# A threepack of questions about simple bar drinks
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 3, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786 "2005-01-03T03:12:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/1 "2005-01-03T03:12:08Z")
(Drinks are food, right? If this is in the wrong forum, sorry.)
1. Would you order a “vodka tonic” or a “vodka and tonic”?
2. How would you order a drink that was cranberry juice and vodka? Bonus: Would this be a “girlie drink”?
3. The biggie: what are all the standard drinks you can make with the basic spirits (gin, rum, vodka, tequila, maybe whiskey) and the mixers a bar would have on hand? Like rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/2 "2005-01-03T03:27:56Z")
1. Would you order a “vodka tonic” or a “vodka and tonic”?
**Vodka Tonic**
2) How would you order a drink that was cranberry juice and vodka? Bonus: Would this be a “girlie drink”?
**Ask for a Granitas**
1. The biggie: what are all the standard drinks you can make with the basic spirits (gin, rum, vodka, tequila, maybe whiskey) and the mixers a bar would have on hand? Like rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc.
**Damn you aren’t asking for much are ya?**
Just google mixed drinks.
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### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/3 "2005-01-03T03:31:31Z")
1. Vodka tonic.
2. Cape cod.
3. A hell of a lot.
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/4 "2005-01-03T03:37:46Z")
Thanks. I screwed up the 3rd question. I meant more like “basic drinks you can make with **one** standard spirit + **one** standard mixer”, like the examples I gave. If this is still too many to list, oh well.
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### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/5 "2005-01-03T03:40:32Z")
1. Would you order a “vodka tonic” or a “vodka and tonic”?
“Vodka tonic.”
2. How would you order a drink that was cranberry juice and vodka? Bonus: Would this be a “girlie drink”?
“Vodka cranberry.” or “Cape Cod”
3. The biggie: what are all the standard drinks you can make with the basic spirits (gin, rum, vodka, tequila, maybe whiskey) and the mixers a bar would have on hand? Like rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc.
Try [here](http://www.drinksmixer.com/) for a dizzying assortment of ideas. The more upscale bars will have more variety of mixers, I believe. Take a look at what everyone else is ordering. If you see mostly beer (especially draft or bottled domestics), the bar is stocked to serve mostly beer and the bartenders will probably not know but a few of the most common mixed drinks. YMMV, of course.
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### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/6 "2005-01-03T03:42:44Z")
Oh, I see **Aes** beat me to it, but you’ll have to ask him if he considers it a “girlie drink.” I’m a girl, so I’m probably biased, but I’d say no. Just don’t ask for an umbrella.
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### Author:  [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/7 "2005-01-03T03:46:21Z")
OK, I’ll take a shot at #3 - I’m not sure I have the question right, but I’ll try.
Vodka + tonic
Vodka + soda
Vodka + grapefruit juice = Greyhound
Vodka + grapefruit juice with salt on the glass rim = Salty Dog
Vodka + Rose’s lime juice = Gimlet
Vodka + tomato juice or V8 = really basic Bloody Mary, but I wouldn’t recommend it
Vodka + orange juice = Screwdriver
Vodka + an olive = beginner martini (but it really needs a LITTLE vermouth, too)
Is this what you mean? If so, I’ll come back with more.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/8 "2005-01-03T03:47:09Z")
Heh.
Granitas sounds much cooler than a _Cape Cod_
😃
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### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/9 "2005-01-03T03:50:59Z")
> [@Reeder](#):
>
> Heh.
>
> Granitas sounds much cooler than a _Cape Cod_
>
> 😃
Yes, but it sounds girlie. 😉
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### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/10 "2005-01-03T03:51:03Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#):
>
> Oh, I see \*\*Aes \*\*beat me to it, but you’ll have to ask him if he considers it a “girlie drink.” I’m a girl, so I’m probably biased, but I’d say no. Just don’t ask for an umbrella.
Ha. I’m biased too as I’m proudly not a “manly man”. Except for jagermeister and tequila, my taste in alcohol is decidedly “girly”… I love margaritas, fuzzy navels, sangria, and amaretto sours and the only way you’ll get me to drink vodka, gin, whiskey, or scotch is under pain of death.
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### Author:  [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/11 "2005-01-03T03:53:59Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#):
>
> 1. Would you order a “vodka tonic” or a “vodka and tonic”?
> “Vodka tonic.”
Note that you’ll end up with well vodka if you order this. If you’re okay with that, fine; otherwise, you should specify the brand you want–e.g., “Stoli and tonic”. The use of the word “and” is optional, depending on what sounds best.
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### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/12 "2005-01-03T03:54:12Z")
> [@Aesiron](#):
>
> Ha. I’m biased too as I’m proudly not a “manly man”. Except for jagermeister and tequila, my taste in alcohol is decidedly “girly”… I love margaritas, fuzzy navels, sangria, and amaretto sours and the only way you’ll get me to drink vodka, gin, whiskey, or scotch is under pain of death.
