Question for those with more alcohol knowledge than I have!

[fireheart]

so I went out last night and for the first time, tried a Gin and Scotch. Tasted a bit like a forest according to the friend who bought it for me (I got used to it after a while). Anyway, this has been all that I've tried alcohol wise:

1) A bit of the wine I bought my parents for Christmas. (an acquired taste methinks)
2) UDL, Vodka Cruisers, Cruiser Frees (without sugar) (lumped them all together because they're basically the same, a UDL has a bit more alcoholic content though)
3) Sky Blue Lemon, Lime and Bitters (yummy!)
4) Cascade Prenium Light.
5) the gin/scotch mentioned above.

Basically, I have two questions:

1) A few of my mates last night had something, it was Red Bull and some other drink...it was basically a red bull poured into a glass, with a shot of something added to it, you drop it into the drink and drink it in one shot. What is it?
2) Can anyone recommend some decent cocktails? I'm not particularly interested in doing shots.

ETA: I found the answer to number 1...Jager bomb. Not something I'm about to try....

[edible_hat]

If you've got the $$, it's worth spending an evening in the Belgian Beer Cafe off Rundle Street. It can be expensive because all their beer is imported (guess where from?). Since you seem to like girly drinks, I'd recommend Hoegarden Forbidden Fruit and the one that tastes like cherries. Also maybe the chocolate one, it's not that great but it's made from chocolate.


ETA: And that had nothing to do with cocktails! The only cocktail I know how to make is a white russian (which is my wife's drink of choice). Vodka, kaluah and milk.

[fireheart]

Since you seem to like girly drinks, I'd recommend Hoegarden Forbidden Fruit and the one that tastes like cherries. Also maybe the chocolate one, it's not that great but it's made from chocolate.

Well that may be something to do with the fact that yes, I am a girl

I have had some Coopers as well...not too bad IMHO...

[Slytovhand]

Well, the answer really comes down to what you like. Sweet or dry? Presumably, since you're asking about cocktails, you like sweet.

Yes, White Russians and Black Russians are simple and nice Kahlua & Vodka, with either coke or milk.. or I've heard cream as well.

If you grab a bottle of most liquers like Midori, Kahlua, Tia Maria etc, they'll have recipes on them.

Fluffy Duck - any white spirit (well - not gin - too strong a flavour), Advocaat (the yellow stuff you'll see around), cream and lemonade... (what I got a tad drunk on in my 18th).

Oh My Fucking God... (well, that's what I decided to call what I created ) - Midori, Vodka, Malibu, Passiona/Passito (you know, comes in the purple cans), OJ... you get one quick nice hit of flavour, and then a few seconds later, another delightful hit of flavour!

For a quick and easy basic - Harvey Wallbanger - vodka, GOOD orange juice (crap OJ really sucks!), and top it off with Galliano.. (anything with Galliano is good )

Brandy Alexander (mmm yum!), Brandy (Noooo!!! go figure!), Creme de Cacao (anything with CdC is good yes - it does taste chocolatey), and cream...

Grasshopper - white Creme de Cacao, white Creme de Menthe (anything with CdM is...yeah, ok, point made ) and cream...

Ok - Mr Jester, I had one years ago which I think was called "Born on the Fourth of July" which not many have heard of. As I recall, you start with 2 spirits (Southern C I think... or just bourbon) in a warmed glass so the fumes come off. You light the fumes, and start sprinkling nutmeg over it to get a really nice fireworks effect (and yes, destroy the alcohol content... let's just get past that, shall we??), and then you top it with another alcohol (or was that the SC??) and OJ and cream mix (to douse the flames). Does it ring any bells with you?

But Fireheart.. there's so many cocktails out there, there's no point really asking.... just grab a book or do a net search... when you've got the bottles (I was lucky, I won $5K just before a girlfriend's 21st ) Otherwise, have a cocktail party, get some books, tell each friend to bring 1 bottle (organise what they bring in advance, so you don't get all the same... and the inevitable 15 cartons). After that, you just need OJ, lemonade, and a couple of other mixers.... and go to town!

