Tickle Your Tastebuds With Exciting New Spirits

We all have our favorite cocktails, that handful of go-to drinks we never get tired of. It’s something to look forward to when you hit the bar or settle in for a lazy night on the couch. It’s the drink your regular bartender starts making when you walk in the door.

We get it. But sometimes there are days that feel a little same-y. We are living through a pandemic after all! It’s not that we’re stuck in a rut, it’s just that maybe there’s something else out there that we might be missing out on. Maybe your go-to is sweet, but you’re in the mood for something savory. For those days, we have a few tips for how to be adventurous when pursuing new spirits, but still enjoy the flavor you crave.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help

As with so much in life, sometimes the best thing to do is ask! You’ve got friends and they enjoy drinks. They know what you like, and more importantly, they know what you don’t like. They’ve probably tried something in the past and thought, “Hey, this drink is right up your alley!” So ask them if they have a suggestion. If you give it a shot (ha ha) you’ll make their day.

Friends have your back. You already know they have good taste (they have you as a friend, after all), so explore some of their recommendations, and let them help you dial in one of your new favorites!

Trust Your Local Liquor Store

The liquor store can also recommend great mixers!

If your friends are all Vikings fans, you can’t trust their judgement. In that case, ask your favorite bartender. When it’s a pandemic, and you can’t go to the bar (😭), ask at your local liquor store. They’re indispensable for good recommendations – it's how they spend their day! And trust us, they won’t risk your business by trying to sell you Malort or…well, anything in a plastic bottle. It is literally their job to sell you delicious drinks!

A good liquor store keeps track of who buys what, who tries what, and how they feel about different brands, flavors, and products. They already have a good feel for your shopping list, and you can bet they know a few other people with similar tastes.

Next time you visit, ask them if they can recommend something along the lines of your favorite spirit. They can probably come up with a few off the top of their head, including a breakdown of how the tastes differ from each other. If they can’t, it might be time to find a new liquor store!

Tried & True

If you haven’t found anything yet that really floats your Mirrocraft, start reading about spirits that are similar to your own favorites! There are plenty of “If you like this, then try that…” blogs and comparisons out there, and companies are pretty good at describing what sort of flavors their spirits feature.

For example, Riverbank Spiced Rum is citrus- and allspice-forward, compared to Captain Morgan, which is more vanilla-forward, sweeter, and slightly more aggressive. Lone Duck Cinnamon Whiskey is sweet, and cinnamon-y, but not as overwhelming as Fireball, so it’s easier to mix with a wider variety of cocktails (and it also makes for a smooth chilled shot all on its own).

By checking comparisons and flavor descriptions, you might be able to pinpoint a specific flavor you’ve been looking for, maybe without even realizing it. And isn’t that what drinking is all about? Getting to know yourself and your feelings just a little bit better? 😜🥃✅

The next time you’re ready for adventure, or even just looking to take a break from your go-to to keep things fresh, remember: do a little research, ask the folks who know your tastes, and see what sort of stuff is out there. Take a chance on something new, and you’ll be sipping pretty in no time! And if all else fails, follow up your adventurous first round with your go-to drink for as long as it takes to clear your palate.