An Amusing Start for 2012

[Ironclad Alibi]

(NOTE: I should point out that Webtender also lists the Shirley Temple as "non-alcoholic" cocktail, containing ginger ale and grenadine, thus indicating that grenadine is by definition non-alcoholic. Though of course there can be alcoholic versions of it.)

We obviously need a new rule:

If it is liquid, there is an alcoholic version of it.

[Jester]

That is hardly a new rule. Hell, that is a very OLD rule.

Hell, one of the very first phrases for whiskey was "aqua vitae," or "water of life."

And I certainly have gone about trying alcohol in many, MANY forms.

Oddly enough, there is one thing I have never done, which not only surprises a lot of people, but kind of surprises me.

I have been drinking Gatorade since I was about 17 or 18. For those keeping score, I'm 41, so that's well over 20 years. And I've always thought that it would make a great mixer for a drink. Most people think it would go great with vodka. Not being a vodka fan, I always thought of it more as a rum receptacle.

And yet, despite being a 1-2 quart a day drinker of Gatorade (sometimes more), and despite being the Rum Guy at a rum bar, and despite being a regular drinker of alcohol AND a mixologist...I have never, ever, EVER made a cocktail using Gatorade. Not a single time. Not for myself, and not for anyone else. Nor have I ever DRANK a cocktail involving Gatorade that someone else made.

Kinda weird, huh?

[Mr Hero]

We obviously need a new rule:

If it is liquid, there is an alcoholic version of it.

This sounds very similar to Rule 34.

[vikingchyk]

Which is weird to me, because my whole life, I was led to believe, both as a child drinking them and later a bartender making them, that Shirley Temples were SPRITE with grenadine.

When I had them as a kid, they were 7UP (or Bubble Up) with mystery pinkish juice-like stuff. And a maraschino cherry (so I always thought they just used juice from the jar of cherries) And if I was really lucky, a little glass animal perched on the rim of the glass

[Aisling]

If it makes you feel better, Jester, I have friends who are convinced that Shirley Temples are lemon-lime soda and strawberry syrup. They are very confused... so I don't let them play bartender. Honestly, I think the drink has devolved to "white-ish soda and pink stuff".

[Treasure]

And yet, despite being a 1-2 quart a day drinker of Gatorade (sometimes more), and despite being the Rum Guy at a rum bar, and despite being a regular drinker of alcohol AND a mixologist...I have never, ever, EVER made a cocktail using Gatorade. Not a single time. Not for myself, and not for anyone else. Nor have I ever DRANK a cocktail involving Gatorade that someone else made.

My aunt texted me about the wonders that was Grape vodka and Grape Gatorade.... the next morning she texted me asking who took the grape sandpaper to her tongue.....


I would think a fruit punch Gatorade would mix decently enough with rum....

[celticgrl]

This is Key West, not Miami. We were shorts and sandals, and "Key West formal" is considered nice sandals and shorts. We refer to plastic cups as "Key West crystal." Etc., etc. We are laidback island that is more about substance than style, about weirdness than what's hip. Chic? Right state, wrong town. South Beach we ain't.

Oh Key West I will be visitng there in June may have to try and find your bar just to have a drink. I promise to behave and play nice

[strawbabies]

I don't give the Italian guy a pass for not leaving a tip, even if it isn't the custom in Europe. If you can't bother to learn the local customs of a place you're visiting and follow them, stay home!

[Ironclad Alibi]

This sounds very similar to Rule 34.

And there is a good reason for that. I copied it and changed it slightly.

[KiaKat]

For reference: The alcoholic version of Grenadine is Maraschino. Though it doesn't have colour. It's tasty stuff, if hard to find.

[Jester]

When I had them as a kid, they were 7UP (or Bubble Up) with mystery pinkish juice-like stuff. And a maraschino cherry (so I always thought they just used juice from the jar of cherries) And if I was really lucky, a little glass animal perched on the rim of the glass

Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, Sierra Mist if you are really unlucky, etc.

And while it is normally grenadine, cherry juice (i.e., the liquid that maraschino cherries are in) can also be used in pinch. And for kids, yes, a maraschino cherry.

I liked these so much as a kid that my parents actually bought a bottle of grenadine for use at home. I think I was the only kid on my block that had his own bar mixer in the pantry!

My aunt texted me about the wonders that was Grape vodka and Grape Gatorade.... the next morning she texted me asking who took the grape sandpaper to her tongue.....

I would think a fruit punch Gatorade would mix decently enough with rum....

Since I don't care for vodka OR Grape Gatorade all that much, I will take your aunt's word on all of that.

As for mixes, I think that any Gatorade would mix well, and have had ideas for all of my favorite flavors, including Fierce Melon, Fruit Punch, Citrus Cooler, and the sadly discontinued Lime Ice.

Oh Key West I will be visitng there in June may have to try and find your bar just to have a drink. I promise to behave and play nice

I do hope that you will be here at some point in June that is not June 6-11, as I will be in Houston those days.

If that is the case, you won't have to try to find the bar...you can just PM me and I will tell you where/how to find me, both at the bar and socially. I am a heck of a tour guide/party guide. just saying.

I don't give the Italian guy a pass for not leaving a tip, even if it isn't the custom in Europe. If you can't bother to learn the local customs of a place you're visiting and follow them, stay home!

I don't give him a pass per se, but I do think the more egregious crime in that was not the non-tipping, which is fairly common with Europeans in this town, but the attempt to pay me less than the actual bill. And for the ridiculous, stupid, and lazy reason that the fucker didn't want to break another ten dollar bill.

For reference: The alcoholic version of Grenadine is Maraschino. Though it doesn't have colour. It's tasty stuff, if hard to find.

I have heard of maraschino liqueur, as it is called for in a few drink recipes that I have seen, but I have never actually seen it in person.

Though I don't know if it is technically the alcoholic version of grenadine since grenadine is technically sweetened pomegranate juice.

[Mr Hero]

I liked these so much as a kid that my parents actually bought a bottle of grenadine for use at home. I think I was the only kid on my block that had his own bar mixer in the pantry!

So, this is where it all began!

[morgana]

For reference: The alcoholic version of Grenadine is Maraschino. Though it doesn't have colour. It's tasty stuff, if hard to find.

This sounds WONDERFUL!!!! I shall have to try to find it . . .

[KiaKat]

I have heard of maraschino liqueur, as it is called for in a few drink recipes that I have seen, but I have never actually seen it in person.

Though I don't know if it is technically the alcoholic version of grenadine since grenadine is technically sweetened pomegranate juice.

True. However the flavour is similar (though with a bit more of an almond note), and it can be used for the same sorts of drinks. Without having that awful artificial flavour of Rose's.

This sounds WONDERFUL!!!! I shall have to try to find it . . .

Honestly, the only place I've seen it is at my store. However, depending on your state distributors, it may be available for special order through your local specialty liquor store.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I don't drink all that often. Just my personal decision. If I am drinking, it's because I'm either on vacation or have had a REALLY bad day. There are occasional exceptions to this.

One random mixed drink I had recently was one my Mom actually wondered about recently. Cream soda and vanilla vodka.

It tasted kinda medicinal, but it wasn't bad.

My friends and I are tempted to get the "DIY Juice to Alcohol Kit" and give it a try with something. (Probably something purple, a la "the purple stuff" from the old Sunny D commercials.)