What do you like to drink?

It might sound silly to say it this way, but I’ve noticed that I tend to have a “male” palate when it comes to the things I like to drink - I’m talking alcohol here.

My #1 Beer = Guinness, which I know many women do drink, but not nearly as many as you’d think.  When I was still a senior in High School and visiting my big bro in college he asked me to taste it, he knew I liked coffee and didn’t hate beer, so he thought I might like it - though I think he was honestly expecting me not to like it.  When I did he had this big grin on his face and called his Frat Bro over saying “watch this...” and asked me to do it again.  I believe his Frat Bro was impressed as well.  I can also recall one of my first times ordering a Guinness at a bar, I was in my college town and the bartender pretty much did a double take and then literally said ‘are you sure’ to which I responded something like ‘I don’t typically order things I don’t like’.  Ha!  It wasn’t as impressive - if you will - when I was over in London, though I still got a fair number of appreciative smiles and nods from folks, an American Girl who actually drinks Guinness - and likes it!  My family and friends are used to it now, but I still seem to inspire shock and awe in some when they see me drinking one - fairly recently I got a “NICE Maggie!” when out to dinner with some friends and my friends brother-in-law saw that I’d ordered a Guinness.  

This is not to say that I don’t like other beers, lordy that would be a lie.  I do like the darker beers better, and am also a big fan of hoppy brews like IPA’s or a Kolsch to a nice summertime Wheat Beer!  If I tried to list all the beer’s I’ve tried ... we’d be here a while! 

Like my father and my brother, I LOVE trying Microbrews, especially when on vacation somewhere.  Find the local Microbrew, eat a meal and try their sampler ... etc.

And then there is the fact that my father, my brother and my Aunt Kris all Home Brew!  Oh yeah ... 

My #1 Drink - Liquor - well this one is a bit more difficult ...

Scotch - Laphroaig - Neat.  On the rocks.  With a little water.  Or even over my Whisky Stones.  The peaty’er the better!  Though I am willing to give them all a go, and have tried a fair few to date.  I started out trying, and liking, Jameson (which I know is Irish and a Whisky) and then when in Edinburgh in the summer of ’08 (at the Fringe Festival with Conflict Relief) my friend Adam and I took the “Scotch Whisky Experience” and I found Laphroaig.  On first smell the nose seemed too strong for me, something I would never really like ... but I tried it none the less, and LOVED IT!  Brought a bottle all the way back to the States to introduce it to my Dad and my Brother!

How’s this for a funny story: my brother had just defended his Thesis and been officially made a Doctor, PhD., and we were all out to a fancy schmancy dinner in Georgetown, Washington D.C.  The name of the restaurant is 1796 (or a year close to that) and while waiting for our table we ordered some drinks at the bar.  I ordered Laphroaig on the rocks and an older gentleman at the bar (with a date) eyeballed me and started a conversation, again with the tone that “most women don’t order such a drink, AND like it”...funny...but I digress, where’s the single man - my age - who appreciates these things in me???  Blah blah blah...

Then there’s ...

Tequila - straight, no salt and no lemon!  I’ve got this great photo of two friends and I - after my first module in my masters had ended - at a bar in Cockfosters, London, doing a tequila shot.  I’m the only one not making a “ewe this is gross/too strong” style face - AND I didn’t use salt or a lemon, and they both did!  :)

But I digress, I do also love Tequila in my name sakes drink, a good old Margarita!  Most often, and for the traditional style, on the rocks with salt.  Yet I do also appreciate a nice fruit/frozen Margarita from time to time as well - had a Pomegranate one in St. Marks Place in NYC once.  Mmmmm....

I’m also a big fan of Gin and Tonic’s, and had a fair few in pubs around London.  Martini’s - Dirty Martini’s being my favorite.  Manhattan’s which my Dad drinks and apparently my Granddad liked a lot as well, in fact, there’s a small glass pitcher in my folks house that is the “Manhattan Pitcher” that used to be my Granddad’s.  Vodka and Cranberry - and here’s a little hint, if you like this drink and have never tried it with Vanilla Vodka, well then DO IT!  (Ok that one’s pretty girly.)  Ouzo - I don’t know that this one is girly or not, it is potent and tasty!

Wine - the dryer the better, like licking the oak barrel ... well, you get my point!  Which is not to say that I don’t like sweet or desert wines, because I do!  And I LOVE Port!  And Meade.  I love meade, and have actually brewed one (with my Dad)!

These are not the only things I like to drink ... but they are some of the front runners!  :)

Anyhoo, this blog post evolved from my drinking a glass of Ardbeg Scotch right now, thinking I tend to drink things my Dad and Brother like....while perusing “The Single Malt Whisky Companion” by Helen Arthur book that my bro and sister - in - law gave me for Christmas two years ago, and thinking it might be fun to list all the Scotch’s, Beers etc...that I’ve had...the beer list will be much harder (and longer) to do...but I digress (I think I’ve said that more than once in this here post)...for now I shall make a Scotch one since that is what I am currently partaking of!

What do you like to drink?  

Perhaps there is something out there I’ve never tried...and you can suggest?