Did you recently turn 21 and have absolutely zero clue what to order your first time going out? Or have you been of-age for a while but are getting sick of ordering the same drink every single time you go to the bar? Also let’s face it, some of us just don’t do shots… and that’s okay! I have accumulated a list of drinks that come from recommendations from my friends, as well as online. Some of these are super basic, and others are a little more fancy so you have a drink order for all occasions!
- Amaretto Sour: Amaretto and Lemon Juice
- Cosmopolitan: Vodka, Triple sec, Cranberry juice, Lime juice, garnished with lemon or lime wedge
- Dirty Shirley: Vodka, Lime soda or Ginger Ale, Grenadine, garnished with a maraschino cherryÂ
- Screwdriver: Orange Juice and vodka
- Moscow Mule: Moscow Mule: Vodka, Ginger Beer, Lime JuiceÂ
- Vodka Cranberry: Cranberry Juice and vodka
- Instead of cranberry juice, you can also order vodka lemonade or vodka pineapple juice, for exampleÂ
- Vodka Redbull: Vodka and redbull
- Espresso Martini: Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, Espresso, garnished with coffee beans Â
- Vodka Soda: Club Soda and vodka
- Can be ordered with lemon or lime or extra flavor
- Vodka or Gin Martini: Gin or Vodka and Vermouth
- Can be ordered in a variety of ways, some examples include:
- Dry martini: Contains less vermouth
- Wet martini: Contains more vermouth
- Perfect martini: Contains equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, with gin
- Dirty martini: Contains olive brine and at least one olive garnishÂ
- May be garnished with olives, lemon, orange, or onion
- Can be ordered in a variety of ways, some examples include:
- Greyhound: Grapefruit Juice and Vodka or Gin
- Gin and Tonic: Gin and Tonic water, garnished with lime
- Negroni: Gin, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, garnished with orange twist
- French 75: Cognac, Gin, ChampagneÂ
- Tom Collins: Gin, lemon juice, sugar, club soda, garnished with with lemon and cherry
- Mojito: White rum, lime juice, sugar, mint leaves, and soda water
- Rum and Coke: Rum and regular or diet coke
- You can also order it with vodka, gin, whiskey, or tequila instead of rum
- Rum Punch: Light rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice, grenadineÂ
- Tequila Sunrise: Tequila, orange juice, grenadineÂ
- Margarita: Tequila, lime juice, triple sec
- Paloma: Tequila, grapefruit soda, lime
- Ranch Water: Tequila, lime juice, sparkling water
- Old Fashion: Whiskey, sugar cube, angostura bitters, water, garnished with orangeÂ
- Whiskey Sour: Whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup
- Manhattan: Whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, garnished with a maraschino cherry
Many of the hard liquors included above can be mixed with any type of juice or soda the bar has (for example, tequila and apple juice!). This makes a simple drink to ease yourself in if you are nervous to order something more complicated, or have never tried that type of liquor before. If you are looking for other recommendations, ask around. Sometimes your family and friends will have different orders that you never even thought of! Never be afraid to ask the bartender as well for recommendations or to answer any questions if you are unsure. It may seem intimidating, but it will help you out in the long run. Next time you go out, give one of these drinks a try. Happy drinking and be safe!