The 7 Best First-Date Drinks
You're old enough to know the importance of first impressions if you're also old enough to order a drink at a bar. First dates are a perfect opportunity to show off that hard-won knowledge.
Beyond the super obvious dating don'ts (being late, talking about your job) and general bar-going don'ts, there is also a list of dos when it comes time to order.
There are seven drinks we think are solidly reliable to order on a first date. If you like them, maybe we could go out again some time?
The Manhattan
Ah, the manhattan. A masterpiece of the pre-Prohibition era, this drink is a perfect order for a first date. It is an understated mark of taste without the requisite eye-roll that accompanies a martini order.
The Manhattan has the additional virtue of practicality: it's easy to make and relatively quick (2 ingredients, plus bitters), so you should feel comfortable ordering one at all types of bars.
Get the recipe for the Manhattan.
The Beer and a Shot
If the guy or gal you're stepping out with can't appreciate a cold tall can and a shot, you should close out your tab right away. We know, we know: this isn't a "cocktail." That's the point. It's a fun, unserious drink and that's exactly what a first date should be.
Old Fashioned
Thanks to Mad Men, the Old Fashioned has either come back in style or become a trendy annoyance. We are firmly in the first camp. Come on! This is the cocktail that started them all. A proper Old Fashioned is a thing of beauty, so order it somewhere you know makes it right: big ice cubes, no soda water, not too sweet, and definitely no copious amounts of muddled fruit.
If your date orders one of these and knows exactly which whiskey she or he wants, you should start planning what color you'll paint the kid's room.
Get the recipe for the Old Fashioned.
Find four more of the best first date drinks on Liquor.com.
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