Comments on: My Five Favorite Guilty Pleasure Drinks

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:57:37 +0000

Ha, great list. I’m with you on pretty much all of those things. I have mixed feelings about cheap beer, though. Living in Chico, California (home of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company), where decent beer is both ubiquitous and pretty inexpensive, I don’t have much use for the cheap stuff.

As for Piña Coladas… I’ve had some on beaches in Ecuador that were made from fresh, whole pineapples and coconuts that, as far as I could tell, had just been retrieved from trees on the beach. I didn’t feel manly drinking them, but I think the deliciousness overwhelmed any feelings of guilt I might have had.

I do like Harvey Wallbangers though… does that count?

By: Steven Morgenthaler

Steven Morgenthaler — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:29:31 +0000

Give me a crooked I and i’ll return the favor with a crooked eye and a wink. MD 2020 makes me see clearer than a cop on the prowl. Gin and tonic can leave it slippers under my bed any night!A chiparinia is like sleeping next to a brazilian girl. OEOE

By: chuck

chuck — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:19:24 +0000

I have to agree with Jeff on the shot and beer. Jägermeister awesome German liqueur and a 22oz PBR draft are exceptional ways to end the night after mixing sugartini’s

By: geoff lee - esquire

geoff lee - esquire — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:06:04 +0000

funny stuff! pure liquor genius…..and taurmini says “hi”

By: Garretto

Garretto — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:17:03 +0000

Jeff,
Man your gavel ’cause I’m gonna be found guilty for an occasional summer Long Island Iced Tea –I make them strong and refreshing. Also, I agree on the Baileys–in a fireside Mudslide and yes a poolside Pina Colada is a great summer rumshake! But only one.
I’ve laid out special moments to enjoy these, but a Bud and side of Jim Beam is good any time.
Would Tanqueray on the rocks, dirtied with a couple barspoons of anchovy stuffed olive juice, and a trio of olives fall into this category? Last night it was the precursor to the Bud/JB closer.

By: Colin Kimball

Colin Kimball — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:00:36 +0000

I still have fond memories of my Oly Stubbies while attending Evergreen in Olympia, WA. After a hard days work the best tasting beverage is a a light mass produced beer.

Also, you can see Robert mix up a great cocktail using Jagermeister here:http://www.smallscreennetwork.com/video/122/mahogany/
and a fantastic Pina Colada here: http://www.smallscreennetwork.com/video/82/pina_colada/

By: Eugene

Eugene — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:00:13 +0000

Nice article. Thanks. :) Eugene

By: Jackie Patterson

Jackie Patterson — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:05:13 +0000

A true Mai Tai is nothing to feel guilty about. The original recipe is not muddied with fruit juices or purees. It is a balanced and delicious cocktail that if any real bartender respects themselves, they should know the true recipe. Thank you Martin Cate for changing my drinking perspective with Tiki.

By: B-Rod

B-Rod — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:59:34 +0000

My real guilty pleasure drink is the Mai Tai. In most respectable Hawaiian (in Hawaii) joints, they serve them in a lowball with just maybe a pineapple slice on the rim – not all umbrella and cherry in a massive daquiri glass like here on the mainland.

By: B-Rod

B-Rod — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:53:27 +0000

Don’t feel guilty about loving Jäger! Most people hate the stuff. I love it and think you should devote an article to awesome Jäger recipes like the Jägerita which I intend to try. I also plan on incorporating it into Thanksgiving this year – Jäger sweet potatoes all caramelly and…herbaceous.

By: Stevie P

Stevie P — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:20:50 +0000

I *do* hate Jagermeister, mainly due to jagerbombs which seem to be quite popular around town and if one gets placed in front of you, there is no option but to participate. Urgh..

‘The Jägerita’ however, is awesome! Good stuff.

By: Ouroboros

Ouroboros — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:53:15 +0000

Pleasure is too rare to be a source of guilt. Also, I am a lush.

By: Jenny Adams

Jenny Adams — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:54:26 +0000

Actually, I make my living as a writer – and I feel am fairly shit at concocting most cocktails (great at drinking them though – better than many men twice my size) – and two days ago when someone asked me, “who is one of your favorite writers who writes right now”
Your name came up. Seriously … I said “this guy Jeffery Morgenthaler is hysterical.”

I also incidentally love:

Miller High Life
Ciroc and Hangar One (stupidly guiltily expensive)
Vodka martinis even better than gin ones (so guilty)
And watching Tiano videos! (God help me) LOL

By: Sam Harrigan

Sam Harrigan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:55:22 +0000

Ahh Pina Coladas…I love them in the worst way and I don’t care who knows it. Use that can of Coco Lopez, blend it up, stick an umbrella in it & top with a cherry…I don’t care. There’s nothing quite like a drink that ends with the burn of well rum and brain freeze. Delicious!

