Note: We know we’re not your mother, but do us a favor and limit yourself. Drink alcohol in moderation and do not attempt to finish this list in one day. The Mustang Daily does not promote underage drinking or driving intoxicated.
21ST BIRTHDAY MUSTS
1. Guinness Race
Guinness is a dark, almost black beer with velvety foam and a smooth finish. This Irish and internationally-loved beer is usually served in a tulip pint glass to enhance the beer’s aroma.
Here’s the birthday challenge: go to an Irish Pub on your 21st birthday, grab as many of your friends as possible and the bartender for the Guinness Race challenge and on the count of three hidalgo your pint before the others.
Bartenders will usually do everything in their will power to beat you, so keep your wits if you want to win.
2. Bull Sweat
The Bull Sweat is a rite of passage for those 21 and over. It’s an awful experience, but for your 21st there is no getting around it. The contents of the Bull Sweat vary depending on who mixes your drink so treat your bartender like royalty.
A Bull Sweat will usually contain some variation of the following: Wild Turkey, Tabasco Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, gin, whiskey, lime juice, any random liquor and Bailey’s Irish Cream (to make it curdle).
3. Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light
These are a series of three shooters stacked to resemble a traffic light. The top red shot contains red cinnamon schnapps, the middle yellow shot is tequila and the third green shot is apple schnapps. Red, yellow, go — shoot the shots as fast as you can.
4. Blow Job
Grab a few of your less experienced, small-mouthed friends to take this shot with you or it could become an embarrassing situation. Loosen your jaw, put your hands behind your back and get ready for a big, creamy shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlua topped with whipped cream.
5. Smurf
The Smurf is one of the easiest shots to take because it tastes so good. It contains ouzo anise (liquor with licorice and berry flavors) and Blue Curacao (a sweet, fruity tasting liquor used mainly to add the smurf blue color).
6. Washington Apple
Although the Washington Apple has a whiskey base, it is combined with sour apple schnapps, cranberry juice and ginger ale, which leaves a fruity flavor on your palette after shooting it. Ask the bartender to take one with you, just for fun.
7. Adios Motherfucker (AMF)
If you’ve made it this far on your 21st, don’t get cocky just yet. This shot will have you spinning in circles just minutes after taking it. Tequila, rum, gin, Blue Curacao, sweet and sour mix and ginger ale make up this multi-liquor shot.
Say “adios” to the bars and “hola” to the porcelain castle (if you can make it in time).
ANY NIGHT DRINKS
8. Sake Bomb
Sake Bombs are a great start to a long night of drinking, plus you’ll be in the perfect spot for some sushi. Pour your favorite Japanese beer to fill half of a pint glass to allow room for the sake and shot glass. Order warm sake and strategically balance the shot glass of sake on two parallel chopsticks. Next chant “ichi…ni…san…SAKE BOMB,” and pound your fist on the table so the sake falls into the pint glass. Like every other drink, it’s best to drink this quickly.
9. Lemon Drop
Lemon Drops are easy to make and literally taste like lemon drop candies. Alcohol that tastes like candy? Dangerous. Mix equal parts vodka and lemon juice, add sugar to taste.
10. Jell-O Shots
A summer day party must-have. Period. Pick out your favorite Jell-O flavors. Now you’re ready for some alcohol. Vodka is a given — it goes with everything, but also think of what types of alcohol would go well with the flavor of Jell-O you chose. Peach pairs perfectly with coconut rum, while Midori and sour apple schnapps go well with watermelon. The worst mistake you can make is adding too much alcohol (yes, there is such a thing). To avoid having an entire refrigerator full of untouched Jell-O shots after a party, make them taste good. Jell-O shots are usually made up of a dissolved 3-ounce package of Jell-O and 8 ounces of boiling water added to 8 ounces of a single liquor or a mix. Distribute the liquid into small plastic cups, place in the refrigerator and get ready to party.
11. Jägerbomb
The Jägerbomb follows the same basic guidelines as the Sake Bomb, save for the chopsticks and counting to three in Japanese. Start with a glass filled halfway with Red Bull, then drop in a shot glass full of Jägermeister and chug. If you’re outside of the U.S., odds are they have another name for this globally popular drink. Germany has coined Jäger-Bull, Fliegender Hirsch and Turbo-Jäger.
12. ABC
It’s as easy as one, two, three. Layer equal parts Amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Cognac into a shot glass. Cheers to one of the richest shots you’ll ever take.
13. Kamikaze
There are several different versions of the Kamikaze, but I enjoy the drink best when served in a cocktail glass with a shot of Triple Sec, a shot of vodka and lime juice shaken — and don’t forget the lime wedge.
14. 32-ounce Margarita
Regular margaritas have no business being here. So how, you might ask, did a 32-ounce margarita make it on here? It’s true, size matters. Put on your sombrero and head to your favorite Mexican restaurant. ¡Vamos!
KEEP IT CLASSY DRINKS
15. Caribbean Pineapple
The Caribbean Pineapple is one part coconut rum to three parts pineapple juice served over ice. Once you experience it, you will never be the same.
16. Mojito
This is the perfect drink to make your own. Get creative using these basic ingredients: one part white rum to two parts tonic water, crushed mint leaves, sugar and lime juice to taste. Don’t be afraid to add fresh, flavorful fruits like strawberries, watermelon and peaches.
17. White Russian
“The Big Lebowski” made the White Russian popular again and as far as college students everywhere concerned, it’s not going anywhere soon. It is made up of vodka, coffee liquor and cream. If the White Russian is too sweet for you, add a splash of Coca-Cola and make it into a Colorado Bulldog.
18. Amaretto Sour
A perfect go-to drink for a night out with friends. Amaretto is almond liquor and when added to sweet and sour mix it is indescribable. With a straw and cherry on top, you will feel like a little kid again.
19. Long Island Iced Tea
Don’t be fooled even though the name includes “iced tea.” This drink has no trace of tea so don’t count on the antioxidants to help you through the night.
Certain restaurants and bars have their own signature mixes, but generally it contains a combination of vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour mix and Coca-Cola to top it all off. Most have had to sleep near the toilet every time they consume a Long Island Iced Tea, but it is worth it.
20. Sex on the Beach
Keep it classy and end your night with some Sex on the Beach. Originally the mixture contained vodka, peach schnapps as well as cranberry and orange juices. However, bartenders have gotten creative and substituted pineapple juice for orange juice and Midori instead of schnapps. Either way, you’re in for a good time.
21. Lady Macbeth
The easiest and the classiest — say hello to Lady Macbeth. Simply mix equal parts champagne and port wine to create perfection.
Port originated near Porto, Portugal — go figure. However, you don’t have to travel around the world to enjoy it. Local grocery stores carry imported port wine and certain local wineries even make their own. A favorite is Sandeman’s Ruby Porto, which is similar to dessert wine because of its rich and sweet qualities. It also generally has a higher alcoholic content than regular wine because it is fortified with brandy. Pair the port with your favorite champagne and enjoy.