I'm probably the simplest drinker here...even stopped coffee in the morning because of anxiety issues Plain water is all I drink.
I guess there's only a couple of us true night cap imbibers on here. Another rum and coke for me tonight. Hope to switch to Merlot for a few days starting tomorrow.
Hey, I just finished watching the 1964 James Bond classic "Goldfinger". What a jerk 007 is when it comes to ordering a drink! Aboard Goldfinger's private plane, the hostess asks if he would like a drink. Thinking he was real cool, Bond says "Martini...shaken, not stirred." Why, doesn't the dummy know that when the Vermouth is poured into the Gin, it causes a turbulence in the liquid, just as if it had been stirred? Sheesh! Hal
I learned in the past decade that the quality of a martini is in the quality of the gin used. A vodka martini is worthless and tasteless, but a martini made with a fine gin is priceless. For most of my life I avoided gin and martinis, as I thought the tasted like a pine tree. Also, @Hal Pollner many bartenders don't add vermouth to the drink, they coat the glass with vermouth prior to adding the gin mixture. There would be no stirring in that case.
Anyone curious and not having ever tasted Vermouth ought to do so. UGH to the nth. degree! Cognac, not as bad, but worse than typical distilled brandy. These are not neat products, nor should they be used neetly. Frank
Yo, Don... Thanks for the uptick! I didn't know that bartenders prepared Martinis that way! Incidentally, the Martini was named after the British infantry rifle used in Victorian times. Hal
Yesterday, I went to my favorite Spirit store to buy a refill of my favorite libation...Puerto Rican Rum. But alas...they were out of my favorite brand, so I decided to be adventurous and get a jug of Scotch Whisky and a few bottles of Club Soda instead. This evening, as a pre-dinner Cocktail, I mixed a Scotch & Soda, and was shocked at the disappointing flavor of the drink! Even during the second one, I felt that I was drinking NOTHING, mixed with Club Soda. So as soon as I get rid of the Scotch, I'm going back to my Warm, Sweet, Friendly, Buzzy Rum & Coke! Hal
@Hal Pollner scotch is about as far away from rum as you can get. Many people drink scotch straight, but most folks who drink rum mix it with something...unless you drink anejo rum, which I understand is blended to be drunk straight. Of course, those old British sailors would drink either straight....