I'm broke, but I've got booze!
March 4, 2016 4:17 PM   Subscribe

We're low on cash, but just so happen to have a couple bottles of high quality booze (these two things are not related...or are they? Don't judge!) What kinds of fantastic mixed drinks can we make over the next few weeks until we can buy beer again?

Here's what we have:
Gin, Dark Rum, Tequila, Orange vodka, Vermouth

Here's what we like:
Drinks with a little fruit or a little citrus
Dark 'n Stormy
Old Fashioned (though we have no whisky)

Here's what we hate:
Anything with milk, cream or raw egg
Tequila sunrise, long island ice tea, screwdrivers, rum &coke

We'd prefer something that can be watered down quite a bit

Suggestions?
posted by Toddles to Food & Drink (13 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
My go-to drink is orange-infused vodka and soda. Soda sure is cheap. And you can water it down to taste.
posted by janey47 at 4:19 PM on March 4, 2016


Best answer: If you have honey and lemon juice, you can turn the rum/tequila/vodka (and maybe gin?) into a sour type drink, which can be put on ice and/or watered down to taste. I recommend about a 1 to .5 ratio honey to lemon juice if you're measuring. But I usually freehand it - put a decent spoonful of honey in a glass, and two squirts lemon juice, mixed together until the honey is liquefied, add 2 oz of booze and stir vigorously. Add ice, and top up with water or sparkling if you like.

you can make do with sugar if needed, just needs more mixing to dissolve. Lime juice is also fine too.
posted by lizbunny at 4:25 PM on March 4, 2016


Do you have bitters? If so, you can use the dark rum Old Fashioned-style with a little apple juice -- cheap juicebox apple juice is fine here -- in a Treacle No. 1, as invented by the late Dick Bradsell.

If you don't have bitters, punch or Collinses or daiquiris, perhaps?
posted by holgate at 4:29 PM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]


You can make a gin martini with gin and vermouth (typical is 2:1 or 3:1 ratio), and just let the ice melt in the shaker or add a few cubes to the glass if you prefer a weaker drink. Garnish with olives/pickles/pickled onion/lemon twist... or cucumber, or sprig of rosemary, depending on the brand.

Gin and soda with cucumber is a lovely refreshing choice.
posted by lizbunny at 4:34 PM on March 4, 2016


Despite some peoples' protestation to the contrary, good quality tequila is not wasted in margaritas. It makes them even more awesome.
posted by primethyme at 4:41 PM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tequila on the rocks with some lemon juice.
posted by AugustWest at 6:28 PM on March 4, 2016


Rum and juice. Keep the vermouth for gin martinis. Make bloody mary mix and drizzle in tequlia for bloody marias, Dark rum, oj, pineapple juice, and cococnut paste like coco lopes shaken gives you a lovely painkiller. Orange vodka with a splash of cran makes a decent cosmo. Vodka, orange or otherwise, mixed with your favorite mixer- iced teas, lemonades, seltzers, juices, you name it- is almost always good.
posted by vrakatar at 6:42 PM on March 4, 2016


Best answer: The Henry "Box" Brown is an excellent cocktail with rum and grapes. However, it can't be watered down.
posted by griseus at 6:45 PM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: barter the booze on craigslist for beer
posted by Infernarl at 9:41 PM on March 4, 2016


Best answer: Seconding margaritas, where you can use the tequila and a little of the orange vodka. Good tequila is only ruined by a bad margarita mix.

For the gin? Get a cheap, not-too-sweet bubbly, make a French 75. Make your sure your liquids are ice-cold!

I think you could play with a rum version of an old-fashioned, but I'd use bitters to keep it from getting too sweet.

For the orange vodka alone? Moscow Mule!, get the best ginger ale you can afford, though.
posted by deinemutti at 6:51 AM on March 5, 2016


Tequila and Pineapple juice = The Dream Pop. Enjoy
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:51 AM on March 5, 2016


Tequila Old Fashioneds is a thing and it is delicious.
posted by mmascolino at 10:48 AM on March 5, 2016


Make gin rickeys! A traditional one is just a g&t made with club soda and a squeeze of lime rather than tonic water, but I like to add flavored simple syrup to mine. Definitely water-down-able for longer gin enjoyment.

If you've never made simple syrup before, it's just equal parts sugar and water boiled until the sugar dissolves, and you can add herbs to the water before boiling to give it flavor. Rosemary, dill, or lavender are nice. Fresh is better but you can use dried herbs too.
posted by capricorn at 8:19 PM on March 5, 2016


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