[quote]Facepalm_Death wrote:
black russian: vodka + kahlua
if its too sweet, use less kahlua[/quote]
X2
I love coffee.[/quote]
Equal parts chilled espresso, amaretto (use disaronno, not the cheap stuff), and cream, shaken with ice (but poured neat) makes for a pretty good after-dinner drink, even if a little light on the booze. You can always add vodka.
Nocello/Frangelico make nice substitutions for the amaretto, if you prefer hazelnut.
If the espresso is too bitter, just use more cream next time. Or use different espresso.
Any other favorite types of liquor you guys like as far as anything cheap-ish? I’ve found a few great resources for making drinks, though I have to make my modifications based on palate and my lacking liquor shelf lol.
Jeffery Morgenthaler has some pretty awesome stuff I’ve seen, the videos are always cool, at least more intriguing than a 4 part recipe, you know? Plus,he gets to shit on cocktail norms or explain his modifiers. He has a few videos on youtube, more than enough to go through, and Small Screen Cocktails’ channel has some other seemingly good bartenders. Made this last night, it’s amazing that I’ve never had a legit daiquiri in my life until now (made bc I had the ingredients on hand, of course) How to Not F@%& Up a Daiquiri - The Morgenthaler Method - YouTube
So I guess then, you get what you pay for, but I’ve stumbled upon some ok priced stuff that wasn’t at all repulsive. Any other hidden gems in the realm of not-top-shelf?
[quote]VTTrainer wrote:
Any other favorite types of liquor you guys like as far as anything cheap-ish? [/quote]
Cheap-ish is a very relative term, but I’ll give you some of my favorites that do not break the bank.
Regarding Vodka
Perhaps my palate is crude, but I don’t see a huge difference between a $14 bottle of Smirnoff and a $28 bottle of Grey Goose. The latter is definitely better, but Smirnoff is not that bad, especially for mixing.
Regarding Whiskey
Going really cheap here is not advised.
I like Jack Daniels. There, I said it. I like it straight, on the rocks or as a mixer. At $23 per bottle, it isn’t super-cheap but it is well within reach for most aspiring drinkers.
I prefer a good single-barrel bourbon to most whiskeys, JD included, and some decent ones can be had for under $30. I have yet to try a bourbon over $20 with a real cork that I’ve disliked. If it has a cork, give it a try.
Regarding Rum
If you are mixing it, I don’t see a problem going cheap. Bacardi works fine for fruity drinks and rum and cokes. Lots of other decent brands under $20.
Regarding Tequila
I never go cheap here. Get 100% agave liquor. If you don’t, whatever you are drinking is not really tequila. If getting hammered is your objective, Cuervo does the job, but don’t fool yourself into thinking it is real tequila.
[quote]VTTrainer wrote:
Any other favorite types of liquor you guys like as far as anything cheap-ish? [/quote]
Cheap-ish is a very relative term, but I’ll give you some of my favorites that do not break the bank.
Regarding Vodka
Perhaps my palate is crude, but I don’t see a huge difference between a $14 bottle of Smirnoff and a $28 bottle of Grey Goose. The latter is definitely better, but Smirnoff is not that bad, especially for mixing.
[/quote]
Those are about my price range. Funny you should mention the Smirnoff (I really don’t like it), me and my girl did “blind” taste tests between Tito’s and Grey Goose (we poured for each other).
Tito’s has more flavor, but that’s not really a bad thing, vodka shouldn’t really taste like ethanol water… but the Tito’s was WAY better. Calmer, with way less bite and aggression than Grey Goose. The goose is all hype if you ask me.
I forgot about Tito’s. I’ve had it a few times and have no complaints. I always buy Stoli vodka, usually blueberry, but that is my girlfriend’s preference and not something I drink very often.
Whatever you do, stay away from the 1.5L bottles of bottom shelf garbage, unless your goals include depravity, self-loathing and getting drunk under a bridge somewhere. Even if I was broke, I would save up the extra $5 for a decent bottle of vodka for no reason other than maintaining my dignity.
[quote]VTTrainer wrote:
The goose is all hype if you ask me. [/quote]
If my memory serves me correct, you’re literally true with this statement.
I believe it was a fairly low-grade vodka that some marketing genius (I think the guy behind red bull actually) decided to see if he could convinced Americans that it was some ultra-premium high-grade vodka. And succeeded, obviously.
[quote]VTTrainer wrote:
The goose is all hype if you ask me. [/quote]
If my memory serves me correct, you’re literally true with this statement.
I believe it was a fairly low-grade vodka that some marketing genius (I think the guy behind red bull actually) decided to see if he could convinced Americans that it was some ultra-premium high-grade vodka. And succeeded, obviously.[/quote]
Haha, that’s pretty funny, even if it’s not true. I feel the same way about redbull, crappy and overpriced… but ya, I’d rather buy smirnoff if I had to get a foul, almost bottom shelf vodka instead of grey goose
Seriously watch the calories on some of these mixed drinks, for example a long island ice tea has a whopping 750 calories per drink!!! Margaritas come in at 650 or something. These combined with a post boozing fast food binge can destroy a physique in record time.
Forget paying for expensive brands, it’s all terrible for you anyway whether you pay 40 or 14 for a bottle of vodka. Not like the expensive stuff is a health drink or anything.
Can’t go wrong with a cheap gin/vodka & lemonade with plenty of ice.
[quote]B A S T A R D wrote:
Seriously watch the calories on some of these mixed drinks, for example a long island ice tea has a whopping 750 calories per drink!!! Margaritas come in at 650 or something. These combined with a post boozing fast food binge can destroy a physique in record time.
Forget paying for expensive brands, it’s all terrible for you anyway whether you pay 40 or 14 for a bottle of vodka. Not like the expensive stuff is a health drink or anything.
Can’t go wrong with a cheap gin/vodka & lemonade with plenty of ice.[/quote]
Are you Men’s Health?
Next you can tell us what tie to wear at the next power lunch and be sure to always mention pick-up games of basketball in every article!
[quote]B A S T A R D wrote:
Seriously watch the calories on some of these mixed drinks, for example a long island ice tea has a whopping 750 calories per drink!!! Margaritas come in at 650 or something. These combined with a post boozing fast food binge can destroy a physique in record time.
Forget paying for expensive brands, it’s all terrible for you anyway whether you pay 40 or 14 for a bottle of vodka. Not like the expensive stuff is a health drink or anything.
Can’t go wrong with a cheap gin/vodka & lemonade with plenty of ice.[/quote]
At 650 cals it’s NOT a margarita lol. If it comes in mango, peach, etc and is a blended drink of shitty tequila it’s nothing like a margarita lol.
I count about 70 cals per oz liquor, 70 cals for simple syrup/honey and maybe 30-50 for lime/lemon juice or other flavoring like triple sec/etc.?
By your logic we should all buy caffeine pills instead of coffee bc of price/health? I said I’m on a budget and wanted to know OK tasting liquors, bc, I’d rather not drink anything if the only option is burnett’s [plus lemonade] lol
What I’m asking for I don’t think you are grasping.
