5 Recession Cocktails
The recession is deepening; the economy is recovering. Wise people wouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a clear answer. That would just eat up valuable drinking time.
In all seriousness, these 5 ideas are fun ways to keep cocktails in your budget for any occassion. Oh… and to the know-it-all who will point out that you’d save a lot more money by not drinking, thank you in advance for your valuable contribution.
1. Whiskey and Water
[Photo credit: Flickr user Jesper Egelund]
Southerners introduced me to a way of making bottles of sweet wonderful whiskey last longer. Ice, water, and some whiskey for flavor. Personally, I prefer it to whiskey neat.
2. BIGGER beer
Because most upstanding citizens without prior felonies refuse to drink pisswater beer like Bud or Coors Light, many of us find ourselves spending $9-12 on 6-packs of craft beers.
My beer-blogging friend over at Golden Gate Beer Blog pointed out that 22 oz. bottles tend to be a good deal. Ranging from $2’“3 at places like BevMo, buying 6 22 oz. bottles gives you more beer for less money than buying 2 regular size 6-packs. Plus you’re not stuck with one type of beer as you are with a 6-pack. Pretty smart.
But please don’t mention a 40. Ever.
3. Calimoxo
Known as the poor man’s sangria, Spaniards take a 1/2 cup of Coke or Diet Coke to a 1/2 cup of red wine, and poof! A delicious pre-party drink is made.
4. Kool-aid and Vodka
[Photo credit: Flickr user Mike Harper]
Perhaps Kool-aid Man kept crashing through walls because dude was tanked all the time.
For less than a buck, it’s a tasty vodka mixer.
5. Smandré (Smirnoff and André)
OK, I have never actually consumed André, but to me calling cheap sparkling wine “André” is analogous to calling all tissues Kleenex.
Anyway, if you ever felt envious of the lushy fun Eddie and Patsy were having on “Absolutely Fabulous,” you can simulate their signature Bolli Stoli (Bollinger Champagne with a shot of Stolichnaya vodka) with André and Smirnoff. The New York Times says it’s OK to drink affordable vodkas like Smirnoff, so do it!
Other than moonshine, I’m sure there are plenty of other inexpensive drink ideas. Please feel free to share them here.
Cheers!
John: Welcome back! I feel like I should make a toast.
Kool-aid and vodka – good times. That brings back fond memories of getting wasted at college parties. Those were the days.
A toast: To celebrating life.
Serena, there are some things from college I will never drink again, so you bring up a good point. It’s best to keep a discriminating taste when trying to save money on drinks, and avoid reliving your college days. At some point it’s just not worth spending money on booze if all you can afford is the bad stuff.
I agree John. I go out for an occasional beer – but only at happy hour so I can get a Stella. I can’t stand Bud or Coors. I’d rather drink water.
Great tip about the 22oz bottles! I’m with you and Serena. I’d rather drink water than Bud, Coors and the like. Have you noticed the big breweries are launching their own craft beers now?
Yes Welcome Back John.
Ah! The days of cheap drinks.
Purple Jesus Punch….4 quarts 190 proof grain alcohol and 1 quart of Welchs grape juice.
Serving glasses…old sewing thimbles.
Oh! The Hangovers….LOL.
Roland, you’re a bigger party animal than I would have guessed! ;^) Nowadays that’s called Jungle Juice. And we never limited ourselves to thimbles – we chugged it out of Dixie cups. But maybe it would have been more responsible to drink the Jesus Juice in smaller quantities. Oh, memories (or lack thereof to be perfectly honest)!
LOL….Yes Serena those were the old days.
We called it Purple Jesus Punch because when you chugged it the next response was invariably “Oh! Jesus!!!!”
And if you want to stick with sixers, “generic” brands are often produced by real breweries. Beer And Nosh tells me that Trader Joe’s beer is made by Firestone Walker, and Costco beer in Gordon Biersch.