Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

trof

(54,255 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:22 PM Mar 2013

The Drinkers' Drinking Thread. Tell us your tales.

Drinks you like.
Drinks you used to like, but not so much now.
Recipes.
Stories.
Whatever.
I don't much want to hear about things you barfed and places where you upchucked, but if you must.

I get to go first.

In my 20s and 30s (1960s and 70s) we almost always had after dinner drinks when eating out and at home dinner parties.
The Stinger (equal parts green creme de menthe and vodka, shaken with ice, served straight up in a stemmed 'Martini' glass) was very popular.
A couple of these after an evening of 'other' booze pretty much guaranteed you a monumental hangover with a crushing headache, and yet we did it, again and again.

Also popular was Courvoisier, Drambouie, Kahlua, and VSOP Brandy in a snifter.

We liked Rusty Nails (Scotch and Drambouie over ice in an Old Fashioned glass), Scotch Old Fashioneds (Scotch instead of the traditional bourbon). The recipe is too complicated. Look it up.

Many in the south liked Whiskey Sours, especially the ladies.

And there was always the ubiquitous Martini.
Usually served straight up, but some liked theirs on the rocks.
Sissies. Pour it over ice and you dilute the gin.
ALWAYS gin for us 'purists'.
And you kept the gin in the freezer.
Garnishes were usually pimento stuffed olives and/or cocktail onions.
Later we could get garlic stuffed olives, almond stuffed, pepper stuffed, anchovy stuffed.

OK, that's enough for now.
Let's hear it from DU.



27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Drinkers' Drinking Thread. Tell us your tales. (Original Post) trof Mar 2013 OP
I drink Gin and Tonic, white wine, and German Beer. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #1
In European countries I usually drank one (or more) of the local brews. trof Mar 2013 #5
London is miles better then it used to be for beer.... T_i_B Mar 2013 #27
I was doing too much "well" whiskey olddots Mar 2013 #2
Bloody Mary...mix? or from scratch? trof Mar 2013 #6
When I tended bar in Michigan, I made a GREAT Bloody Mary from scratch. Beef tea... MiddleFingerMom Mar 2013 #11
The local favorite is Whiskey Willy's Bloody Mary mix. trof Mar 2013 #14
from scratch hot sauce & good tomato juice olddots Mar 2013 #23
I like scotch, tequila, rum, vodka, white wine, beer. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #3
Beer has always been my favorite, still is ConcernedCanuk Mar 2013 #4
I used to enjoy a Dutch brandy. trof Mar 2013 #7
I like White Russians because of the Dude. OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #8
Back in the olden days pipi_k Mar 2013 #9
WAY superior (for me) to a Stinger was a Grasshopper.. MiddleFingerMom Mar 2013 #10
2 enthusiastic thumbs up OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #12
pie is powerful magic. Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2013 #13
Great Grasshopper stories. All of them. trof Mar 2013 #15
Afterburners. Whew. trof Mar 2013 #16
Can of PBR and a shot of Jameson WilliamPitt Mar 2013 #17
Oh lordy. I do remember 'depth charges'. trof Mar 2013 #18
No depth charge. WilliamPitt Mar 2013 #21
Collins Kali Mar 2013 #19
Coon Dawg Vat trof Mar 2013 #20
I am blessed to have two sons, both of whom work in the brewing industry. Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #22
Alcohal less Tequilla olddots Mar 2013 #24
I'm not as think as you drunk I am, but one night all I had was an ounce in each bottle... talkingmime Mar 2013 #25
You take me back to the transgressions of my youth. kwassa Mar 2013 #26

trof

(54,255 posts)
5. In European countries I usually drank one (or more) of the local brews.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:44 PM
Mar 2013

My flying days are over, but I especially enjoyed imbibing in Munich and Amsterdam.
And London wasn't bad either.

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
2. I was doing too much "well" whiskey
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:26 PM
Mar 2013

in the early 70s

The occasion rum & coke now or maybe a real well made bloody mary

trof

(54,255 posts)
6. Bloody Mary...mix? or from scratch?
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:46 PM
Mar 2013

I enjoy a good BM (no pun intended ) too.
Especially after a hard day's night.
Which rarely happens any more at my advanced age.

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
11. When I tended bar in Michigan, I made a GREAT Bloody Mary from scratch. Beef tea...
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:20 PM
Mar 2013

.
.
.
... was the local "secret ingredient".
.
.
.
When I found Mrs T's Bloody Mary mix, I was home. Coolest thing was that after a while, the onliest
place I would drink them was when I was flying -- and Mrs. T's was standard airline Bloody Mary mix.
.
.
.

trof

(54,255 posts)
14. The local favorite is Whiskey Willy's Bloody Mary mix.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:28 PM
Mar 2013


Whiskey Willy's Bloody Mary Mix - A horseradish bite from Orange Beach, Alabama. 18 years experience goes into this masterful blend of a traditional favorite.

