:eek: Translation: “I’m going to the wrong bars.”
When I mentioned the half-dozen different types of gin, I could definitely tell the differences between them when used in a gin & tonic.
I have been to one or two places where “vodka and orange juice” is counted as a standard highball, and priced accordingly (say, $4.50). A “screwdriver,” however, is on the premium cocktail list, with martinis and manhattans and such, and also priced accordingly (say, $5.50).
I don’t agree with this practice, though it really doesn’t affect me much–hey, I drink mostly beer anyway, though I’d never turn up my nose at dry martinis, single-malt Scotches; and yes, vodka-and-tonics–but sometimes, it seems, you have to be careful what you ask for. As always, caveat emptor.
Maybe this is a regional thing–around here, any simple liquor + mix combo is referred to by the standard designation “highball.” You’ll sometimes see on a bar’s drink menu or chalkboard something like, “Happy Hour Highballs, $3.50,” meaning a drink of liquor and mix: rum and Coke, vodka and OJ, gin and tonic, and so on.
Any kind of citrus juice? A gin & tonic isn’t complete until you’ve squeezed the lime wedge into it.
Gah, no. Not together. Although now that you’ve put it in my mind, I might try it.
How does “Double Homicide” sound?
Behold the Harsh. I wonder if anybody has actually drank that? Yuck.
Highball is one of those drinks that are named after the glass they are served in, rather than any meaningful marriage of ingredients. The original highball started out as rye + club soda (ya know, whiskey soda) but eventually morphed into rye + ginger, then eventually into any whiskey + ginger ale. These days it seems to mean any spirit + any carbonated beverage served in a highball glass. It’s like the word martini (a particular pet peeve of mine.) Anything containing more than gin or vodka, vermouth, and olives should not be called a martini, imho. Appletinis are not martinis. Neither are chocolate martinis. They are just cocktails that happen to be served in a martini glass.
But, oh well, it is a living language, after all, so what can I do?
I’m sort of surprised no one has mentioned it yet (unless I missed it) but depending on how strong you want it, you could order a Cosmopolitan. This is a “martini”-style drink usually served “up” in a cocktail glass, but if you associate cocktail glasses with “Sex in the City” bimbos you could order a “Cosmopolitan, rocks” which would be served to you on ice in a rocks glass, (or neat, which would come iceless in one of those largish shot glasses, which probably have their own name that’s eluding me.) The difference between a Cosmo and a Cape Cod is the ratio of juice to booze. A Cape cod is cranberry juice with a slug of vodka in it, and a Cosmopolitan is vodka with a splash of cranberry, pretty much. It is girly-looking, but not girly strengthed.
No. That’s not right. A cosmopolitan has vodka, triple sec (or cointreau), lime and cranberry juice. It is NOT a simple vodka cranberry.
Specifically, it is:
5 parts lemon vodka (originally Absolut Citron)
5 parts triple sec (originally Cointreau, but Stock brand triple sec is recommended)
4 parts fresh lime juice
Dash or two of cranberry juice (really just for color)
(The above recipe is as described by the guy who invented it, and can be found in the book Cosmopolitan: A Bartender’s Life. The author is Toby Cecchini.)
I was going to contribute the same link myself. Though I definitely prefer the name “Grievous Bodily Harm”.
It reminds me of my favorite (to hear fabled stories of) mess-your-head drink, the Irish Carbomb. Apparantly it doesn’t hit for a few minutes after you finish, but when it does, it’s like a bomb going off.
Vodka tonic, and I don’t bother specifying the vodka because I don’t expect much from bar drinks. And I’m cheap.
I just call it a vodka and cranberry juice, because I don’t want to seem overly familiar with the drink. I do think it’s girlie, because my father taught me that any drink with juice in it was girlie. Then again, he was a snob among alcoholics, so I thought that might have just been him until the last time I ordered one and the bartender included a veritable fruit salad on a swizzle stick (a sure sign you’re holding a girlie drink). Of course, she did the same when I switched to vodka tonics, so maybe she just thought I looked like I needed some fresh fruit with my alcohol.
As for combinations, the previous posters are far more well-versed than I am. I’m still working on the vodka drinks.
The Irish Carbomb is one of the greatest drinks ever created. My friends and I go to our local pub specifically to drink these all night. It is thick and strong at first but when you get to the bottom of the glass it tastes like a good cappucino. Yum. These drinks also work to my advantage because most guys don’t believe that a girl can drink more or faster than they can so a challenge usually ensues to see who can finish their carbomb the fastest. Of course, I always win which means free drinks for me. Yeah. 
You must be my dreamwoman.
Seriously, an Irish Carbomb is my favourite drink. I know there are a few variations, and I’m at work so the internet filter won’t let me see the one that was linked to at webtender, but my version is as follows:
Pint of Guiness (obviously Draught if they have it, if not, then go for the kind in the can. Don’t use bottles unless that’s all you can get (mainly cause the bottles have less in them :p))
3/4 shot of Irish Cream
1/4 Shot of Jameson Whiskey.
Pour Guiness into pint glass. Pour irish cream into shot glass, top off with the jameson. Drop the shotglass into the Guiness and chug like Hell!
For those not familiar with it, if you don’t chug it fast enough, then the guiness will curdle the irish cream and you will be drinking whiskey flavored guiness with little cream chunks floating in it.
:eek: It should be a sin to sully your Guinness like that! Heathen!
The big trend here lately is Jaegerbombs. A bar glass of Red Bull with a shot of Jaeger dropped into it (ala boilermaker style), and chug the whole thing.
They’re actually pretty good, tastes like grape juice to me. And woo they hit you hard after a couple.
I disagree. I love all things Guiness, and I would gladly trade car bombs with a comely less ready to test her drinking prowess.
Also, a pint of Guiness is actually too much Guiness. Less Guiness means more tasty Bailey’s and Jamison’s, and less spillage – b/c after all, this is a competition.
Well, chugging Guinness is just plain wrong. Dumping Bailey’s and Jameson’s into Guinness is the Work of the Devil. You must savor your drinks, not guzzle them down like a wild fratboy with no regard to taste or tradition.
I tell ya, kids these days…
Just as another posted mentioned where a rum and coke != a Cuba Libre, a vodka and cranberry != a Cape Code. Both drinks require the addition of lime.
And, AFAIK, a Long Island Iced Tea does not traditionally contain tequila. It’s all the clears, sweet and sour, splash of cola.
Hmmm…is that a challenge? 
You guys want a good “dare” drink, then order your buddy a double Gorilla Fart. Two shots Bacardi 151, two shots Wild Turkey. Tastes like a gorillas ass, and gets you royally fucked up.
Word of warning: If you’re so drunk that you can shoot a Gorilla Fart without retching, you’re in trouble. You might as well just head to the crapper right then and there and wait for the inevitable.