"Go To" Drinks at Home

[jparrott]

(ol_i, move if this should be elsewhere)

So those of you who have seen the Bar From Hell recently know that I've got a few open bottles. And I do get a reasonable sample allowance from Ledroit. And I really like vermouth. Really like.

So I have, shall we say, options when it comes to home drink-making. But I have found myself in the most delicious of ruts these days. It seems, all I make at home are:

(1) The 'ti-punch. Yeah, OK, it's with the stuff I sell. But man, hot day, cold day, stressed day, loose day, it just hits the spot.

(2) The old-fashioned. No muddling. Base (whiskey, brandy, gin), sugar (simple, Depaz, or agave nectar), bitters (I have a few). I usually forget the garnish until about halfway through the drink. For whatever reason, though, this drink tends to express the base spirit through the ice better than the spirit on rocks by itself.

I would say that over 90% of the drinks I make at home are one of these two these days (with the odd Martini, Martinez, or Sazerac tossed in). So, what's your go-to poison?

[zoramargolis]

In this weather? G&T with Fever Tree tonic

In the cooler months: manhattan with Carpano Antica, sazerac, martini with Vya dry

He likes bourbon or tequila on the rocks

[porcupine]

Boy is this one timely. Gin and tonic, sidecar, negroni. Manhattans and sazeracs take too much thought on difficult days.

[xcanuck]

G&T is my favorite and, in the summer, Capt and ginger. In the winter, subtract the c&g, add in a classic martini.

So what's in the punch?

[jparrott]

'Ti-punch is just a quarter-sized piece from the side of a lime (with just a little bit of flesh), a dab of cane syrup (we sell one; watch out for really dark cane syrup--use honey syrup in a pinch), and rhum agricole. Ice is not traditional but makes the drink more complex and drinkable.

[DPop]

1 highball glass

1 cube of ice

2 fingers of Willett's 23 yo Rye "Velvet Glove"

1 couch to sit on and breathe deep sighs of satisfaction

[deangold]

Negroni variant:

replace the Campari with Aperol, Broker's Gin & Antica formula.

[SeanMike]

Really - typically beer.

Though a G&T - sometimes made with bitter lemon - is often a good quick drink. Or just some liquor on ice.

[Treva]

Espresso Martinis

G&T - though the gin, the tonic, the glass and the lime - must be CHILLed CHILLed CHILLed

Blue Champagne Cocktails

If my brain isn't functioning - these drinks are sure to bring a smile.

[blakegwinn]

Espresso Martinis

Damn you are an industrious home drinker.

[RWBooneJr]

An "upside down" Vesper, which is a Vesper with the proportions of vodka and gin reversed:

1.50 oz vodka

0.50 oz gin (I use a lighter gin, like Ten)

0.25 oz Lillet Blanc

wide swath of lemon peel, as garnish.

It's oddly refreshing, for a drink that is basically pure alcohol.

[lperry]

Daiquiris. Real ones.