Whiskey Willies Bloody Mary Mix is an all natural-gluten free drink mixer that was actually designed and created by a bartender. This amazing blend of Grade A tomato paste, California garlic, domestic lemon juice, and other special ingredients and other special ingredients is low in colories and sugar, but high on tatse! There are no artifical flavors in our Bloody Mary Mixer mix: so enjoy it as both a summer snack and a holiday treat.


Ingredients: Tomato concentrate, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice concentrate, salt, horseradish, spices, sugar, natural flavor.
http://www.peppers.com/cube/Bloody-Mary-Mix/Whiskey-Willy-39-s-Original-Bloody-Mary-Mix-With-A-Horseradish-Bite-33-8/prod_278.html
 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
23. from scratch hot sauce & good tomato juice
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:45 PM
Mar 2013

mandatory celery stalk and some kind of chips or bread .

the BM enters the picture if you ad the secret medemucil

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
3. I like scotch, tequila, rum, vodka, white wine, beer.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:32 PM
Mar 2013

I don't care for gin.
At a wonderful poolside bridge bridge game at the rooming house that was my first home out on my own I drank a few too many Salty Dogs. Ooops! One hell of a hangover the next morning. I never did that again. Once was enough.

 

ConcernedCanuk

(13,509 posts)
4. Beer has always been my favorite, still is
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:33 PM
Mar 2013

.
.
.

But when out dining - I like to have a couple of beers while waiting for the order to arrive.

Prefer red wine with the meal, but if my date likes white, I'll go with that.

Don't like beer with food.

After the meal I like coffee with a liqueur on the side, Amaretto and Drambuie being my favorites.

Just getting used to the idea that I can afford to do this!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018330731

yowser!

trof

(54,255 posts)
7. I used to enjoy a Dutch brandy.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:49 PM
Mar 2013

Couldn't give you a brand name, but almost all the cafes in Amsterdam served it.
After a night of a 'few' (more-or-less) beers and supper, we'd usually stop at a sidewalk cafe for a coffee and brandy. It was very mild and smooth.
Sent you off to bed with a nice warm glow.

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)
8. I like White Russians because of the Dude.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:07 PM
Mar 2013

The Dude abides.



I have been able to legally drink since I was 18. When I was 17 I found store in Dallas that only cared about cash and my friend and I bought two bottles of pre-mixed tequila sunrises, a bottle of MD 20/20 and a 6 pack of Bud. We got drunk and I totaled my 1968 Firebird - I had had my license for maybe a week. Had worked on restoring that car since I was 15. Never drove drunk again.

I left home a few months later and never went back. In that time I discovered I could drink Lone Star beer by the case and I also discovered that waking up the next day sucked pretty hard. Went through a series of minimum wage jobs and homes and room-mates and states and finally moved to Florida to go to school.

Where I met my wife (27th anniversary in July). I was tired of being hung-over and I had quit smoking pot and we decided that we wouldn't drink much in front of the kids (She had a 5 and 11 year old when I met her) so I basically quit drinking without actually quitting drinking (I'd have a beer or a cocktail here and there when the kids were at their father's, etc...) and we never kept booze in the house.

Finally all the kids grew up and I re-introduced myself to beer and liquor. Turns out while I was busy not drinking I developed a taste for fancy beer. And fancy whisky.

What I SHOULD have done was teach my dumb kids to drink right - now when I go to their house all they have is Miller lite. I have to bring good beer if I want anything.

So I love micro/craft brews and a few of the larger brewers (I'll always have a place for Yuengling in my fridge even though it's cheap).

And Herradurra tequila.
And single malt scotch. (Laphroaig is my fave but I like the other areas too)
And Hendricks gin.
and Michter's rye whisky (essential for a good Manhattan)

And I love me some White Russians.

That's the history of geekdrink. If you catch me with a big 3 macro-brew it was free. I'm snooty but not so much that I'd turn down a free brew.

When I move to my next house I will build a badass bar. I ain't movin' unless there's room for that.

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)
9. Back in the olden days
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:14 PM
Mar 2013

Like 1969, when I was 16/17, I drank a whole lot of beer. And Ripple. And Thunderbird. Bali Hai.

In my 20s I liked Grasshoppers.

Don't drink much anymore...two or three drinks a year is about it. But I'm awfully fond of Manischewitz Concord Grape wine and Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry.

Not together, of course. And only out of teeny little 4 oz. glasses.

I have a very low tolerance for alcohol, so I have to sip slowly. That's why I enjoy it for the taste, hence my preference for the sweeter drinks.

