Preferred Cocktails - Warm Weather vs. Cold Weather

[Moondance]

When it comes to alcohol, I am mostly a wine drinker. Never have had much of a taste for beer--although I recently had a Belhaven Scottish Ale with lunch at a little pub and liked it a lot.

 

When I venture beyond wine, into mixed drinks, I am a creature of habit. I have ZERO interest in the specialty cocktail list at restaurants. I have a warm weather cocktail and a cold weather cocktail and rarely venture beyond them. I'm thinking about this today because it's a particularly balmy day in southern New England and I have used that as an excuse for my last gin and tonic of the year. (I know it's the last because I emptied the bottle of Tanqueray, and I am unlikely to replenish the supply before Spring.)

 

My cold weather cocktail of choice is the Manhattan--with rye, not bourbon--and if you like a Manhattan, but don't yet know that it's sooo much better with rye, please, do yourself a favor and buy a good bottle of rye and try one. You'll never go back to a bourbon Manhattan.

 

The exception to the rule: If it's late at night, and you are staying at a fine hotel in Venice, and there is a bar downstairs with a little patio--that is actually a deck, bobbing gently on the waters of the Grand Canal--the usual preferences do not apply. This is the time to order a negroni.

 

If you'd care to share, I'd be interested to hear your preferences.

[AdamSmith]

Warm weather:

 

http://www.whisky-pages.com/images/dewars-white.jpg

 

Cold weather:

 

http://www.thegrocerygirls.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/4/J/4JK6E.jpg.jpg

 

[Brian Kevin]

I like Whiskey.

I love Crown Royal.

I'm sweet, so thus I need Cranberry and Apple Pucker making my go to drink Crown Royal, in the summer I add apple beer to make it a rotten apple. yummmmm

[geminibear]

While mainly a beer drinker (shocking I know) no matter what weather, I have acquired a fond taste for a nice bourbon from a local craft distillery.

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/554d09c9e4b05186cf4a080b/555e0c74e4b0c880e34bc627/555e0da2e4b0c3b8337f4933/1432227242971/FiresideBottle+copy.jpg?format=1000w

[seaboy4hire]

Cran and vodka all the way or a chocolate stout. Doesn't matter the weather.

[Rudynate]

Haven't drank alcohol in very long time, but I do remember that I liked campari and soda or gin and tonic as a warm weather drink. I drank beer most of the time, but in the winter, when I had a cocktail, it was often a stinger or a snowshoe.

[Frequentflier]

Great thread, now I'm really thirsty

[craigville beach]

also a New Englander here

 

Summer

Gin and tonic with lots of lime

 

winter

Old Fashion with Papi Van Winkle Bourbon, orange bitters and 3 cherries

[BabyBoomer]

Absolut & cranberry (preferably Ocean Spray) with a twist of lime. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall.

 

~Boomer ~

[+ Hoover42]

Traditionally, Vodka and Cranberry or a dry Merlot. But my current drink of choice is a Moscow Mule, especially if I can get it with a piece of candied ginger garnish.

[borgerback]

Wow. Papi; expensive taste.

 

Bulleit rye for my Manhattan (although I'm seduced by Templeton rye for drinking neat); and my traditional warm-weather drink is the Drunken Arnold Palmer (nee John Daly) made with vodka. However, my bff this summer introduced me to Fever Tree tonic, and I became a G&T guy . . .

[+ sf westcoaster]

Year around - Belvedere vodka, either a straight up martini or on the rocks , both with two olives!

[rocky]

I like Whiskey.

I love Crown Royal.

I'm sweet, so thus I need Cranberry and Apple Pucker making my go to drink Crown Royal, in the summer I add apple beer to make it a rotten apple. yummmmm

Hello Brian' this is me from upstate NY; was hoping you were going to be in the area this weekend, I'm at Crown Royal fan too!! Many years for me!

[craigville beach]

Wow. Papi; expensive taste

 

Bulletin to all members of the forum in New England

 

Rye and Tyme, a restaurant in Leominster, Mass serves all vintages of Papi at the bar. Yes they have them all.

