Best Drink of 2008: Pretty Much Everything
What happens when you mix one part “subjective survey question” with one part “unlimited answers”? Well, you end up no real clear winner in our category of Best Drink of 2008. Although one thing is for sure… people in Columbus sure do like to drink.
In 2006, Forbes ranked Columbus as the Third Drunkest City in America, but they don’t seem to have published an updated list in subsequent years. Probably not the type of attention most cities are looking to brag about.
While both “water” and “beer” stood above the rest of the answers, we thought it would be more fun to provide a detailed look at what people in Columbus were drinking in 2008 instead.
In no particular order: Cocktail menu at Details, Brooklyn Brown, “The Sweet Pickle” - Guinness with a heavy shot of coffee flavored vodka (at the Tree House), Makers Mark Manhattan, Rain water, Mojitos, Planet Smoothie Big Bang, Elevator Imperial IPA, Jameson neat, 7-up - crisp and clean with no caffeine, Bell’s Amber, Strawberry Milk Bubble Tea from Fantasia, Pomegranate Martinis, Lemon Frost from Mitchell’s, Dirty Burn (Barrel 44), 7 & 7, Absolut and Redbull, Grey Goose Grapefruit, Cranberry & Cherry Flavored Vodka on the rocks, Iced water, Nida’s Bangkok Buckeye, Water (congratulations water, for being named “drink of the year” for an unprecedented 5000th time!), Absinthe, Chardonay , Strawberry Cheescake at Black Olive, Oktoberfest Beer, Christmas Ale, Barley’s Barley Wine, Brandy Alexander, Maker’s Mark Old Fashion, Bells Two Hearted Ale, Backwoods Bastard Ale, Guinness at Brazenhead, Lavender Gimlet, Satan’s Little Helper at Surly Girl, Slurpees from that 7-11 at 10th & High, Dirty Belvedere Martini w/ Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives, Skybust at Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, Isaan Spritzer at Nida’s , Bulliet bourbon with a splash of Vernor’s Ginger Ale, PBR, Jim Beam, Strawberry Basil Martini at MoJoe on the Cap, Green Tea, Jack Daniels, Electric Lemonade, Corpse Reviver, Betty Ford, Red Wine at the Burgundy Room, Blushing Bride at MoJoe Lounge on the Cap, Celtic Grog from North Market, Rock Star Martini at Martini Park, Atwater: Vanilla Java Porter, Pepsi, American Ale, Char Bar Long Islands, Kettle One, McLenny’s Socttish Ale at Barley’s, Irish Whiskey, The Muse at Eleven, Whatever that thing was that Chris Dillman created at Rosendale’s, Hearty Apple Smoothie from Smoothie King, Strawberry Fields Martini at Bristol, Dark & Stormy @ Rigsbys, Bodega’s Hot Apple Cider w/Vanilla Rum, Elevator Beer, Arrogant Bastard Ale at Bodega, Scotch, Pyrat Rum, Pineapple, Gingerale at Surly Girl, Flytown Pick-Me Up at Tip Top, Bloody Mary at Mojoe Lounge, Diet Coke, Lauren’s Margarita Machine, Bud Light, Peach vodka with ice tea, Rootbeer vodka with rootbeer, Basil Grapefruit Martini at Columbus Fish Market, Crown and coke, and Black Russians.
Was there anything we missed? Here’s to 2009!
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January 7th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I swear the Bud Light wasn’t me guys. SWEAR!!!
Pretty sure I said Skybust. Mmmmm, that sounds good RIGHT NOW!!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I thought I’d answered “skybust” as well, but I think I actually wrote that parenthetical statement about water.
I’m glad you’re listing some of the better one-off jokes, Walker, because I can’t remember anything I wrote and it’s a pleasant surprise to see them again.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:41 am
WAIT A MINUTE, who misspelled “Ketel One??”
Look guys. There are very few drinks that the Dutch got to name in their hilarious language (e.g. Jenever, Advocaat, Grolsch). Let’s let them keep what they have, ok?
