Message 24051 of 39188 in General Discussion

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> 
> So HERE's the real question!
> 
> What are some good, respectable drinks, that ANY BAR--be it a family 
> restuaraunt, a club, or a corner bar--would know. Webtender has its 
> lists, but they're based too much on the numbers, and mostly the 
> fruit or juice or fuk-u-up noveltys.
> 
> By respectable I mean simple, easy, not juiced and sweetened to hell, 
> but not as hard hitting as a Martini or a Manhattan.
> 
> Give me a good highball, a good short drink, a good long drink, and 
> even a shooter or two. What do the forums drink?

I think the main problem that you are going to have is that so many bars don't 
use fresh juice, so you probably want to stay clear of anything that needs it. 
Especially lemon or lime, because you are likely to sour mix in either. What 
is always a good acid test at a bar is to ask the tender what their specialty 
is, not the bar's but the individual tender. If they hem and haw, or suggest 
whatever the trendy piece of candy masquerading as a cocktail is then your 
best bet is to stick to a spirit and mixer highball. If their suggestions are 
off the cocktail list at the bar, then either they wrote or are too lazy to 
have researched any drinks on their own, or to have come up with any for 
themselves.

I always check out the back bar and see what boose they have there. If they 
have a nice rum, you can always order a shot on the rocks with an extra old 
fashioned glass, ask for a few lime wedges, a packet of sugar and a spoon, 
throw the rum over the ice, use the spoon to muddle the lime with the sugar, 
then poor the rum and ice onto it, stir a few times, and voila a caiparissma.

If they happen to have velvet falernum in the bar, which is doubtful, but 
possible, ask them to mix an ounce with an ounce of barbados rum over ice, add 
a couple dashes of bitters, and you have a corn 'n oil. This is too rich to 
have to many, but if you've never tried it, I'd suggest you do.