While going out with the express intention of drinking as much as possible seems a little tacky, going out for cocktails is entirely different! Cocktails are only about 200 years old – which seems a lot, but when you think that beer is thousands of years old, and that our prehistoric ancestors were getting tipsy as far back as 80 million years ago, you can see that cocktails are the baby of the booze family! Cocktails are frothy confections, a bare mouthful of contrasting flavors and textures that require a precise mix of ingredients and to be served in the right kind of glass. There are a great number of modern cocktails out there, including those with attention grabbing names, but let us take a look at seven classic cocktails:
Mojito: Fresh mint, sharp lime, white rum, sugar, and soda water combine in a cooling sweet drink that hides the taste of the alcohol. Delicious, refreshing and dangerous – it’s far too easy to drink too many!
Tom Collins: Simple but refreshing, this cocktail calls for gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water, and is a sophisticated lemonade for grown-ups!
Manhattan: This cocktail is one of the more complicated ones, infusing whiskey, vermouth, bitters, cherry and lemon, which releases layers of flavors on your tongue as you sip it. Be careful though, it’s very strong!
Martini: Gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon, martinis have been made famous by the James Bond franchise, which had the agent drinking them – by the bucketload – ‘shaken, not stirred’! Martinis taste different depending on the gin used, and you can also get vodka martinis.
Singapore Sling: Gin, cherry brandy, Benedictine, pineapple and lime juice, topped with a slice of pineapple and cherry, this is the cocktail for those who enjoy sweet sticky drinks with a healthy kick of alcohol!
Negroni: This cocktail is seeing an upsurge in popularity at the moment, perhaps because of Stanley Tucci’s viral video on how to make the perfect Negroni. Made from Campari, gin and sweet vermouth it tastes like wine, citrus and cherry in a delicate flavor combination.
Margarita: The most popular cocktail of all time. Made with tequila, lime juice, triple sec and served with salt and a slice of lime, Margaritas have an air of limeade about them, and the taste can be enjoyed, rather than chugged, as in the case of tequila shots!
Celebrations always go better with cocktails, no matter if you are celebrating your engagement, passing an important exam or a wedding anniversary. To best enjoy your next night out, why not ensure your safe travels between clubs and pubs by hiring a limo or party bus from Bergen Limo? Your personal chauffeur will ensure you and your guests get from place to place safely, and the party will not have to stop until you are returned, safe and sound, if slightly tipsy, to your hotel or home.
