Tell us if this sounds familiar: You walk into the bar, make your way through a crowd, and when you finally get the bartender’s attention, you order the same damn thing you always do. It’s a fine line between boring and reliable. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite drink, but why not give your taste buds something else to enjoy? That’s right, you’re a stubborn bastard.
To bring you a sampling of some of the best drinks you’ve probably never tried, we caught up with Julian, a veteran bartender at Mé Bar Manhattan. So listen up, then go try one. You may even impress your Johnnie Walker Blue Label-loving boss.
8 Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon
One of Julian’s favorites, this bourbon is aged 15 years and served on the rocks. “Some purists say you shouldn’t put too many rocks in, maybe one or two,” Julian says. “The thought being, it opens the flavor, but you don’t want to dilute it.” According to WineEnthusiast magazine, Jefferson’s is “Rich walnut in color with a multidimensional fruit-cake-like nose.”
We’re straining not to make a fruitcake joke here. Moving on.
7 Legacy’s Euphoria Ale
“This is a quality Belgian-style, triple-malt beer from Reading, Pennsylvania,” says our expert. “It’s got a high alcohol content too, at 9%, and it’s very sweet. As a general rule, the higher they are in content, they tend to get sweeter.”
We assume most of you zoned-out after “high alcohol content.” Stay with us.
6 Sauza Hornitos Tequila
“Guys should expand their horizon beyond Petron and Jose Cuervo,” Julian says. “Cuervo is towards the bottom; Petron is a fine tequila, but it’s often expensive. I recommend Sauza Hornitos. It’s made with 100% blue agave and can be mixed in margaritas and it’s fine just to shoot. If you want to go even higher, get Frida Kahlo. That’s some of the best.”
5 Spiced Rum with Apple Cider
“Although not the most ‘manly’ drink,” Julian says, “I serve this one in the winter; I’ll throw in an orange peel, cinnamon and ginger. A hot drink works well in the cold weather.”
So does a warm coat and a female companion with loose morals. Take your pick.
4 Manhattan
Like Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, this cocktail is making a comeback. “A lot of bars are taking more traditional drinks like the Manhattan and doing them well,” Julian explains. “It’s made with whisky, sweet or dry vermouth, and bitters. The whiskey is often a bourbon. But rather than using Knob Creek which will damage your wallet, you can use Canadian Club whisky or something less expensive.”
Or, if you can afford Knob Creek, have at it.
3 Knappogue Castle
“Knappogue is an Irish single malt whiskey, and it’s one of the smoothest” says Julian. “Get it on the rocks.”
Once you put back a few, you can practice your Irish accent which will probably sound better to you (and you alone) as you become more intoxicated.
2 Grimbergen
“This is an actual Belgian beer, whereas the Euphoria ale was Belgian-style,” says Julian. “It’s less potent than the Euphoria but still has 6.5% alcohol content.”
There’s a few Grimbergen varieties, so see what your favorite bar has to offer. Although Grimbergen kind of sounds like an old, angry Gremlin, we’re willing to give it a shot.
1 Scotch Laphroaig
Laphroaig is considered one of the most strongly flavored of all scotch whiskies, and is most frequently aged to 10 years. “It’s served on the rocks, and is not necessarily for the faint of heart,” says Julian. “It’s got a very smoky taste.”
In other words, put on your man pants, get out there and enjoy.
To bring you a sampling of some of the best drinks you’ve probably never tried, we caught up with Julian, a veteran bartender at Mé Bar Manhattan. So listen up, then go try one. You may even impress your Johnnie Walker Blue Label-loving boss.
8 Jefferson’s Reserve BourbonOne of Julian’s favorites, this bourbon is aged 15 years and served on the rocks. “Some purists say you shouldn’t put too many rocks in, maybe one or two,” Julian says. “The thought being, it opens the flavor, but you don’t want to dilute it.” According to WineEnthusiast magazine, Jefferson’s is “Rich walnut in color with a multidimensional fruit-cake-like nose.”
We’re straining not to make a fruitcake joke here. Moving on.
7 Legacy’s Euphoria Ale“This is a quality Belgian-style, triple-malt beer from Reading, Pennsylvania,” says our expert. “It’s got a high alcohol content too, at 9%, and it’s very sweet. As a general rule, the higher they are in content, they tend to get sweeter.”
We assume most of you zoned-out after “high alcohol content.” Stay with us.
6 Sauza Hornitos Tequila
“Guys should expand their horizon beyond Petron and Jose Cuervo,” Julian says. “Cuervo is towards the bottom; Petron is a fine tequila, but it’s often expensive. I recommend Sauza Hornitos. It’s made with 100% blue agave and can be mixed in margaritas and it’s fine just to shoot. If you want to go even higher, get Frida Kahlo. That’s some of the best.”
5 Spiced Rum with Apple Cider
“Although not the most ‘manly’ drink,” Julian says, “I serve this one in the winter; I’ll throw in an orange peel, cinnamon and ginger. A hot drink works well in the cold weather.”
So does a warm coat and a female companion with loose morals. Take your pick.
4 Manhattan
Like Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, this cocktail is making a comeback. “A lot of bars are taking more traditional drinks like the Manhattan and doing them well,” Julian explains. “It’s made with whisky, sweet or dry vermouth, and bitters. The whiskey is often a bourbon. But rather than using Knob Creek which will damage your wallet, you can use Canadian Club whisky or something less expensive.”
Or, if you can afford Knob Creek, have at it.
3 Knappogue Castle“Knappogue is an Irish single malt whiskey, and it’s one of the smoothest” says Julian. “Get it on the rocks.”
Once you put back a few, you can practice your Irish accent which will probably sound better to you (and you alone) as you become more intoxicated.
2 Grimbergen“This is an actual Belgian beer, whereas the Euphoria ale was Belgian-style,” says Julian. “It’s less potent than the Euphoria but still has 6.5% alcohol content.”
There’s a few Grimbergen varieties, so see what your favorite bar has to offer. Although Grimbergen kind of sounds like an old, angry Gremlin, we’re willing to give it a shot.
1 Scotch LaphroaigLaphroaig is considered one of the most strongly flavored of all scotch whiskies, and is most frequently aged to 10 years. “It’s served on the rocks, and is not necessarily for the faint of heart,” says Julian. “It’s got a very smoky taste.”
In other words, put on your man pants, get out there and enjoy.