[+ quoththeraven]

I don't drink much anymore - it can exacerbate some medical conditions of mine - but when I do have a cocktail, it's usually something with vodka or Kahlua (love me some sombreros). But I've been known to have a house specialty cocktail if it sounds appealing - hey, at least I know how much it will cost - or a Long Island iced tea or a cosmopolitan.

 

I guess I'm just fickle.

[+ deej]

I am a beer drinker for every-day, enjoy a red wine (nothing too fruity) occasionally, but on OCCASIONS:

 

http://www.aficionados.co.za/images/products/enlarge_display/20164_Main.jpg

[Epigonos]

If I'm in Puerto Vallarta, regardless of the time of year, it is Margaritas on the rocks. At home its a very nice Scotch on the rocks with a twist of lemon. If its wine with dinner I'm a big Pinot Noir fan.

I tend to drink much less than I used to, at 75 I'm extremely careful about not drinking and driving.

[Rudynate]

I don't drink much anymore - it can exacerbate some medical conditions of mine - but when I do have a cocktail, it's usually something with vodka or Kahlua (love me some sombreros). But I've been known to have a house specialty cocktail if it sounds appealing - hey, at least I know how much it will cost - or a Long Island iced tea or a cosmopolitan.

 

I guess I'm just fickle.

 

 

I have the tiniest bit of curiosity about the taste of a Long Island iced tea. Not enough to ever try one. It will forever be a road not taken.

[Brian Kevin]

I have the tiniest bit of curiosity about the taste of a Long Island iced tea. Not enough to ever try one. It will forever be a road not taken.

 

 

Ever seen the TV show ' Boy Meets World ' ? That pretty much sums of the 'after effect' of a Long Island Iced Tea, Usually, if a club/party is selling 'fish bowls' I ask for a STRONG Fruity Flavored Long Island Iced Tea (they range from 15-30$, however in Vegas I herd other people paying 50$ I flirt with male/female bar tenders and promise a good tip, so I usually get a discount with my manners and magic)

[rvwnsd]

I have the tiniest bit of curiosity about the taste of a Long Island iced tea. Not enough to ever try one. It will forever be a road not taken.

I used to drink Long Island iced tea. I remember having a particularly nasty bout of arthritis back in my 20's drinking several, and realizing I could no longer feel my knees.

 

As to the original question. I like very dirty vodka martinis, made with vermouth, with extra olives any time of year. Likewise a good Zin. In summer I am a fan of Bulleit on ice and in winter I am a van of Manhattans.

[Guest countryboywny]

I'm a beer drinker first, last and always! Medium to dry red or white wine occasionally and.. very occasionally a chilled shot or three of GOOD tequila! (but it makes my clothes fall off)

[borgerback]

I am a beer drinker for every-day, enjoy a red wine (nothing too fruity) occasionally, but on OCCASIONS:

 

http://www.aficionados.co.za/images/products/enlarge_display/20164_Main.jpg

So my issue here is just price; I've had a $75 shot of this once (I sipped it, of course), and someone once gave me a bottle; but I can satisfy my taste at $65 a bottle, and don't need $235 (price at my local 'discount' place last week). And yes, there's plenty of overpriced things I DO indulge in, so I'm not poking at anyone - just reporting my choices.

[bigvalboy]

Well Bombay Tonic (anytime)....

 

And for those freezing Florida nights...

 

http://www.choosy-beggars.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/frangelico_1.png

 

...."Neat"

[+ WmClarke]

In the summer: gin & tonic or margarita on the rocks with salt

 

In the winter: root beer float (Frangelico, Bailey's, & root beer) or something equally heavy.

 

But, honestly, have not had much alcohol in the past year. Bought a bottle of Patron Silver last December and have yet to open it. And made some gin & tonic popsicles last June but have not had them yet--they're still in the freezer.

[Decatur Guy]

I don't drink often anymore. I eat mostly a bland diet, and alcohol easily throws off my stomach. When I do drink, it's either beer or usually this if it's liquor (and I don't drink seasonally) ...

 

http://www.thegrocerygirls.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/e/seagrams-7-crown-1000ml.jpg