What can she drink without hives?

August 3, 2006 5:41 AM

Looking for good alcoholic drink ideas for someone with some significant food allergies.

A friend is allergic to most fruit (bananas excepted) and some food colorings (meaning sodas are out). Given that, any ideas for mixed drinks she would like?

She likes beer, but tires of it. And it seems most drinks have either fruit or soda in them....

posted by Chrysostom to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

Gin and tonic (hold the lime)
Martini
posted by Thorzdad at 5:48 AM on August 3, 2006

Whiskey and soda. Assuming that by soda, you mean fizzy sugary pop drinks, rather than just carbonated water.

Vodka and tonic.

I'm fairly sure that there are some "lemonades" which don't contain any lemons - but I'm not certain...
posted by handee at 5:54 AM on August 3, 2006

White Russian
Manhattan (no fruit)

or check one of the many cocktail sites on the internet where you can choose a number of ingredients that are not allergens and receive number of drinks that fit the bill.

e.g. webtender
posted by exit at 5:54 AM on August 3, 2006

I don't know if any of these have colorings that she's allergic to, but...

Creamy:
grasshopper
brandy alexander
mudslide
banana colada

Not creamy:
martini
manhattan (no cherry)
black russian
highball (if she can drink ginger ale - some brands have no food coloring)
posted by iconomy at 6:08 AM on August 3, 2006

I'm curious... what is in all this fruit that she's allergic to that isn't found in just about everything else?

Do try martinis, though. Especially the classic--Bombay, very dry, straight up.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:09 AM on August 3, 2006

I really enjoy godfathers. Basically just 2 parts scotch to 1 part amaretto. Definitely NOT a cocktail, really more of a shot or a martini.
posted by utsutsu at 6:28 AM on August 3, 2006

Is she so allergic to fruit that a fruit-flavored vodka would be bad? Any of the Absolut or Stoli flavored vodkas mixed with club soda or tonic is refreshing and pretty tasty.
posted by staggernation at 6:41 AM on August 3, 2006

I'd suggest a non-dry martini, about 7 parts gin to 1 part vermouth. I feel that most folks over-do the dryness, and end up with a big glass of cold gin (not that there's anything wrong with that).
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:58 AM on August 3, 2006

not that i know poop about drinks, but as far as the sodas go, have you considered going to a co-op/natural food store and picking up some of the "all natural" variety that have no colors in them? they come in all the standard flavors and taste the same or better than their name-brand counterparts...
posted by whatzit at 8:01 AM on August 3, 2006

I'll second Martinis and Manhattans.
posted by ob at 8:07 AM on August 3, 2006

I third manhattan's (sans cherry), and if she decides she likes them, it might be worth exploring the wonderful world of bourbon. There are quite a few out there that are smooth and tasty on their own (like with any alcohol I suppose), you don't really need mixers with them. I recommend Basil Hayden's, Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark, and Blanton's.
posted by jrb223 at 10:03 AM on August 3, 2006

Yes, all great bourbons jrb223. Two that I really like are Baker's (nice and smooth) and Booker's which is a fantastic bourbon but at 120-something proof it tends to make its presence felt.
posted by ob at 10:10 AM on August 3, 2006

Response by poster: Couldn't say what specifically the allergen is. I do know that when she eats fruit, she starts getting hives, swelling up, etc.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:18 AM on August 3, 2006

The bourbon suggestions bring to mind old fashioneds (sans orange slice, but you might want to check the contents of Angostura bitters) and mint juleps.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:13 AM on August 4, 2006