Dear American Drink,
[…] I enjoy good beer, good food, and good conversation. I stumbled across your fine blog the other day and have had a great time reading the stories and recipes, and I may not have come across it yet, but a list of drinks to try, a top ten maybe, would make for a great post for the curious and novice liquor drinkers such as myself.

Keep up the good work,

Jon

Man, what is up with you beer drinkers? Since starting American Drink back in June, we’ve had quite a few beer people ask which cocktails they should start with. I’ve started and stopped writing a post about a dozen times because I kept looking for a definitive answer. Here’s the answer: there is no answer. But a list? That’s like five or seven or like 11 things that look like an answer, right?

Here’s where you should think about starting: Do you prefer gin, whiskey or vodka?

Gin

1. Tom Collins or Tom Yum Collins
2. Negroni (deliciously bitter) via The Cocktail Chronicles
3. Gin Gin Mule via NYMAG

Whiskey

1. The Old Fashioned (try rye and bourbon variations)
2. Sazerac¹
3. The Whiskey Smash

Vodka

1. Horseradish-Infused Vodka
2. Vesper Martini (via @texburgher)
3. A 5:1 Martini

So there’s nine. For number 10, find a place known for cocktails in your town. Belly up to the bar and order two of the above. Talk to the bartender and other folks at the bar. Ask them what they like. When you finish your second drink, if it’s not too busy, ask the bartender what they recommend. Tell her how you like your like drinks—sweet, sour, dry or even bitter. Whatever she brings, it will either be a decent end or great beginning to your night.

After you cab it home, e-mail us and let us know how it went.

Thanks for the kind words!

And from my buddy, Jonathan:

[…] My big issue is that nothing is as drinkable for three or four (or eight) drinks like beer.

Yeah, for sure. What I end up doing is having a tall glass of water between cocktails. It helps me pace myself and if it turns out to be a big night, the hangover is less severe.

Posted at 2:03pm and tagged with: two column,.