Drinking help

[Blindswordmaster]

Visited a liquor store for the first time today. Was completely overwhelmed by the selection. Now I'm new to drinking, so I really don't know what I like yet, so I just bought a four pack of Pabst blue Ribbon because it was 3.50 and I heard good things about it. Please, give me your suggestions for what alcohol I should buy upon my next trip. Though any input is good, beer suggestions are most appreciated.
P.S. I know I FUCKING hate Bud Light, so one of that.

 

[viranimus]

My line of thinking is beer is generally 1.5-6% alcohol. Liquor is 40-95% alcohol. Typically Liquors are cheaper than an equivalent amount to get you drunk of beer. So to me beer is a waste of money. For me I typically wont touch it unless its 100 proof or greater and even then I have such a high tolerance for intoxicants (Not that I do it often, I drank last weekend for the first time in 3 years) that its barely enough to put a dent in my sobriety.

As for beers, It might not be everyones cup of tea, but I appreciate a well made Apple Cider Lager such as Hornsbys.

As for Liquor I swear by Wild Turkey 101 or Popov Vodka if I am on a budget. I might occasionally get a craving for Lava Java or to use the bottle as a blowtorch and pick up a bottle of firewater (100 proof Cinnamon Schnapps) But if I am determined to get sloppy drunk I waste no time and either go straight for 190 proof Everclear or go home and stop by my uncles house and get a jug of 199 proof moonshine.

 

[Radeonx]

Be an American and constantly have a handle of Jack at your side.

 

[Fenring]

You heard good things about PBR? Stop hanging out with hipsters. Drink Yukon Jack or some other cool person whiskey.

PS: The US type is 100 proof iirc, which means it's more awesome than the other whiskeys being discussed above and below me.

 

[viranimus]

Be an American and constantly have a handle of Jack at your side.

Haha. I really think I am about the only one who thinks as far as 80 proof whiskeys are concerned that Jim Beam > Jack Daniels in terms of flavor.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

I'm partial to bourbon as far as liquor is concerned. Jim Beam is cheap and mean, but still tastes alright.
Also, avoid mixing cheap liquors with fruit juice or anything else to mask the flavor. You'll never develop any insight into what a good drink should taste like that way.

EDIT:
NEVER buy liquor that comes in plastic bottles. They all taste horrible, no exception!

 

[Rylot]

Taste preferences are completely different from one person to another, so find what kinda beer you like and then sample different brands in that type until you find one you like. And also stay away from American beer. 90% of them taste horrible.

As for beers, It might not be everyones cup of tea, but I appreciate a well made Apple Cider Lager such as Hornsbys.

Hornsbys is delicious!

 

[Blindswordmaster]

Be an American and constantly have a handle of Jack at your side.

I like Jack.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

If you're going to drink beer, drink Sam Adams.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Visited a liquor store for the first time today. Was completely overwhelmed by the selection. Now I'm new to drinking, so I really don't know what I like yet, so I just bought a four pack of Pabst blue Ribbon because it was 3.50 and I heard good things about it. Please, give me your suggestions for what alcohol I should buy upon my next trip. Though any input is good, beer suggestions are most appreciated.
P.S. I know I FUCKING hate Bud Light, so one of that.

CARLSBERG. It's so nice, if not that then try Fosters.

 

[rockingnic]

I have $60 worth of Grey Goose vodka and Captain Morgan rum currently in my closet at all times... good stuff. I don't drunk beer unless for certain occasions like parties but I don't drink more than a can's worth usually. But I never touch Sam. Adams or Guinness or any cheap stuff, usually only Coronas.

 

[floppylobster]

I like bourbon so I'm not much help. (Jim Beam Bonded to be exact). I will tell you however - I liked bourbon 20 years ago. Then I tried everything else looking for something better. But I never found it.

When it comes to spirits, find something you like and stick with it. Or you can waste a lot of good drinking years pretending to be a critic while missing out on your favourite drink. Beer and wine are for sampling. Spirits are for drinking.

 

[Ladette]

I hate beer, it tastes like motor oil and doesn't get you drunk anywhere close to fast.

I'm a fan of spiced rum, Captain Morgan Private Stock preferably, although anything Captain Morgan is good.

 

[Allan53]

Check out the liqueurs, Kahlua, Baileys and the like. They tend to be more focused on actually tasting good, rather than some bizarre "macho" notion. Also, they tend to be a bit more light in terms of alcohol per volume, so it's good for getting used to knowing how you feel at various levels, an important lesson that some people still don't learn by the time they are 30.

