I've actually had this (or one similar) in Amsterdam. It tasted vaguely like mar1juana, which, while interesting, is actually not the most satisfying beer flavor out there.
I'm actually in a rut myself. I only drink straight scotch or vodka based cocktails, usually water and vodka with lime. I like a good Old Fashioned, margaritas with Mexican food, and occasionally something like a mojito. Someone suggest another go-to for me.
gin and tonic, my #1 at the bar. and seconding the idea that you're never done exploring beer. i only drink miller, bud, and coors when i'm a guest at someone's house or we're playing drinking games, or floating the river. craft beer should be the norm; the "normal" beers should be the novelty.
Start going to Spec's on the weekends, get some sample tastings of their wines on sale, and ask some questions, but don't say "I want to get fancy." Usually people who want to get fancy will work for it and will do it on their own without just going "the easy way." If you want to try some of the more fruity, girly, or mixed cooler cocktail and sweet drinks, I make a mean MUDSLIDE (rum), a tasty PIñA COLADA (rum), a bitter and savory SCREWDRIVER (vodka), and a tangy and rich MARGARITA with fruit (tequila). Say when. I also would like to say I make them for Mrs. SwoLy and guests and I entertain with Zinfandel and Pinot (some varieties) when I am out of fruity stuff. I will drink a Corona while they drink the fruity stuff, but I join them with that, too. Just last night I made some mudslide.
I suggest you start with liquor, as it's really the cheapest way to branch out. You need to decide if you prefer whiskey or clear, neutral spirits. Neutral spirits are vodka, gin, light rum, white tequila, etc. Get a bottle of bourbon, like Jim Beam or Jack Daniels, and a bottle of vodka, like Smirnoff or Skyy. Get some mixers: Coke (bourbon), Sprite (both), Ginger Ale (both), tonic water or soda (both), orange juice (vodka), etc. Mix it up and see what you like. If you like the bourbon, start experimenting with other brands, and other styles of whiskey (Rye, Canadian Whisky, etc.). Spend more money and get some scotch, irish whiskey, and top shelf bourbon that you can drink neat or on the rocks. If you like vodka, branch out into gin and rum. Tequila is also a possibility, but I only buy 100% agave tequila because anything less is horrible, and the expense of good tequila keeps me from considering it a go to drink. Once you get a decent bar of the basics together, you can start branching out it some of the more complicated drinks. Liqueurs and fancy mixers can be great, but you should focus on the basics first. After you've mastered liquor, you can start branching out into wine (by far, the most expensive way to get drunk, knowledge of which requires lots of buying and drinking to figure out what is good and what you like). I also like craft beer, but enjoying good beer sometimes requires being exposed to other types of booze so that you have something to compare it to. A cheap beer drinker may not like fancy beer if all he's ever had is cheap beer. Go out and widen your experiences before going back to more specialized beer.
No matter how much or how good of a new drink I get, I always come crawling back to beer...guess I'm just white trash that way. I love it.
When at social mixers, I almost always drink scotch and water. Just get JW black and you're fine. Bourbon neat is also good. Start with makers mark and wild turkey, then try something a little better like Woodford reserve.
I have to be careful considering that both of my grandfathers were alcoholics, but I like pretty much any cocktail or mixed drink that is out there - primarily margaritas as well as anything with Bailey's Irish Creme in it and vodka type cocktails. I'll give you a drink that will give you a buzz after just one drink of it and that is a zombie. It has all kinds of different rums in it including 151 proof! Legend has it that the guy who invented it, limited his customers to 2 drinks per customers due to how much alcohol is in it (one zombie is like equivalent to 3 or 4 regular cocktail drinks). I had one the Friday before I started working again and my wife had to drive me home as I know my BAC was over the legal limit. Very strong and powerful stuff, my friend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(cocktail)
while not necessarily a "fancy" drink, it's a great summer drink. Vodka, Topo Chico and a healthy slice of lime over ice. Nice and refreshing summer drink.
Cognac and armagnac are both (high end) types of brandy if you've ever had either. Essentially, it is alcohol distilled from wine.
Totally agree, unless you've already sampled all kinds of beers, there's a huge chunk of them that are just amazing
I used to enjoy Meyers Rum with orange juice and a splash of grenadine. We used to call it a "Sharkbite". It's sweeter and probably more accessible to the palate of someone new to hard liquor than say scotch or bourbon. Doesn't have the cachet of ordering Johnnie Walker Black or a dry martini, but you might like it better.