[AdminAssistant]

A glass. Ice. Dr. Pepper or Coke (I prefer Dr. Pepper, but don't know if it's available in Australia). As much whiskey as you can handle (I prefer Jack Daniels or Maker's Mark*). Slice of lime. That's been my standard drink for years. It's tasty, it'll get you drunk, and guys seem to be impressed when a girl orders a whiskey drink for some reason. But drink slowly (they'll sneak up on you if you chug them down like I tend to do) and drink water at the same time.

My problems with frou-frou girly drinks: 1) They tend to contain a LOT of sugar. Sugar dehydrates you and leads to a nastier hangover. The worst hangovers I ever had came after nights of drinking Smirnoff Ice and Boone's Farm. 2) I, personally, don't like drinking..pink..things. 3) Well, I was never that girly in the first place. 4) If I wanted a slushie with vodka, I'd go buy a slushie and put vodka in it. Get that margarita on the rocks like a grown-up!

* If you're at a bar, just go with their well, and order a single, tall.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

ETA: I found the answer to number 1...Jager bomb. Not something I'm about to try....

That's good. Drunk AND jacked-up is not a very good combination.

I'm a fan of the old fashioned myself. Simple, unpretentious, gets the job done.

For whiskey drinks, I highly recommend Jameson Irish Whiskey. It's even decent straight.

[MaggieTheCat]

The first drink I started drinking regularly was a pretty good girly drink, I think. Amaretto Stone Sour. Amaretto, orange juice, sour (at the bar I went to, they used Squirt.) They also blended it, which I really liked. It turned frothy and slushie-like. Most places serve it on the rocks, though.

Later on I started drinking a lot more rum and coke.

I also enjoyed a good old fashion, since the bartenders really knew how to make them. From what I understand, they are a midwest USA thing, though...Jester, maybe you can confirm? I always used to get a whiskey old fashion sweet, which was:

1 cherry in the bottom of an old fashion glass with a tiny bit of sugar (to help muddle it), along with a few shakes of bitters and a tiny bit of orange juice (or orange peel.) Muddle together with a mortar. Add 1 shot of whiskey, top with ice and Sprite.

EDIT: YAY Irv! Someone else from Wisconsin who likes Old Fashions!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I also enjoyed a good old fashion, since the bartenders really knew how to make them. From what I understand, they are a midwest USA thing, though...Jester, maybe you can confirm? I always used to get a whiskey old fashion sweet, which was:

1 cherry in the bottom of an old fashion glass with a tiny bit of sugar (to help muddle it), along with a few shakes of bitters and a tiny bit of orange juice (or orange peel.) Muddle together with a mortar. Add 1 shot of whiskey, top with ice and Sprite.

EDIT: YAY Irv! Someone else from Wisconsin who likes Old Fashions!

The "Wisconsin thing" is making old-fashioneds with brandy instead of whiskey, as far as I can tell.

An old-fashioned seems to be a universal drink otherwise.

[Primer]

I can't make them, but I like Long Island Iced Teas, and Kamikazes. If I'm pouring my own, it's rum and cola.

[BookstoreEscapee]

My standard "I just want to sit and have a drink" drink is vodka and cranberry juice, or sometimes rum and Coke.

If I want dessert, I go for mudslides (made with chocolate ice cream, if possible ) or strawberry daquiris.

Blueberry vodka and lemonade (preferably not from concentrate) is a good summery drink. Muddle fresh blueberries in the glass first.

[Fufu487]

Amaretto Sour! Its my fav drink! it tastes sweet like skittles!! Ive gotten so many ladies hooked on this drink. Promise you'll try it.

Btw, Jagerbombs, onyl suggested if you have to last a good long few more hours. It'll jack u right up tho

[sms001]

tried a Gin and Scotch. Tasted a bit like a forest

gin=juniper berries=pine trees, scotch=earthy, woodsy tones. Yeah, I can see the whole forest thing there.

2) UDL, Vodka Cruisers, Cruiser Frees (without sugar) (lumped them all together because they're basically the same, a UDL has a bit more alcoholic content though)
3) Sky Blue Lemon, Lime and Bitters (yummy!)

