2008 Woodie Awards
Sometimes it's best to play it safe with a mixer.
Amanda Mello
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
I remember naively coming into college thinking that any flavored vodka or rum would taste better than a bottle with no flavor to mask the alcohol. However, after many mistakes, I learned better, and over the years have discovered that it's really about the perfect mixer. So for quite a long time, except when out at the bars, I have stuck to the same drinks. However, while at Hannaford's the other day I was feeling kind of crazy and decided to again try a flavored alcohol. So after much deliberation, I left the store with Smirnoff Strawberry Vodka, and a strawberry colada mixer.
Later that night, during the infamous pre-gaming session, I decided to try out the drink. Smelling the contents, I was not overwhelmed by an intense scent of alcohol; instead a sweet scent filled my nose. However, it did not smell like strawberries, but it was certainly better than the strong, overpowering scent of alcohol. Feeling pretty positive about the night, I took a sip and found that I liked it quite a bit. Only a slight taste of vodka slipped through a rather sweet strawberry taste alcohol filling my mouth. This was especially nice because there was no resultant twisted grimace on my face after trying it, and taking another sip didn't seem so scary. Excited, I poured myself a drink adding some strawberry colada for what I hoped to be a nice mix.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten everything I had learned about mixers. The mixer can either totally make the drink or completely destroy it. I was on the unfortunate end of option number two this time. I was hoping for a sweet taste, similar to that of a strawberry daiquiri. However, in my excitement to try a new drink, I had apparently forgotten that "colada" means "coconut" and coconuts tend to bring out the awful grimace mentioned earlier. I should have known from the moment that I opened the mixer and was overwhelmed by a very strong coconutty smell that this drink was not going to be good. I could smell no strawberry in the mixer, and other than its pink color, there was no indication strawberries had ever been blended in. However, I kept trucking and made the drink, and all I could taste was coconut. I haven't even known lime juice to completely cover other flavors, but apparently coconut can do it. The coconut overwhelmed me, causing a grimace to come across my face.
Later that night, during the infamous pre-gaming session, I decided to try out the drink. Smelling the contents, I was not overwhelmed by an intense scent of alcohol; instead a sweet scent filled my nose. However, it did not smell like strawberries, but it was certainly better than the strong, overpowering scent of alcohol. Feeling pretty positive about the night, I took a sip and found that I liked it quite a bit. Only a slight taste of vodka slipped through a rather sweet strawberry taste alcohol filling my mouth. This was especially nice because there was no resultant twisted grimace on my face after trying it, and taking another sip didn't seem so scary. Excited, I poured myself a drink adding some strawberry colada for what I hoped to be a nice mix.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten everything I had learned about mixers. The mixer can either totally make the drink or completely destroy it. I was on the unfortunate end of option number two this time. I was hoping for a sweet taste, similar to that of a strawberry daiquiri. However, in my excitement to try a new drink, I had apparently forgotten that "colada" means "coconut" and coconuts tend to bring out the awful grimace mentioned earlier. I should have known from the moment that I opened the mixer and was overwhelmed by a very strong coconutty smell that this drink was not going to be good. I could smell no strawberry in the mixer, and other than its pink color, there was no indication strawberries had ever been blended in. However, I kept trucking and made the drink, and all I could taste was coconut. I haven't even known lime juice to completely cover other flavors, but apparently coconut can do it. The coconut overwhelmed me, causing a grimace to come across my face.
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