Rating Different Cocktails

Because I’ve given up alcohol for Lent, I haven’t been able to toy around with mixology for a bit. I love this hobby of mine as it makes my inner child feel like a chemist or a witch, just mixing ingredients together to make formulas or potions. This week I’m going to reminisce on some drinks that I’ve either ordered or made, and will be rating them based on my personal flavor palate (They will be listed in no particular order). I hope that by the end of this, you can take some inspo to try some of these out for yourself, or at the very least, make a mental note of which drinks pique your interest. This post is intended for those aged 21+, and as always, drink responsibly and happy reading!

#1- Campari Orange

I believe this recipe was listed on the back of the Campari bottle as a suggested cocktail to make, right under the classic Negroni. It’s super simple as it only requires one part Campari to three parts fresh-squeezed orange juice. When I think of Campari, an Italian aperitif, I usually think of heavier-tasting, super dry drinks. However, this one was actually refreshing and pretty light! I don’t think I’d have more than one or two in one sitting, but I can definitely see myself sipping on this at the beach. The only sugar here comes from the orange juice, so nothing tastes too artificial. I recommend this to those who love tasting their alcohol, but also looking for something simple. Plus, it’s effortlessly pretty. I personally rate this drink a 6/10.

#2- Gin & Tonic

During my time in Spain, this was for some reason my go-to drink, right after a classic Sangria or Tinto de Verano. I probably chose this because of its “low” calorie content (still maybe 100 calories per serving). Not gonna lie, I thought I was a Gin girl for a while, but I’ve been leaning more into Vodka lately. The two serve their individual purposes, but I save Gin for Negroni’s and stick to Vodka now anywhere I can, even if it’s splashed on top of some tonic water. The taste is a bit too dry for me and doesn’t go down very easy. This particular Gin & Tonic was made with Puerto De India’s Strawberry Gin, so that helped the taste a bit more. However, I rarely see myself ordering something like this again. I give it a 4/10.

#3- Coco Loco

My father had recently come back from visiting family in Costa Rica and was raving about some drink he tried called the Coco Loco. I looked through some recipes online, and was surprised at how popular this drink seemed to be. It listed quite a bit of ingredients, including cream of coconut, coconut water, limes, tequila, rum, and vodka. Maybe it’s my fault for following the particular recipe I had found, but this drink was way too sweet. Even my father recalled it being lighter and also including mint. Everyone follows their own recipes, however, so no two drinks are the same. I’d personally treat this as a dessert, and even still, use half the amount of Cream of Coconut they asked for, and probably omit the vodka, as that doesn’t really match the tropical vibe this drink was going for. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I like tasting my alcohol, and don’t like masking the taste through something so syrup-y. I give this a 3/10.

#4-Negroni

As you can probably guess, I ordered this at a Cheesecake Factory. It was actually my first time having a classic Negroni, and I loved it! I will say, if you’ve never had Campari before, introducing that to your palate through a Negroni is a good way to start. I personally love a good Campari spritz, so a Negroni wasn’t such a shock to the tastebuds when I first tried it. The classic drink also contains Gin, sweet Vermouth, and traditionally, a few dashes of Angostura orange bitters. Some people might refer to this drink as an acquired taste, and I wouldn’t disagree. Although a Negroni is refined, elegant, and makes me feel like a millionaire every time I have one, it is quite dry and packs a punch in terms of the taste of alcohol. However, that is my vibe entirely, especially because the sweet Vermouth is what carries this drink on its back. I’m an absolute fan, and I’d have this drink either before dinner or, of course, alongside some chocolate cheesecake. I rate this a 9/10.

