Very serious alcohol question...for experts.

[JediJD]

I live a sheltered life. I am very comfortable with my scotch during the winter, and gin and tonics during the summer. I know a lot about scotches, and gins, but my knowledge base though deep, is painfully narrow...and I am calling out for help.

I am trying to plan for entertaining on the boat this summer, and my focus has turned to alcohol...specifically the drinks to have on the boat. I have nixed red wine (except on the dock) because of staining, and similarly don't want to deal with strawberry daquiris. I have the boat stocked with beer, water, white wines and kids pouch drinks (all apple or otherwise nearly clear). What I need is the perfect boat drink...here are the criteria...

1. Has to be very light colored or non staining generally.
2. Blenders are a hassle. I want to make about a gallon of this stuff and take it on board and let people just pour over ice.
3. I'm getting older and calories are an issue. I want to be able to substitute a sugar free alternative (diet tonic water for example, or diet coke) to reduce the calories.
4. I would prefer non-carbonated so that there is some measure of shelf life.

Any experts out there with any ideas?

 

[The Bill Collector]

Now I'm a vodka guy who has rediscovered my tequila thirst and this is a great delivery system !!! I pre mix my Margaritas in their 1/2 gallon plastic bottles (perfect for boating) and fill a cup with ice and pour in the premix.... Can you say "Happy Hour" ??? And no sugar involved (other then the tequila). Checkout Baja Bob below.....



Bob's luscious Original Margarita Mix is now available in the popular 1.75 Liter size! When planning your next fiesta pay even less per ounce with this delicious party pleaser.
Let Bob break it down for you:
ZERO calories per serving! * That's right, ZERO! The average sugar-loaded margarita mix can run over 250 calories per serving!
ZERO sugar and ZERO carbs!


http://www.bajabob.com/home.html

 

[Bridog]

Charles, this might get interesting...First...as I'm sure you are aware, boating and alcohol don't mix! Now, I'm no "expert" but the first thing that I thought of was Mojito's.

 

[sprink56]

I live a sheltered life. I am very comfortable with my scotch during the winter, and gin and tonics during the summer. I know a lot about scotches, and gins, but my knowledge base though deep, is painfully narrow...and I am calling out for help.

I am trying to plan for entertaining on the boat this summer, and my focus has turned to alcohol...specifically the drinks to have on the boat. I have nixed red wine (except on the dock) because of staining, and similarly don't want to deal with strawberry daquiris. I have the boat stocked with beer, water, white wines and kids pouch drinks (all apple or otherwise nearly clear). What I need is the perfect boat drink...here are the criteria...

1. Has to be very light colored or non staining generally.
2. Blenders are a hassle. I want to make about a gallon of this stuff and take it on board and let people just pour over ice.
3. I'm getting older and calories are an issue. I want to be able to substitute a sugar free alternative (diet tonic water for example, or diet coke) to reduce the calories.
4. I would prefer non-carbonated so that there is some measure of shelf life.

Any experts out there with any ideas?

First of all ...I'm no expert....but this works for me:

Gin and Bitter Lemon. 1/3 Gin~2/3 Bitter Lemon over ice.

Clean, no after taste...good warm weather refreshing drink. The shelf life should be 24 hours at least. I never was much of a Gin man untill I was in the Keys one week end fishing and camping....had some friends turn me on to this. I've liked it ever since. You can buy Bitter Lemon at Publix or Winn Dixie...you know about the rest. Try it out first to see if you like it. :thumbsup:

 

[HarttoHart]

Now I'm a vodka guy who has rediscovered my tequila thirst and this is a great delivery system !!! I pre mix my Margaritas in their 1/2 gallon plastic bottles (perfect for boating) and fill a cup with ice and pour in the premix.... Can you say "Happy Hour" ??? And no sugar involved (other then the tequila). Checkout Baja Bob below.....

+1:thumbsup:

To make it even better add Grand Marnier with the Tequila and mix. Makes a Top Shelf Margarita out of bottled mix.

Only at anchor and for the guests.

 

[tmhudson2]

We have found that a good (but not quite top class) magarita for a crowd around the pool, on the hook or at the dock after a day on the water, is the pre-frozen mix sold at Sam's Club in the plastic buckets. Add one 750ml bottle of your favorite tequila, stir and serve with a slice of lime in a glass (or plastic cup) with salt on the rim; the better quality the tequila, the better quality the drink.

 

[frome]

I manage a bar for a living - we almost named our boat the "Tipbucket" - and gave some thought to your request. Your criteria narrow the list down considerably, so in general, allow me to draw your attention to the plethora of flavored vodkas available on the market today. All clear liquids with no sugar.

Specifically, a recipe that sells quite well in our bar is the "Grape Lemonade":

12oz. glass with ice
1.5 oz. grape flavored vodka (we use the Three Olives brand)
0.5 oz. Triple Sec
Fill with equal parts sour mix & 7-up - although to prolong shelf life & minimize calories, I suppose you could just try filling it with sugar-free lemonade.

Again, when you pick a flavor of vodka that appeals to you, mixing with a soda or a juice is the easiest way to go. Many of our guests like vanilla vodka with coke, or berry vodka with either club soda or 7-up.

It may take you several experiments to find the one best for you, but you'll never enjoy your lab work more!

For me, I'll stick to 2 oz. of Famous Grouse scotch or Bushmills irish and 1 oz. of water. :thumbsup:

Hope this helped, good luck and good boating!

 

[Henry Boyd]

Have to say I am a traditionalist, that means Bombay Sapphire and Schweppes Tonic at the end of the day. For the boss we stock a reasonable Chard. During the day its water, diet cola, or NA beer.