As for beer, I'm in Australia, so I don't know how useful it'd be. But Tooheys is generally good.

That said, you don't HAVE to drink, just because you're old enough to. If you choose to of your own free will, go nuts, but bear in mind that part of being an adult is choosing your own path.

 

[Kwaren]

I am a big fan of Captain Morgan spiced rum.

 

[viranimus]

EDIT:
NEVER buy liquor that comes in plastic bottles. They all taste horrible, no exception!

I would have to side with what I learned from the film "The boys and girls guide to getting down" as it relates to Vodka

If you are going to a party, Locate empty high quality vodka bottles. Then purchase the cheapest vodka available. Empty the low quality vodka into the high quality bottles.When you arrive at the party you will look like a hero. Nobody will notice the difference and nobody will care.

 

[KEM10]

Here's a tip, go to a bar and get shots of different things. Sure they are more expensive, but it is cheaper than getting a bottle of something and then having to begrudgingly drink it all when you don't like it.

Also, whiskey comes in many varieties and all have a distinctive taste. Irish whiskey is made in Ireland, Canadian whiskey is made in Canada, Tennessee whiskey is made in Tennessee, Scotch is Scottish whiskey, bourbon is Kentucky whiskey, and rye whiskey is just made with 51% cracked rye instead of 51% corn.

There is also something to be said about going top shelf and only adding a little ice than worrying about soda or other mixers. Even girlie drinkers can enjoy a neat liquor if you find a good quality one.

I have $60 worth of Grey Goose vodka and Captain Morgan rum currently in my closet at all times... good stuff. I don't drunk beer unless for certain occasions like parties but I don't drink more than a can's worth usually. But I never touch Sam. Adams or Guinness or any cheap stuff, usually only Coronas.

You complain about cheap beer and then label Corona? That's what Mexicans piss after a night of tequila.

You want good beer advice, don't drink a beer you can see through. That gets rid of all of the pilsners (Bud, Miller, Coors, Fosters, Corona, PBR) and can leave the good wheat beers (Spotted Cow, Blue Moon, any of the Leinenkugels). Also, drink beer closer to what you drink naturally. If you like coffee go for the stouts, more soda go for the wheats. If you like drinking mashed up chalk and paint chips, have an amber.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

EDIT:
NEVER buy liquor that comes in plastic bottles. They all taste horrible, no exception!

I would have to side with what I learned from the film "The boys and girls guide to getting down" as it relates to Vodka

If you are going to a party, Locate empty high quality vodka bottles. Then purchase the cheapest vodka available. When you arrive at the party you will look like a hero. Nobody will notice the difference and nobody will care.

Vodka is a bit different, as it doesn't really taste like anything sans ethanol. Rum, whiskey, gin, etc do have flavor of their own, so you'll want quality here. Trust me, you'll only buy crappy whiskey once.

 

[bkrockwell]

If you're looking at drinking beer, check out what local micro-breweries there are in your state / region. While you're disadvantaged for beer, being in the US and all, your micro-breweries still produce much better beer than US major breweries (eg. Coors, Miller, Bud, Pabst). Alternatively, try to get hold of the better European beers.

As for liquor.. spirits aren't difficult to get into. If you're going to be girly about it, I say pick a well-known liquor - eg. Absolut Vodka, or Jack Daniels Bourbon - and pick a surefire mixer. Get acquainted with the taste of the spirit when mixing it, then drink it straight and see how you like it. You'll work out whether you like your vodkas, rums, bourbons, etc. very quickly.

 

[monstersquad]

I am a big fan of Captain Morgan spiced rum.

Urgh, I don't know if I'd suggest that to a new drinker. It's too flavorful for some people, and can lead to unpleasantness. In fact I recall an even where I was 16 and I drank way too much mulled wine and ate too much black bean soup at the hospitality suite of a local convention. Well, let's just say that the combination of hot, spiced wine and thick black bean soup didn't bode well for the hotel room garbage can later that night.

For my suggestion, good vodka. Grey Goose is the best, but there are lesser products that are still very drinkable. Just don't buy really cheap vodka, you'll know from the price and the taste ie. hairspray.

As for beer, if you're american, learn to drink piss and like it. If you're Canadian, then it's literally all good to drink. Except for OV, which I refer to as Old Vagina.