71

An extension of the “alcohol” cravings from tonight, though come to think of it I’m not really sure if I’ve ever had straight up Bourbon before. Like, I know I’ve had stuff with Bourbon in it, namely chocolate, but not the actual drink…

Anyway, this comes to me by way of (I’m 90% sure; apologies if I get this wrong) Scribbles who sent me a generous sample of it. I decided to test it tonight. Honestly, I was a little disappointed with it; the black base was nice enough though not spectacular and there was definitely a presence of vanilla but it wasn’t until I got the the last sips of the cup that I started to taste the Bourbon and even then I wanted more. Overall I suppose it wasn’t bad though.

And I have lots of this left, so I can totally experiment and try to play around with ways to bring more flavour out of it!

I’m also just now realizing that when I go to Barcraft with Tyrell on Sunday I’m probably going to be a total newb at the whole ordering drinkings for myself thing. Like, I drink – and I definitely know where my preferences lie in regard to alcohol types but I’ve never actually been to a bar before (remember, I only turned 19 a few months ago) and I definitely don’t know “fancy drink names” or anything like that.

Half my brain is saying “you’re getting nervous over stupid ass shit” and the other half is freaking out going “do you literally just say ‘I want a Pina Colada’ or whatever…”. Help me out Steepster people! We have a week to make me a bar savvy person so I don’t embarrass myself!

Flavors: Vanilla

Christina / BooksandTea

I’m a bar noob myself, but in my experience it’s perfectly acceptable to just name a drink or cocktail to the bartender – pina colada, mojito, rum and coke, whatever. I personally stick to the fruity stuff or thinks like coolers. However, coolers do have a slightly higher alcohol content, I think – don’t assume that you can have 2 or 3 and it won’t affect you just because they’re “girly”.

Veronica

If you know the name of the drink you want say it (“I’d like a gin and tonic, please.”) If you want a certain brand of alcohol in your drink (New Amsterdam, Gordon’s, Death’s Door) tell them that, too. If they have it on hand they’ll be happy to use it in your drink. If they don’t they’ll usually offer a good alternative.

mj

Haha yes, you can just ask for whatever drink you want. I’m not sure how long this thing lasts, but if you’re going to be drinking for a while I recommend a water break every now and again. For me, drinking a bunch of sugary drinks make me feel sick but that’s a personal thing. Apparently there could be specialty themed drinks at Barcraft, FYI (although this article is about the UK, it was referenced in the wikipedia article): http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-13-uks-first-esports-bar-to-open-in-london

SarsyPie

If you know what you want, definitely just ask for it by name. That being said, you may not always know what you’re in the mood for. Good bartenders are prepared for this, so I can generally ask for “something fruity” or “something peachy” and they can deliver! If you know the recipe, but not the name, a good bartender can make that happen, too! If you want a mixed drink, but hate tequila (crazy talk, I know), you can also say what you don’t want.

The only time these suggestions don’t apply is in a place that’s swamped 6 people deep from the bar. Then, when it’s your turn, you better know exactly what you want. :p

yyz

Some good advice so far! Definitely drink non alcoholic drinks in between, some bars will even give you soda water or juice for free. It’s polite to tip the bar at least some point during the night, it doesn’t have to be anything large, just an extra quarter or so here and there. If you have an open drink, never leave it unintended. Unfortunately, in these days we cannot assume we are safe. If you are drinking a lot don’t mix too much alcohol, or you may find yourself feeling rather rough. If you find yourself going through your drinks quickly, find yourself something that you must sip. I sometimes drink neat whisky for that reason. If food is available, its a good idea to snack a little. Be aware of cost, if thats important. When I was in university we were lucky to have very cheap alcohol available with beer and wine and simple standard liquor drinks between two and three dollars, but fancy drinks can climb past 12$ at some places. At the end of the night drink more water. Be with people you trust, make plans to get home safely at the beginning of the night, be safe and most importantly have fun!

Roswell Strange

Thank you all! The event we’re going to is six hours long, and I do have a safe way home lined up. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Comments

Christina / BooksandTea

I’m a bar noob myself, but in my experience it’s perfectly acceptable to just name a drink or cocktail to the bartender – pina colada, mojito, rum and coke, whatever. I personally stick to the fruity stuff or thinks like coolers. However, coolers do have a slightly higher alcohol content, I think – don’t assume that you can have 2 or 3 and it won’t affect you just because they’re “girly”.

Veronica

If you know the name of the drink you want say it (“I’d like a gin and tonic, please.”) If you want a certain brand of alcohol in your drink (New Amsterdam, Gordon’s, Death’s Door) tell them that, too. If they have it on hand they’ll be happy to use it in your drink. If they don’t they’ll usually offer a good alternative.

mj

Haha yes, you can just ask for whatever drink you want. I’m not sure how long this thing lasts, but if you’re going to be drinking for a while I recommend a water break every now and again. For me, drinking a bunch of sugary drinks make me feel sick but that’s a personal thing. Apparently there could be specialty themed drinks at Barcraft, FYI (although this article is about the UK, it was referenced in the wikipedia article): http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-13-uks-first-esports-bar-to-open-in-london

SarsyPie

If you know what you want, definitely just ask for it by name. That being said, you may not always know what you’re in the mood for. Good bartenders are prepared for this, so I can generally ask for “something fruity” or “something peachy” and they can deliver! If you know the recipe, but not the name, a good bartender can make that happen, too! If you want a mixed drink, but hate tequila (crazy talk, I know), you can also say what you don’t want.