Meh. I’ll share a margarita with ya anytime! Especially one of those big ones and ESPECIALLY if it’s got Midori or Grand Marnier in it! Yum! 😃
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### Author:  [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/13 "2005-01-03T03:54:52Z")
Standard mixers include
- tonic
- fruit juices (orange, cranberry, tomato, occasionally apple)
- sodas (Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, club soda)
- sour mix
Standard spirits include
- gin (one or two names)
- whiskey (at least ten ubiquitous “name” brands)
- vodka (usually not asked for by name, but comes in flavors)
- rum (spiced, coconut, several brand names)
- a sparkling wine for girly drinks
…and that’s just off the top of my head from the last two open-bar functions I attended. Twenty big bottles of varying types and qualities of liquor times ten mixers gives the bartender a “short list” of 200 drinks he can make with just one mixer and just one liquor. Most aren’t named, but you can ask for them pretty easily – “I’ll have a X AND Y please” – even if you don’t know the fancy name. The only exception I can think of is a “vodka and orange juice” which will definitely get you a funny look if you call it anything but a screwdriver.
For instance, a “rum and coke” might be called under the name “Captain (Morgan) and Coke” or a “Cuba Libre,” and depending on the bartender and his supplies, all three of those drinks could come out with minute differences. When I ask for a whiskey and cranberry, I get a few funny looks, and then the bartender asks what kind of whiskey I want. I start off asking for Jameson if they’ve got it; I’ve settled for Canadian Club.
Realize that the short list of 200 gets bigger pretty fast. If you assume 20 liquors and 10 mixers, you get
200 unique drinks with one mixer and one liquor
2000 unique drinks with two mixers and one liquor (but who is going to add tomato juice to a rum and coke???)
4000 unique drinks with one mixer and two liquors (a screwdriver with a splash of coconut rum, sir?)
…and so on.
You can go check out [webtender.com](http://webtender.com) to see what commonly-known drinks can be made from the ingredients in your bar.
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### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/14 "2005-01-03T03:57:50Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#):
>
> Note that you’ll end up with well vodka if you order this. If you’re okay with that, fine; otherwise, you should specify the brand you want–e.g., “Stoli and tonic”. The use of the word “and” is optional, depending on what sounds best.
Well, I wouldn’t usually because I wouldn’t order one. IMHO the tonic is nastier than any cheap-ass well vodka. But, hey, I’m with you on this one. Some take it as a bit snobbish, but Stoli is a vast improvement over Popov. I’m partial to Grey Goose, myself. And Absolut Pepar in a Bloody Mary.
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/15 "2005-01-03T03:58:29Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#):
>
> OK, I’ll take a shot at #3 - I’m not sure I have the question right, but I’ll try.
You’ve got it exactly right. And the vodka list is probably the longest, since no one mixes rum and juice. Gag. So the theoretical 200 drinks isn’t quite that long in reality.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/16 "2005-01-03T04:03:38Z")
> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> You’ve got it exactly right. And the vodka list is probably the longest, since no one mixes rum and juice. Gag. So the theoretical 200 drinks isn’t quite that long in reality.
Actually rum goes very well with juice.
Pineapple juice especially.
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### Author:  [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/17 "2005-01-03T04:09:29Z")
> [@Reeder](#):
>
> Actually rum goes very well with juice.
> Pineapple juice especially.
And even better with mangoes. Unfortunately there aren’t many bars where one will find an actual mango, so I have to make killer mango daiquiris at home.
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### Author:  [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/18 "2005-01-03T04:13:36Z")
> [@Jurph](#):
>
> For instance, a “rum and coke” might be called under the name “Captain (Morgan) and Coke” or a “Cuba Libre,”
Nitpick: Cuba Libre != rum & coke. (It also has lime in it.)
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### Author:  [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/19 "2005-01-03T04:15:37Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#):
>
> Note that you’ll end up with well vodka if you order this. If you’re okay with that, fine; otherwise, you should specify the brand you want–e.g., “Stoli and tonic”.
Thanks for the tip; I’d thought I was pretty sharp ordering “vodka and Ocean Spray”.
I’ve seen guys drinking Vodka-Cranberries fairly often at parties but rarely at a bar. If you do feel brave enough to order, I’d suggest just naming the ingredients so as not to seem to familiar with the thing.
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### Author:  [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-threepack-of-questions-about-simple-bar-drinks/282786/20 "2005-01-03T04:16:06Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#):
>
> I’m partial to Grey Goose, myself.
Yeah, I normally drink Grey Goose because it’s pretty common. Have you ever had Hangar One, though? It’s very good.
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