Focusing on the vodka, since that seems to be your preference from your list. Saw a Harvey Wallbanger mentioned - great 'old school' cocktail. A lot of places don't carry Galiano anymore, but give one a try if they do.

TONS GALLONS of Vodka & Juice drinks in the world. And as cocktails go, relatively good for you. Better vodkas are low in the things that give you hangovers, and even a "bad" juice with lots of HFCS is still a little better than a soda pop.

Besides the ever popular screwdriver: Greyhound (Grapefruit) Salty Dog (Grapefruit and salt rim) Seabreeze (Grapefruit & Cranberry). Vodka goes well with almost any fruit liquid, not so well with any sodas. If you do want a shot here and there, there's the venerable Kamikazi (Vodka, Triple Sec, lime juice) or a Lemon Drop (Vodka, lemon juice, sugar).

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my own personal preference - vodka martini, straight up, twist. Tasty and easy to either nurse or run with.

Let us know if any of these appeal to you and I'm sure we can hone in on something that really suits you.

[BookstoreEscapee]

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my own personal preference - vodka martini, straight up, twist. Tasty and easy to either nurse or run with.

If I didn't nurse that I wouldn't be running anywhere..

The chocolate martini (vodka, chocolate liquer, chocolate syrup) on my 29th birthday is the thing that did me in. It was quite yummy but on top of everything else I'd had that night, well...let's just say it wasn't pretty. But I did make it home and to the bathroom sink, first, so that was a plus.

[Evil Queen]

I'm a Kamikaze girl myself (but I just adore vodka).

You may like Lemon Drops (basically lemonade with vodka in it), Brown Cows (Kahlua with milk), Chocolatini (Smiley's favourite girly drink).

The DataJager suggests Blue Hawaiian, Hurricaine, Mai Tai, Daquri, or a good Margarita. (I second the good margarita bit. I can rarely find a good one unless he makes it for me.)

A friend of mine "invented" the X Rated Fuzzy Navel (which is tasty!). Basically it's X-Rated Vodka (I think it's vodka), sprite, orange syrup, and peach schnapps. I didn't even taste the alcohol. I think you would like it.

[Jester]

Yes, White Russians and Black Russians are simple and nice Kahlua & Vodka, with either coke or milk.. or I've heard cream as well.

Actually, a Black Russian is just vodka and Kahlua. No Coke. And a White Russian technically is made with cream, but milk can be used as well.

Ok - Mr Jester, I had one years ago which I think was called "Born on the Fourth of July" which not many have heard of. [snip] Does it ring any bells with you?

Never heard of anything like it, no.

But Fireheart.. there's so many cocktails out there, there's no point really asking....

Otherwise, have a cocktail party, get some books, tell each friend to bring 1 bottle (organise what they bring in advance, so you don't get all the same... and the inevitable 15 cartons). After that, you just need OJ, lemonade, and a couple of other mixers.... and go to town!

Or just go to a bar and ask the bartender for some suggestions, for their specialties, etc.

* If you're at a bar, just go with their well, and order a single, tall.

Not all well brands are good. Some of them are downright bad. Which is why bars use them as their wells....they are cheap.

Also, if you order a drink tall, make sure you know what that is. Not everyone does. "Tall" means that the drink comes in a taller glass with more mixer, but NOT more booze. Common misconception is that tall means stronger. It doesn't. It means weaker, more diluted with mixer.

I also enjoyed a good old fashion, since the bartenders really knew how to make them. From what I understand, they are a midwest USA thing, though...Jester, maybe you can confirm?

I have made very few Old Fashioneds, which doesn't confirm what you are asking, but then, I don't work anywhere near the Midwest!

You may like Lemon Drops (basically lemonade with vodka in it)...

Actually, there is a difference between a Lemon Drop and a vodka and lemonade.

Vodka and lemonade is just that, served over ice. A Lemon Drop is either a shot or a martini. It's made with citrus vodka, sugar, and lemon juice shaken over ice and strained into a sugar-rimmed glass and garnished with a sugar-covered slice of lemon.