Chardonnay I’m not so concerned about, because there are about 150 other (better) French-named wines ready to step in for it.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:46 am
I should have said the mango margaritas at LaFogata because my consumption of those helped me agree to go out with you :) Awwww
January 7th, 2009 at 9:48 am
“Whatever that thing was that Chris Dillman created at Rosendale’s” (I had no idea but it was tasty) is now officially named Amaro Mio. Sadly I cannot have one again until all my health issues are cleared!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I actually corrected several spelling mistakes in the results. That must have been one that slipped through the cracks. ;)
January 7th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
The Fly Town Pick Me Up at Tip Top is awesome.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I need a new drink for 2009. I’m the one who voted for Black Russians, and drank my fair share of them, but I’m ready for something new. They’re pretty heavy drinks, and don’t really pair well anything outside of certain dessert dishes.
Anyone have any suggestions for me? I like stuff that’s both strong and tasty and obscure enough so that I’m undercharged for it. ;)
January 7th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Where is the Sparks? That stuff is ghetto crack and I love it.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Happy to see the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned make the list… and the Corpse Reviver?? I have a feeling I know exactly where that vote came from…. :-)
As to strong and tasty and undercharged… that’s a tall order. Usually bartenders are pretty savvy about what they’re pouring in a glass. But if you want tasty and obscure and a good bang for the buck, the best I’ve found is a Widow’s Kiss — two parts Calvados (Applejack will do in a pinch), one part Chartreuse, one part Benedictine. The trick is finding a bar that has all three! The Refectory does; the Dube might, I’m not sure. It sounds truly awful, like the three flavors would fight it out in the glass, but it’s really delicious… and unbelievably strong.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Walker, just grab a classic bar book and look in the Whiskey or Rum sections. You’re sure to find something.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Many places where I’ve ordered Black Russians charge me a mixed-drink price although there’s no mixer. I think people are more used to White Russians, so that’s where the confusion comes in.
But yeah, thanks for the suggestions guys. The Widow’s Kiss sound like it might be a little too obscure with the ingredients. ;) I do like Rum, so perhaps a flip through a cocktail book is in order.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Not whiskey or rum, but one we like that’s I think less common, not overly sweet, and pretty is a Blue Shark (tequila, vodka, and blue curacau). I never order these out (I stick to specialties if the places have them - for fun), but I make them at home.
For looking for drinks: I use the “Ultimate Bar Book” by Mittie Hellmich. It’s my fav of all the cocktail books I’ve had. To mix with the liquor, these recipes only list fruit juices, and other good quality ingredients - which like food, makes the best drinks :) Has good descriptions of the different booze, and an essential bar list, and it’s small and fits nicely in my liquor cabinet.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:39 am
finally made it to details last night and under catnfiddle’s suggestion, had the amaro mio. it was FANTASTIC!! raisin infused grappa + espresso? perfect flavor complements and the perfect aperitif/digestif! ahhh, had the pear cocktail too… very very delicious. but that might just be the extraordinary deliciousness of the grey goose pear.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Walker: Try the Sweet Pickle. It’s awesome. It will be pricey tho, anywhere but the treebar will charge for the Guinness and the full shot of the coffee vodka.
My real vote was going to be for Yeungling, which WOULD be a great cheap drink, but I have to smuggle that into town via my parents who run across the border to PA to buy it for me. Which reminds me, need to go home before the Super Bowl. Shhhh! :)
January 20th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yuengling is a good choice. I flew through PA a few times recently, and every time I got to have a couple pints. Yum.
Although… it’s not as cheap as Genny Cream, which I prefer if I’m in the area. I know, I know, I’m a philistine.
January 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Love me some Yeungling. I wish for once the hearsay that they will soon be coming to Ohio is true. How sweet if it could be the What are you Drinking of 2009. :)
One thing i forgot, Limoncello at Marcella’s. (CAREFUL - STRONG. You don’t want to pull a Clooney on The View with this stuff.) It’s the closest thing to the homemade stuff my dads buddy makes in the basement. Man, maybe i should make a run to the ville!
January 20th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I just saw “Lauren’s margarita machine”
Lol. Good one.
And that was Somer’s idea.
Those were damn good though.
All three giant batches.
And I’ll be at the Treehouse Saturday night…I might hafta taste this Sweet Pickle business.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:41 am
Love Yuengling and it’s royal packaging. Reminds me of hanging at the Jersey Shore.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 am
From here: http://www.buckeyelakebeacon.net/news/2009/0124/news/021.html