#5-Aperol Sour

This was my drink of choice for this past Valentine’s Day. It contains Aperol, lemon juice, egg white, simple syrup, and Gin. I garnished mine with a dehydrated orange wedge, as well. Three things that will usually always be present in any type of sour are lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. Therefore, the drink will be slightly sweet, citrus-y, and foamy. It’s super light and goes down easily. I’m personally a bigger fan of the Campari (Aperol’s drier cousin) sour as it’s not as sweet, but both are light and you’re definitely satisfied after just one. It’s a perfect drink to have on its own and the presentation is so pretty! I love the color it produces, and it’s a simple drink to make that will impress any guests you have over. I give this an 8/10.

#6- Pine Fin Martini

I had tried this drink at the restaurant Ocean Prime to celebrate my birthday this year. It’s basically a bone-dry Vodka martini (which means a Martini with very little, or no Vermouth.) This particular one was infused with fresh golden pineapples, and actually inspired me to make some pineapple-infused tequila myself! You can read about that blog post here. I have never had a bone-dry martini before this, and honestly it’s…a bit intense. I ordered this well before appetizers, and was consistently sipping on it throughout the whole dinner. It’s one of those drinks you need to take your time with, as it’s basically just chilled Vodka (or Gin, if you prefer traditional martinis). I love the presentation of this drink, however, and I will take any opportunity to enjoy a *classic* martini alongside a French onion soup anytime. I give it a 5/10.

#7- Classic Margarita

There’s no messing up a classic Margarita. It’s one of my favorite drinks, as it’s strong, slightly sweet, and citrus-y. They’re perfect on their own, or alongside a mountain of nachos that my man and I love scarfing down together and then immediately regretting. A margarita is one of those drinks that can be made at any bar, and chances are, if you’re a baby mixologist like me, you already have the ingredients at home to make it. All you’ll need is some tequila, triple-sec, simple syrup, and some limes (plus coarse salt if you wanna be fancy.) These are one of those dangerous drinks that you can keep ordering all night, so, definitely take caution here. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who hated margaritas, just because Tequila is a tough liquor to dislike. I will say, though, anytime I order them at restaurants they tend to be made a bit too sweet for my liking. It’s not usually my drink of choice out of every mixed drink in the world, but it’s trustworthy and reliable. I rate it a 9/10.

#8- Aperol Spritz

If you think I’m flexing my Dolce & Gabbana shopping bag when I was roaming Italy, that’s because I absolutely am. To be fair, this was the only picture I could find of the many Aperol Spritz’s I had there, weirdly enough. If you know me, you know how much I rave about this drink. The hilarious thing about it is that I despised it the first time I tried it back in 2019. I can’t even remember the time I finally warmed up to it though, because it’s now my go-to. Anytime I see Aperol at a bar, I get *so* excited (Although it should be a staple in about any established bar). It’s easy to make, as all you need is Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda. It’s light, bubbly, refreshing, and pretty sweet to my standards, although some people might find it too dry, or bitter. I really have no complaints about it, other than if you do end up ordering one, it’s best to drink sooner than later, as it can get watered down pretty quickly due to the ice and club soda. An Aperol Spritz makes me feel super girly and fancy, and because of how simple it is to make combined with how much I love the taste and presentation, I’m gonna give it a 10/10! (I bought The One perfume, for those curious.)

#9- Espresso Martini

An espresso martini is another one of those reliable drinks that never misses. She’s beautiful, she’s bold, and she is the moment. On the day I made this martini, I added some egg white in there, but only because I made tiramisu as well, which only calls for egg yolks, and I didn’t want to throw away the rest of the eggs (have you SEEN the price of eggs lately?!) Anyway, all egg white does to a drink is help froth it up, and yes, it is perfectly safe to consume. A traditional espresso martini, however, only includes a shot of espresso, some coffee liqueur, vodka, and simple syrup, and it will actually froth up perfectly on its own. It is a stronger drink, and I personally love one while having a girls night or right after dinner as a nice dessert of sorts. The presentation is beautiful, I love how much of a main character this drink is, and I would rate it a 9/10.