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
10. WAY superior (for me) to a Stinger was a Grasshopper..
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:17 PM
Mar 2013

.
.
.
Equal parts:
.
green crème de menthe
white crème de cacao
cream
.
Shaken with ice and strained into a martini-style glass -- a great chocolate mint flavor.
.
.
.
.
A grasshopper walked into a bar and the bartender said, "HEY... we have a drink named after you!!!"
The grasshopper said, "You have a drink named Irving?"
.
.
.
Once, I took my GF to a fancy restaurant about 50 miles away. Dinner was all it was supposed to be...
culminating in slices of this amazing Grasshopper Pie. My GF would actually reminisce about that pie
now-and-then.
.
Cut to about a year or two later. My GF was in the hospital -- and was there for a horrible reason
that I won't get into. It was curable -- and relatively easily so -- but the circumstances that brought
her there had her GREATLY depressed and, believe me... understandable so.
.
She wasn't even speaking to anyone (including me -- though I had nothing to do with her being there).
.
I drove to that restaurant and at first, they didn't want to sell me two single pieces of pie -- ESPECIALLY
not to go... until I explained what I was doing. Wonderful folks -- it was free of charge.
.
I took them straight to her room at the hospital and told her where they had come from.
.
I swear... that piece of pie was the turning point for her. By the end of our "meal", we were talking --
and she was even laughing a little.
.
Pie -- don't underestimate its power or magic.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
13. pie is powerful magic.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:24 PM
Mar 2013

pie and coffee are almost unbeatable magic ... wonderful things happen whenever pie and coffee are served

trof

(54,255 posts)
16. Afterburners. Whew.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 08:02 PM
Mar 2013

When I was a young man in USAF pilot training (Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma, 1963) us macho fighter pilot wannabes drank Afterburners at the Officers' Club.

Light a shot glass of brandy and drink it down, flames and all.
DO NOT inhale while doing this.
If fact, don't try this at home.

trof

(54,255 posts)
18. Oh lordy. I do remember 'depth charges'.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 08:09 PM
Mar 2013

Like a Boilermaker (AKA 'shot and a beer').
But you dropped the jigger of whiskey into the beer and then drank.
Them wuz the days.

 

WilliamPitt

(58,179 posts)
21. No depth charge.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:00 PM
Mar 2013

A sip and a sip, and a sip and a sip, and a sip and a sip, lather rinse repeat, use as needed.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
19. Collins
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 08:12 PM
Mar 2013

used to love a Tom Collins or a vodka Collins - you never hear those ordered or see them on a drink menu anymore

same with a real daiquiri - with lime and NOT a slushy girl drink

there used to be a college hang-out bar that had an enhanced version of a screw driver - they called it the perfect screw - added triple sec and fresh lime to the vodka and OJ - came out tasting like fresh squeezed orange juice and was kind of deadly

yum

currently my personal specialty is a good margarita, but I do like a well made mojito - maybe even better



trof

(54,255 posts)
20. Coon Dawg Vat
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 08:20 PM
Mar 2013

Coon Dawg Vat was the southern forerunner of what is now called 'Long Island Iced Tea'.
We made it at air national guard summer camp.
(We were now 'real' fighter jocks.)

'Borrowed' one of those orange juice machines from the mess hall that sprayed the juice up into a plastic dome. Anybody remember those?

CDV had 4 or 5 kinds of whiskey/spirits, a couple of beers, fruit juice, and 2 Alka Seltzers.
The Alka Seltzers were for the following hangover.
They were ineffective.


According to the guy who came up with the recipe, it's close to what they used to dip the dogs in to kill fleas and ticks.
I can't dispute that.

It went down real smooth.
Most of us went on sick call the next day and flying was cancelled.


Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)
22. I am blessed to have two sons, both of whom work in the brewing industry.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:13 PM
Mar 2013

One is a brewmaster with a now regional microbrew, and the other works at a very popular brewpub in the next town.

Am I a 'Beer Snob'?

Hell, yes, and a spoiled rotten one at that.

My eldest is constantly trying out new recipes at home on us, and I get to try so much and so many specialty brews it's an embarrassment of riches.

Oldest boy makes a killer stout from his own recipe that is now in full production at the brewery, and second oldest specializes in ales.

He also makes his own wine; I haven't bought a bottle of wine in four years.

But, I do love Bourbon, Courvoisier, Remy Martin with my coffee, and ice-cold Tanqueray with lime juice on a hot summer's day is still hard to beat.

I drink Jameson's on occasion, and a good single-malt Scotch will not get turned down, either.

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
24. Alcohal less Tequilla
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:56 PM
Mar 2013

would be a swell idea --- all the flavor and smell but no buzz .....

Once it was my time to raid my parents booze supply then meet up for the 11 year old festival of idiocy in the woods .I brought some bitters ( who knew ? ) ...always a popular kid .

 

talkingmime

(2,173 posts)
25. I'm not as think as you drunk I am, but one night all I had was an ounce in each bottle...
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:11 PM
Mar 2013

I forget how many bottles, but probably a dozen or more. It tasted like shit. So did the next morning.

kwassa

(23,340 posts)
26. You take me back to the transgressions of my youth.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:13 PM
Mar 2013

I remember Rusty Nails, White Russians, Stingers ....

a 21st birthday party that involved tequila shots, lemon, and salt on the hollow of the hand. I couldn't even smell tequila for about 8 years after that without feeling nauseous.

The one drink I still love is the classic Martini, gin, vermouth, and an olive.

And scotch, though I now do single malts.

and beer is vastly better now. A different world.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»The Drinkers' Drinking Th...