If you’re looking to expand your drinking experience and try out some new brands, flavors and combinations, why not make a goal of trying a new drink each month? You can expand your taste buds, find out what you like (and what you don’t) all without overdoing it.
First, you can create a list of all the drinks that you would like to try. You could look them up by flavor; for example, if you love cranberry juice, you may want to have a Cosmopolitan, a Cape Cod, or a Ruby Relaxer. If you’re more into hard liquor, you might want to look up all the drinks you can find that feature whiskey, such as a Rob Roy, an Irish Coffee, or an Italian Stallion. You can search for different drinks by using your base as the search term, or visiting a site such as The Webtender.
Conversely, you can assemble a list of the most popular drinks there are and check off the ones you’ve already tried, and simply make your way down the list. The Art of Drink website features a list of 100 drinks to try before you die (both alcoholic and virgin drinks). Or, you may want to get a list of all the drinks at your favorite pub or restaurant and simply check those off each time you visit.
Finally, asking friends and family what their favorite drinks are and creating your list around that can also be a good idea. Sometimes they’ll know regional favorites that are harder to find, as well as where to buy them. You’re also likely to get a varied list this way, as everyone has different tastes.
If you want to make sure to try only low-calorie drinks, you can mix your own with specific recipes for this purpose. Simply look up “low calorie drink recipes” and include the recipe you’re after. Many bars can accommodate you as well, depending on the drink you want.
To schedule your “drink of the month,” write a little note in your calendar on a specific date, the first Friday of the month, or whenever you want to schedule your tasting. Draw a martini glass if you like, or put a sticker on the date. If you have a list of things to do each month, simply write “Drink of the Month:” and then when you have your drink, write in which one you tried. You can also schedule the flavor you’re hoping to try that month as well.