#10- Negroni Sbagliato

I wrote about this drink and even how to make it on one of my last blog posts, which you can find here. A Negroni Sbagliato is a twist on the classic Negroni, in which you replace Gin with Prosecco. If you ask me, it is slightly lighter and more refreshing than a classic Negroni, but I’m not sure if I like it better (or maybe I did at the time, I don’t know, people’s preferences are always changing.) It’s quite strong, and one or two will definitely have you feeling more confident. It was the staple drink for my Thanksgiving 2022, and I’m glad I was introduced to it, because I’d definitely have it again. I can see why Emma D’arcy claims this as her drink of choice. If you wanna know more about this drink, be sure to read the blog linked and follow my recipe for it! Overall, I’d give it a 7/10.

#11- Cosmopolitan

I loveeee me a Cosmopolitan, and even writing about it makes me feel like Carrie Bradshaw on Sex & The City. It’s a classic drink that’s made of Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice. It’s cute and girly, and for the high amount of alcohol in here, I still consider the taste to be pretty light and sweet. Maybe it’s just because I’m a martini girl, but this is definitely a drink I recommend, and should be readily available at just about any bar you visit. I don’t really have any complaints about it personally. It’s a different vibe from the espresso martini or a dirty martini, for example, as I think it’s easier to get down, and it’s more refreshing than the other two. It’s a perfect drink to have on its own, or before or after dinner. It’s a wonderful drink, but it’s not like, “wow this is amazing and groundbreaking”, so I’d give it an 8/10.

Honorable Mentions- Mystery Drinks

These are drinks that I have nice pictures of but sadly, I simply can’t remember the names of them or what was even in them. The first drink was a Halloween-themed one that was temporarily offered at Revival in Lakeland, FL. I went here with a friend and she had the super cute one in the skull, and I had the sparkly purple one garnished with the little spider. It had to have been a wine-based drink as it was served in a champagne flute, but I remember it being both strong and slightly sweet. The second drink, I shared with a friend in Madrid. I liked it, but there was cream in it, so my lactose intolerant self wasn’t a fan of it shortly afterward. It was citrus-y and included cinnamon as well, flavors that somehow worked so well together. As you can see, the presentation on both drinks are so beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, and just something I wanted to share 🙂

So what do you think? Which drinks have you tried, and which would you want to try next time? Leave a comment below! Now onto our collective tarot card of the week!

As I’ve mentioned a few weeks ago, my Grateful Dead tarot deck got burned when I left them outside for too long to cleanse 🙁 so please excuse the wrinkled-ness. Anyways! Venus just made her way into Earthy Taurus. It’s a sensual, comfortable energy, as Venus is at home, or “domicile” in this sign. The High Priestess in traditional tarot, is very fitting to have pulled for this week’s collective message for this very reason. She’s associated with the Libra archetype (you can tell by the Tora she’s holding-signifying greater law, and sitting between two pillars, symbolizing duality). Libra is another sign that’s ruled by Venus herself. Now that Venus no longer squares Saturn ever since it moved into Pisces, fertility, creativity, and sexuality will be a prominent theme with Venus in Taurus. Two new moons in Aries will be coming up as well; the new moon occurring on the 21st of March, and the new moon eclipse happening on the 20th of April. As it’s happening in a cardinal sign, the new moons will make it a point to initiate change and create new beginnings. The Lady, or, The Empress, wants to make it known that we are on the cusp of great transformation (especially to my Capricorn, Libra, Cancer, and Aries placements.) I consider this so spooky and cool, as we are close to entering Aries season, or what I like to call, the “astrological new year”, as Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. The Empress is all about duality, as mentioned before. You cannot walk into a new chapter of your life without first closing the door on your last one. As stated in my Grateful Dead tarot book, “Her gift to you is ultimate freedom, but it’s the kind of freedom that comes with great responsibility and sacrifice.”

By the way, I start my first big girl job this coming week, so if the blogs aren’t as consistent, that’s why! 🙁 But I will try my hardest!