By: Jeffrey Shilling

Jeffrey Shilling — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:48:44 +0000

This post reads like a bartenders April Fool’s list, however it’s October & you’re serious ~ kudos to you for coming out of the closet. For a second I thought you were going to say you occasionally do vodka shots with Jamie Boudreau – now that would’ve been unbelievable.

By: Natalie - The Liquid Muse

Natalie - The Liquid Muse — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:21:12 +0000

I dunno about that false modesty about your talents, Morgenthaler. Your writing keeps me entertained for hours…

By: heckler

heckler — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:37:12 +0000

smoked mocha porter.

YUM!!!! Is it as good as Rogue’s Chocolate Stout (on tap at sweet basil, $2.50 at happy hour)???

By: kurt

kurt — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:22:46 +0000

Your top 10 drinks brought me to the blog a while back. This cements the deal. I think these are the best drinks that prompt us to see what else is behind the bar. The new discoveries are wonderful, but we’ll never give up these old stand-by’s.

By: Tokyo Tea

Tokyo Tea — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:50:39 +0000

The only truly wrong aspect of Jagermeister is the Frat kid who orders it from me, with his popped-up collar, his sporty wristbands, and his sunglasses on at 1:45 in the morning, and insists in dropping it in Red bull. To the KD’s and the Thetas, thats marriage material all the way!

By: Doug Winship

Doug Winship — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:49:48 +0000

Since Steve has an obvious interest in Vodkas having genuine differences, I’ll jump in as someone who does not have dog in the fight.
My taste skills have faded, but back in the day I drank nothing but Vodka “Martinis” (if that’s what you call a jar of Vodka with a splash of Vermouth). In those simpler days, I could identify most of the major brands by taste with one sip. And I definitely had preferences. I still hold prejudices against the ones I decided to hate….
So, if you’re sober and having a shot straight from the freezer, I’d say finding the right brand to keep on hand is worth some work.
As soon as you mix it with almost anything though, you can forget the differences between anything over eighteen bucks a bottle.

By: Dominik MJ - opinionated alchemist

Dominik MJ - opinionated alchemist — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:10:15 +0000

Another MxMo which I missed!
Anyway Jeffrey, you are a much more guilty pleasured person than me…

But you really surprised me: Beer – well you are American; this is not a guilty pleasure, this is patriotism!
I was surprised about the vodka – I still have your admonishing words in my mind “vodka is drawing you to the dark side”…

Jaegermeister? Well – its not as bad as its reputation.

Pina Colada & Baileys? I never thought, that I will say that about you… but this is sissy, really [I have to admit that I don't like coconut and I don't like creamy cocktails - I might also be sissy if I would like both]!

But anyway – even after your confessions: we still like you!

By: Steve Raye

Steve Raye — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:06:52 +0000

Some observations on yours:
-”I’m not much of a writer…” it’s not easy for anybody. I had a great copywriter once tell me, writing is easy, just put a piece of paper in the typewriter (hey, it was a long time ago) and open a vein.
-Vodka. Steve Olsen gave a great presentation at Tales definitively demonstrating there are differences. Admittedly, they are relatively small compared to the differences in, say, bourbons, or other aged spirits. So are you saying it’s not so much whether there are differences, as whether it makes a difference in a cocktail?I mean, hey…if there’s no difference weren’t why wouldn’t you opt for Popov instead of Stoli and Smirnoff?
-Bailey’s…well there’s a new product out there you should try…Coole Swan Dave Phelan, an ex Bailey’s brand manager developed it as a superpremium step up and he did a great job taking a plain old great product and making it significantly better. He spoke at our recent US Drinks Conference in London and had the whole audience drooling during his presentation.

By: Dr. Bamboo

Dr. Bamboo — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:05:56 +0000

Ahhhh….Jager & crappy beer. Without them, America’s institutions of higher learning would utterly cease to function.

By: Jackie Patterson

Jackie Patterson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:28:06 +0000

Man this made me giggle, especially after our Jameson’s shots and Stellas last night! I have to admit that I have a dirty little secret myself. I think it falls under the Piña Colada umbrella of guilty tropical pleasures. I like the occasional pour of Alize, especially if there is sparkling wine in it. I’m from Hawaii, how could I not like passionfruit? Sooo ghetto.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:48:37 +0000

I would go for an Iron City over a Bud any day. But my family’s from Pittsburgh, so it’s more of a comfort thing. If only they distributed Yuengling in Oregon!

The pina colada, though. I can’t imagine anyone not secretly loving that. My dad’s got a full bar set up at home, and the first thing I do when I’m back to visit is make up some pina coladas.

Here’s a question for you though: you’ve got to have suggestions for a good pumpkin beer that would be found in Portland. Not such a “guilty pleasure” but the way the weather is now, I could use one.