Henry

 

[JediJD]

This is good stuff! I already have some excellent ideas, but keep 'em coming. Bridog, yes, this is predominantly for guests...the captain stays relatively dry and this is for the admiral to use to entertain guests. Splenda Mojitos though are a lot of work...I am thinking a gallon, pre-made. Do you have a secret short cut? Mark...good idea with Bob's we'll try that by the pool first-with points to Hart for concept improvement. Sprink...bitter lemon is new to me, but worth a shot. TM, we have tried the bucket, not bad, but I am thinking its about 20% alcohol and 40% sugar. Frome...thank you for a genuinely scholarly viewpoint. I have never tried a flavored vodka...they came out long after my bar days were passed but sounds like a hell of a way to reminisce. Points for the Famous Grouse and Bushmills...staples of my larder. Stupid question...does the grape flavored mean purple coloring? Henry, Sapphire and Tonic is my summer weapon of choice as well...I have gone to diet tonic though. I was going to force it on all guests, but tonic is sort of an acquired taste.

The accumlated wisdom of the fiberglass sages is deeply appreciated, and I promise to give them all a try and report back with results...the quantity of the submissions will dictate the timeliness of the response, though...so please, everyone in the water on this and try them yourselves as well.

I will continue my quest for the perfect non-staining, low effort, low calorie, universal appeal, good shelf life-guest alcohol delivery system.

 

[wkearney99]

If you want variety lots of stuff comes in pints and halves. Various rums work well (cap'n morgan, malibu, myers, parrot bay bacardi, etc). Same thing with flavored liqueurs (amaretto, grand marnier etc) but some are harder to find in the smaller bottles. Then you're faced with the whole bartending effort (as in, you making all the drinks). But then a jug made ahead just smacks of being lazy. You've also got the problem of whatever you make not being popular and going to waste (if such a thing is possible with booze). I've found it best to work both angles, have the ingredients available for the one or two people that don't like the mix-of-the-day.

Oh, and Spot-Shot carpet cleaner in the aerosol can is frickin' AMAZING at dealing with fresh spills. Red wine isn't as big a problem if you get this stuff on it right away. Strawberry daiquiris are verboten on our boat after someone's kid chucked a 'virgin' one and left it to dry. Seeing that slight pink stain on the tan carpet just reinforces how cold a day in Hell it will be before they'll be back aboard.

 

[frome]

All of the flavored vodkas that I've run across (quite a few) are just as clear as the standard variety. The only difference is the smell, taste, and the writing on the bottle. There are a million flavors out there, and every distillery is unique - Smirnoff Twist tastes different from Absolut Citron, which tastes different from Three Olives Citrus, etc.

And of course you want to be responsible at the helm. I assumed that we all knew that and were discussing entertaining guests and/or back at the dock at the end of the day. :smt101

 

[chuck1]

Since we are talking about nautical drinks it has to be "Grog"
Bring on the Rum.
Personally I like a good mojito.

 

[JamieH]

Being a southern boy, you have got to try Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. THE best summertime drink.

 

[Escapade]

Good post. Here is one for the light side. This is made in a picher and poured over a tall plastic glass of ice. We call it a "Malibu Cranberry". 10 ounces Diet white cranberry juice, 2 ounces malibu Mango, one + ounce 10 Cane Rum. Clear as water and even more refreshing.

 

[JediJD]

Good post. Here is one for the light side. This is made in a picher and poured over a tall plastic glass of ice. We call it a "Malibu Cranberry". 10 ounces Diet white cranberry juice, 2 ounces malibu Mango, one + ounce 10 Cane Rum. Clear as water and even more refreshing.

After consulting the Only Mate...Bob's, the Malibu Cranberry, and Tipbuckets' Grape Wave are going to be served either dockside or poolside this weekend and I will report back the initial results.

Oh, and Spot-Shot carpet cleaner in the aerosol can is frickin' AMAZING at dealing with fresh spills. Red wine isn't as big a problem if you get this stuff on it right away. Strawberry daiquiris are verboten on our boat after someone's kid chucked a 'virgin' one and left it to dry. Seeing that slight pink stain on the tan carpet just reinforces how cold a day in Hell it will be before they'll be back aboard.

Kearney, my point EXACTLY. I do not have the yacht that some of you do, but I absolutely friggin' do not want a pink stained reminder of a bad decision that could have been prevented by a little forethought. Some people may think this is a frivolous exercise, but I assure you that I believe it is very serious. I am not big on democracies, if they don't like what I am serving...go to another boat, but I will spring for a Spot Shot. Great idea! Thanks!

 

[everthing's irie]

Being a southern boy, you have got to try Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. THE best summertime drink.

Ha you beat me to it. That's what I would have suggested. It's great and dangerous because you forget its not sweet tea and just keep sippin.:smt101

 

[VTSeaRay]

I'm enjoying the drink suggestions, keep 'em coming, we're looking for things to take to our friend's camp on the lake!

I agree on the spot shot, it's an incredible carpet cleaner! I've only seen a few stains it couldn't get rid of (tar was one, and I used other things to remove that).

-VtSeaRay

 

[Westie]

Nothing beats a good Cuban rum.

 

[At Ease]

Simple Vodka and Diet Tonic with lime slice over ice. Preferably "The Tall Blonde" vodka. Possibly the best vodka I have ever tasted.

Or a good Margarita on the rocks, Don Julio Respado, Patron Orange Liquer with fresh lime and lemon...

Can't wait for summer!!!

 

[Uplate]

No Sugar, No Stains.

Fill Glass 100% with Ice. Add Grey Goose (substitute fav vodka here), Club soda, Lime or Lemon in a Tall Glass. Mix porportions to taste.