Just one note, and it’s hard. If you stay bottom shelf, stay with Bols.

Luxardo Triplum

Style: Triple sec, 78 proof.

Country of origin: Italy.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: orange, alcohol, light spices.

Palate: Dry, bitter orange, spices.

Overall Impression: Nicely balanced blend of bitter orange, sweet orange and spices. Nice to smell and even better to sip. I was impressed by this as I had never tried it before. If I were to replace Cointreau with a cheaper offering, this would be it. A 750ml bottle costs around $26.

Mandarin Napoleon

Style: Orange Liqueur and Cognac, 76 Proof.

Country of origin: Belgium.

Colour: dark amber.

Nose: Not only orange aroma, but specifically and very obviously mandarin orange.

Palate: Sweetish, a note, not at all specifically tangerine.

Overall Impression: I was pleased and surprised at how specifically Mandarine Napoleon smelled of mandarins. I mean, it’s right there in the name, sure, but still, the strong specific hint of tangerine is unexpected. But alas, something happens between smelling and sipping, and the tangerine flavors are overwhelmed by the sweetness in this liqueur. Disappointingly unbalanced and sadly not worth the $32 for a 750ml bottle.

Marie Brizard Orange Liqueur

Marie Brisard

Style: Triple sec, 78 proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: orange, alcohol.

Palate: Moderately sweet, orange with some spice.

Overall Impression: Another budget offering, slightly more expensive than the Hiram Walker, at $19 for 750ml. Better balanced than the old Hiram, with only moderate sweetness and some spiciness to complement the orange flavor. If you can’t find Bols for your bottom shelf, Marie will hook you up well enough.

Patron Saint Lemon

patron

Style: Triple sec, 80 proof.

Country of origin: Mexico.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: Orange (almost artificial), alcohol.

Palate: Moderately sweet, orange (slightly bitter), some floral notes.

Overall Impression: Anyone hoping or expecting from this tequila-based product will be disappointed; It is a purely neutral spirit based triple sec. It’s okay for what it is: a mid-range triple-sec device priced at around $25 for a 750ml bottle.

Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao

Style: Dry Curacao, 80 Proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: golden brown. (You could almost mistake it for whiskey by sight alone.)

Nose: bitter orange, spices.

Palate: Dry, bitter orange, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, alcohol on the finish.

Overall Impression: I’ve already said that in a great orange liqueur the other flavors should serve to enhance the orange flavor not mask it and Pierre Ferrand’s version proves the point. Ferrand’s Curaçao was created to complement its superb cognacs and other fine aged spirits in cocktails, but also to be drunk and enjoyed on its own. Try mixing it not only with Ferrands brandies but also with rum; Ferrand owns the Plantation Rum brand and therefore has an interest in producing an orange that pairs well with rum. Ferrand’s offering is an excellent choice for an after-dinner sip. I could rank Grand Marnier a bit higher, but that’s only because retailers sometimes struggle to stock Ferrands Curaçao. If you can find it, it costs around $30 for a 750ml bottle.

Royal combiner

Style: Orange Liqueur and Cognac, 76 Proof.

Country of origin: France.

Colour: amber gold.

Nose: bitter orange, a hint of brandy, some alcohol.

Palate: Dry, bitter orange, lots of spice, some cognac notes.

Overall Impression: Marketed to compete with Grand Marnier. It’s a reasonable replacement, if a bit more expensive (at around $40 for 750ml). Like Grand Marnier and Ferrand, Royal Combier starts with brandy and bitter orange zest, adding spice to round out the flavors. Another excellent choice as a sipper.

Santa Teresa Rhum Orange Liqueur

Style: Rum and Orange Liqueur, 80 Proof.

Country of origin: Venezuela.

Colour: golden brown.

Nose: Smells strongly of rum, with orange and vanilla in the background.

Palate: Tastes like a funky orange flavored rhum agricole. Rum dominates the palate, with hints of orange, spice and vanilla on the finish.

Overall Impression: Similar to Clément’s Creole Shrubb, the Santa Teresa starts with Rhum Agricole and adds bitter orange. I find this tastes more like an orange flavored rum and less like an orange rum flavored liqueur. It might be a bit too sweet to drink alone, but some might like that. But it’s complex and funky with hints of cask aging. It’s also one of the most surprisingly delicious products I’ve tried this year. Eighteen bucks will set you back a 12 oz bottle.

Senior Curacao of Curacao

Style: Dry Curacao, 62 Proof.

Country of origin: Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

Color orange. (The label notes that color is added; I’m guessing it would be clear otherwise.)

Nose: Orange and some alcohol.

Palate: Mildly sweet, bitter orange, moderately balanced. Some clove notes.

Overall Impression: As this is the only Curacao from Curacao and made by a family who claim to have invented Curacao, I think I expected more from this. It’s significantly sweeter than Pierre Ferrand. The Senior family also markets a clear version and a blue Curaçao, but the orange bottling is what I tried. If you really need Blue Curaçao for your cocktails, Senior Blue is for you. It reportedly tastes the same as the orange and the clear, meaning it’s far less sweet and much better balanced than any other blue product on the market. $25 for 750ml.

Solerno blood orange liqueur

Style: Blood Orange Liqueur, 80 Proof.

Country of origin: Italy.

Colour: Clear.

Nose: orange, some alcohol.

Palate: Orange and tastes specifically of blood oranges.

Overall Impression: While the Mandarine Napolean smells like tangerines and tastes mainly like sugar, this liqueur smells like generic orange but tastes very specifically like blood orange. I was very surprised, pleasantly so. If you want to tweak your cocktails with an unexpected flavor profile, this is a possibility. However, it’s on the expensive side at around $40 for a 750.