Here in Vietnam the cocktails are only slightly more expensive than a beer, which is pretty sweet. But I dont have a particular sweet tooth, so I keep coming back to the mojito.

Dry Manhattan
White Russian

"a Manhattan with an extra cherry taste"

No!

Medium dry vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.

My favorite cocktail is the Benedict Arnold. It is a non-alcoholic shot designed to mimic the taste of alcohol. It is primarily used when a drunk woman asks you for a drink but you don't want to get her more drunk and/or pay for real booze. It is usually only used when you know the bartender.

Although apparently an alcoholic variant exists.

I like rum-based drinks and champagne-based drinks. I'm not fond of gin. Lately my drink of choice is a Dark N Stormy (rum and ginger beer).

Negroni

A Midori Sour with a splash of grenadine - tastes likw a sour gummy bear and my absolute go to when I want a girly drink. Other wise I drink Vodka and Coke.

"My favorite regular cocktail's a Manhattan with an extra cherry taste."

Blugh! Manhattan's are just a way to ruin whiskey. Especially if you drink them up. Go for an Old Fashioned if you must have fruit and sweetness in your cocktails.

I've been off my game lately, but when I'm in the mood for a cocktail at home I go for a whiskey sour. When out, whiskey ginger. I also am liking a half-assed Tom Collins lately, which is just some of that Italian lemonade with gin.


What's the recipe for a non-alcoholic Benedict Arnold? All the recipes I find are just scotch and Benedictine. Pretty boozy.

Never underestimate a good Tom Collins. Gin, lemon, seltzer, simple syrup. Granted, it's a better summer drink than a winter drink.

I completely agree that Tom Collinses rule. I just have been making fake ones lately with the Italian lemonade. Can never remember to buy simple syrup.

@Invictus,
Just make your own. It's easy and way cheaper. Equal parts water and white sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring continuously. As soon as it boils, remove from the heat. Keeps in the fridge for at least a month.

Cucumber Smash

1/2" peeled cucumber
1/2 a lime
1/4oz Simple Syrup
3/4oz St Germaine
2 1/4oz Hendricks Gin
Soda water

Muddle the cucumber and lime, add all but the soda and shake. Serve in a longball glass or martini glass. Add soda as desired.

Super refreshing in warm weather.

Another shout for the Negroni. Generally speaking I'm not a fan of cocktails which mostly just seem to be an extremely expensive way of not drinking very much, however the Negroni is a piece of art in liquid form.

Those ones that are essentially part melted ice-cream with a shot thrown in are rather fun though :p.

Sea breeze and bay breeze. One is vodka, cranberry juice, and vrapfruit juice and the other has pineapple instead of grapefruit.

All I can think of when someone mentions Sea Breezes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF9Lu9mBJf0

-Roman Coke
-Vodka and Lemonade
Pretty easy to make, taste good, and not too strong if you have a lower tolerance

@ Invictus

To be honest, I'm not quite sure. It's usually at the bartender's discretion. Lime juice and various sodas are usually involved.

Hm...why all the hate for the Manhattan and sweet drinks?

As for the former being a "waste of good whiskey"...to me, whiskey's good for two things--mixing and knocking back shot after shot to get the "effect" of the drink full on.

It's not like cognac or tempranillo wine, where I drink it for the flavor...

Unless someone has an amazingly-tasty whiskey to suggest?

@obiwan,
Scottish, Irish, or bourbon? (Or Canadian, I guess. I've known some real Canadian whiskey enthusiasts, but I don't get it.)

Black Bush

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-2833.aspx

Whisky is an odd sort of drink. The cheap stuff is vile and the expensive stuff is almost as bad but in different ways. The best ones are those like Jameson or Grants, which are rather pleasant and not full of themselves. Grant's Sherry Cask is my particular favourite.

My wife spent like four years living in Scotland, and has a deep appreciation for Scottish single malts. I can't tell the difference between a good Scotch and a bad one, but I studied in Ireland for a year or so, and I love a good Irish blend. John Powers is my personal favorite. Paddy's not bad. I find Jameson overrated.

"to me, whiskey's good for two things--mixing and knocking back shot after shot to get the "effect" of the drink full on."

This just means you haven't tried enough whiskey.

"to me, whiskey's good for two things--mixing and knocking back shot after shot to get the "effect" of the drink full on."

This just means you're still in college.

Single malt... Yumm... Highland, Speyside, or Islay (never tried Lowland or Campbeltown). Personal favorites are The Glenlivet, Laphroaig, Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, and The Maccallan. Guess you could say my taste runs towards Speyside.

Laphroaig, Glenmorangie, and Glenfiddich are ok, but I hugely prefer a glass of Grants. I'd even prefer Bells to be honest. Single malts are too damned refined. Any whisky pretentious enough to have a cork doesn't usually have enough substance to it.