The only time these suggestions don’t apply is in a place that’s swamped 6 people deep from the bar. Then, when it’s your turn, you better know exactly what you want. :p

yyz

Some good advice so far! Definitely drink non alcoholic drinks in between, some bars will even give you soda water or juice for free. It’s polite to tip the bar at least some point during the night, it doesn’t have to be anything large, just an extra quarter or so here and there. If you have an open drink, never leave it unintended. Unfortunately, in these days we cannot assume we are safe. If you are drinking a lot don’t mix too much alcohol, or you may find yourself feeling rather rough. If you find yourself going through your drinks quickly, find yourself something that you must sip. I sometimes drink neat whisky for that reason. If food is available, its a good idea to snack a little. Be aware of cost, if thats important. When I was in university we were lucky to have very cheap alcohol available with beer and wine and simple standard liquor drinks between two and three dollars, but fancy drinks can climb past 12$ at some places. At the end of the night drink more water. Be with people you trust, make plans to get home safely at the beginning of the night, be safe and most importantly have fun!

Roswell Strange

Thank you all! The event we’re going to is six hours long, and I do have a safe way home lined up. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Hello! My name is Kelly, though many people in the tea community call me Ros or Roswell.

I am a mid-twenties tea addict, blogger, and all around nerd. I grew up in the Prairies, but a few years ago I relocated to Quebec to pursue a career with DAVIDsTEA in the tea industry! I’m still working on getting my French language skills down…

My first introduction to tea, in any form outside of instant and bottled iced tea, was about seven years ago when I happened to stumble upon DAVIDsTEA while looking for a birthday present for a friend! I tried their Birthday Cake rooibos blend, and I’ve been hooked on tea ever since! In those seven years; I was introduced to the online tea community, expanded my interest in flavoured teas to include a deep love and appreciation for straight teas and traditional brewing methods, got a tea themed tattoo, started reviewing teas, amassed a sizable tea and teaware collection, became a TAC certified Tea Sommelier, & even came full circle by beginning a career in the tea industry with DAVIDsTEA!

I consider myself a Jack of all Teas, and strive to have a knowledge and appreciation of all tea types, formats, and styles of drinking. I don’t like to feel boxed in to just being a “flavoured tea” or “straight tea” drinker – my expectations may vary depending on the type of tea or how it’s been processed/prepared but if it’s good tea, it’s good tea no matter how it’s been made!

You name it, I probably drink it- and I’ll absolutely try anything at least once.

My default method of preparation is hot, Western style, and straight – but I’m not opposed to additions if I’m in the right mood. If I ever add something to a tea or use a different method of preparation I will ALWAYS call it out in the tasting note though.

I like to listen to music when drinking tea, especially when I’m brewing a large pot at a time or steeping Gongfu. Often I curate very intentional tea and music pairings, and sometimes I share them here in my tasting reviews. Music is something that I find can deeply affect the experience of having tea.

I’m also one half of the “tea and fandom” podcast GeekSteep where, weekly, we discuss newly explored fandoms over tea as well as try to figure out the perfect tea to pair with each fandom. You can find us on Spotify and Apple & Google podcasts.

Favourite flavour notes/ingredients: Pear, lychee, cranberry, cream, melon, pineapple, malt, roasty, petrichor, sweet potato, heady florals like rose, hazelnut or walnut, sesame, honey (in moderation), and very woody shou.

Least favourite flavour notes/ingredients:
Lemongrass, ginger, strongly spiced profiles (and most Chai in general), mushrooms, seaweed, chamomile, stevia, saltiness or anything that reminds me too much of meat that isn’t supposed to taste like meat…

Currently exploring/obsessed with: Sheng from Yiwu, Yancha (Qilan in particular), anything with a strong sweet potato note. Also, I need to try ALL the root beer teas! Searching for a really good caramel flavoured blend, ideally with a black tea base.

Please contact me at the instagram account listed below if you would like me to review your teas.

Currently I’m employed in the tea department of the DAVIDsTEA head office. While I’m still sharing my own personal thoughts on new & existing DAVIDsTEA blends, I am no longer numerically rating them due to the obvious conflict of interest. Any comments expressed are a reflection of my own thoughts and opinions, and do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the company. Any DAVIDsTEA blends you currently see with a numeric score were reviewed prior to my being hired there and have not been adjusted since becoming a DAVIDsTEA employee.

Location

Montreal, QC, CA

Website

https://www.instagram.com/ros...

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer