The Gentleman’s Guide to Drinking Like A Man

What you drink says a lot about who you are. So pass on those light beers and put down that white wine spritzer, because LifeTailored is here to teach you how to drink like a man.

What exactly makes a drink manly? Well, for one, it shouldn’t have cranberry juice in it. Seriously though, here at LifeTailored we believe that your drink of choice should go with the stylish lifestyle you lead. The drink in your hand says a lot about your personality, and these so-called manly drinks convey the confidence and bravado of a modern man.

Consider this your field guide to drinking like a gentleman. Here are some basic rules to follow and keep in mind in order to drink like a true gentleman:

If it’s good enough for Don Draper, it’s good enough for you.

If there was ever a show that you should watch to learn how to drink like a man, it should be Mad Men. The amount of drinking on that show is incredible, and you should consider the laundry list of cocktails and alcohol they drink at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, and Pryce as your unofficial list of manly drinks. Manhattans and Old Fashioneds are right at the top of this list. If you want to know how to make a proper Manhattan or Old Fashioned, mosey on over to Life,Tailored’s Complete Guide on Becoming a Mixologist. Here’s the link.

Martinis shouldn’t have lychee in it.

A real martini shouldn’t be called sour appletini either. A proper martini should have 3 things in it: gin, vermouth, and an olive garnish. A high quality vodka can also substitute for gin. Before you go, please remember a dry martini means less vermouth and a dirty martini means the addition of olive juice. You can also opt to garnish your drink with a cocktail onion or a twist of lemon.

Drink your whisky/whiskey/bourbon/scotch properly.

First things first, know the difference between a bourbon, scotch and so on. The easiest way to distinguish this is where the bottle is from, Scotch is from Scotland, Bourbon is made in the U.S., Rye is made in Canada, and Whiskey is made in Ireland. Only Ireland whiskey are spelled whiskey, others are spelled whisky. This is a very simple and straightforward way to tell their differences. There’s a whole sector of the population that’s borderline about this stuff, but this basic knowledge helps a lot.

When it comes to drinking whisky, its best to have it on its own. A couple of droplets of water activates the flavor and tones down the fire of the alcohol. If you absolutely need to drink it with ice, get spherical ice since it doesn’t melt as fast. A lot of water can seriously mess up the flavor of whisky.

Always say no to colorful shots. Unless it’s free.

This one is a no-brainer. If a shot is colored pink or blue, it’s probably not something you should be drinking. If it’s free, then take it. You only live once. Never ever buy one for yourself though, that’s a move that’ll get your man card revoked pretty quickly.

Know a little something about wine.

No one is asking you to have sommelier level knowledge. But knowing about a good bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon or knowing the basics (i.e. what to drink with fish or red meat) will go a long way for you. Wine is an inevitable part of attending events or going on dates, so it helps a lot to know what’s good wine and what isn’t.

Here’s very informative graphic from Wine Folly to help you out:

Alcoholic slushies are only to be consumed by the beach or on a boat.

I think this rule pretty much speaks for itself. Any self-respecting man wouldn’t be caught dead at a bar drinking a margarita slushie. Reserve those guilty pleasures for your next all-inclusive vacation with the bros or your next cruise with your S.O.

Graduate from your beer from college, and explore the wonderful world of hops and stouts.

Beer is great. We love beer. Drinking Coors, PBR, and Bud Light almost exclusively is NOT cool. There is so much out there right now in terms of beers that you can explore, taste, and love. Local craft beers are popping up left and right. You no longer have an excuse to keep drinking like a frat boy. Why not try a new IPA for your next happy hour?

Explore and the world of cocktails. Expand your world beyond a “rum and coke” or “Vodka 7.”

There is so many good cocktails mixed by amazing mixologists out there. Now, to simplify it for you, here’s a quick list of LifeTailored approved manly cocktails: Negroni, Dark and Stormy, French 95, Mai Tai, Whiskey Sour, Steam Roller, Tom Collins, and a Hot Toddy.

Invest in an at-home bar for entertaining.

What’s better than having a cocktail at the end of a long work day? Mixing one expertly yourself. Once you’ve found a cocktail that you love, something that hits the spot perfectly, it’ll be worth it to invest in some bar equipment at home to make it yourself. It’ll be great for entertaining too. You’ll impress your friends, that’s for sure.

For a quick guide on how to stock your bar cart, click here.

Always, always drink champagne from a flute.

Also, drink wine from a proper glass. And so on. The time of using whatever available vessel to drink in is OVER. Drink alcohol in its proper glassware.