In my younger days, I had mixed feelings about going out for drinks. Recently, however, I have become a regular at the bar. Not in the way you may think.
“Let us hit the bars.”
When I was younger and single, I used bars differently.
We begin at the trendy bar. We lean against it, putting out the vibe so that the girls will notice us. We drink Jameson and PBR in order to gain the courage to approach these girls.
We accept, grudgingly, that drinking doesn’t make us attractive. We go to a “cool bar”. We all start buying each other shots that no one wants. The smoke is thick. Ironically, we choose the songs from the jukebox; Lionel Richie then asks the group if they are looking for him. He’s not.
We’re in the bar that we promised we would never go back to. Sorority girls are twirling like gazelles on six-inch heels, and frat boy hyenas circle, waiting for anyone who gets separated.
We wake up the next morning surrounded by wrappers from fast food restaurants, with a seventh-level hangover, feeling greasy on the inside and outside, and vowing never to repeat this mistake.
This wasn’t much fun. We did it because we had no other ideas.
I’m not drinking alone.
I’m a big drinker these days. What I do is not what you would call alcohol.
Stay with me. I understand what you are about to say.
I enjoy meeting friends in bars to have a few drinks, but I don’t enjoy “going to drink.”
My friend Nate said, “Look, I’m not drinking alone – I’m having a drink by myself!“ — This feels like a very important distinction to me.
While I might go to a bar in the hope of enjoying a cocktail or two, I never set out with the intent of getting drunk.
This is something we must establish early.
Research is not drinking; it’s research
I don’t drink alone. I have a cocktail all by myself.
Nate Green
I enjoy learning about things that interest me. We can get more out of our experiences when we understand the complexity.
The cocktail is a lost art which has been rediscovered in the last few years.
I find it fascinating to learn how Old Fashioneds evolved over the years, adding club soda and muddled fruits. Or that daiquiris weren’t always fruity Spring Break booze-smoothies.
While I could learn about most of these things online, the best part is to talk with people who know what they’re doing.
How to drink
When I visit a bar, I sit at the bar.
I want to ask questions and see how the drinks are made. I like the bartender to talk so that I can learn about the history of a cocktail I am about to drink.
When I drink, I go to Clyde Common on Mondays at 4 pm and ask Junior countless questions.
I won’t go to the bar during happy hour or on a Friday night. The bartenders will be too busy talking with everyone else.
After being stood up at 5:30 for a meeting, my best experience was at Rum Club. The bartenders of Expatriate, Broder Nord, and other bars were present, but the bar was almost empty.
I sat down with a group of Portland’s most devoted cocktail nerds, and we spent an hour learning about Angostura and Aquavit. We even made a shot ski together.
The Shotski.Credit: Hillary Maybery
I learned something new and had a wonderful experience.
Let’s all have a drink
It’s fun to test my newfound knowledge and make drinks myself.
Daniel Teardrop taught me how to make the perfect Old Fashioned.
It is a simple cocktail that was popular before Prohibition. The Old Fashioned is a simple drink that dates back to before Prohibition.
Find a good bartender and ask them about this drink. If you don’t know a great bartender, here’s a video showing Jeffrey Morgenthaler how to make it.
Here’s one variation that I’ve made at home in the past:
- 2 oz Old Overholt Rye
- 1/4 oz honey simple syrup
- Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters 2 Dashes
- Orange twist
The drink is old-fashioned, but each ingredient is different.
It can be made with rum or whisky. Simple maple syrup can be used instead of honey. Orange bitters in place of walnut bitters
All these variations are variations of the same cocktail style. This site is a treasure trove of information.
I Need a Drink
Now, I look forward to drinking. It’s not the same as when I was younger.
The days of bar-hopping and consuming Irish whiskey to see what would happen are over. As I’ve grown older, a hangover can last for several days. There’s no point in getting drunk.
I view cocktails in the same light as I do code, business and art. It’s an interesting world with a rich past.
It’s also delicious. Making a great cocktail also makes me feel cool and like a chemist.
Tonight, I will be drinking. Remember: I am not alone. I am having a drink by myself.
