What would you drink for your 21st b'day?

I turn 21 next Friday night. As I'm a twin, my brother will be flying in for a few drinks.

1) Where should I take him for a pre-dinner drink (preferably in/near downtown)?

2) At said place, what do you recommend ordering?

I wish I had more information, but I honestly have no idea as to what his drink preferences are. Perhaps if it was somewhere with an awesome view of the skyline it wouldn't matter? (Someone had mentioned the Hancock bar, but I'm wary).

mresolver wrote:I turn 21 next Friday night. As I'm a twin, my brother will be flying in for a few drinks.

1) Where should I take him for a pre-dinner drink (preferably in/near downtown)?

2) At said place, what do you recommend ordering?

I wish I had more information, but I honestly have no idea as to what his drink preferences are. Perhaps if it was somewhere with an awesome view of the skyline it wouldn't matter? (Someone had mentioned the Hancock bar, but I'm wary).

Go to the Signature Room at the Hancock building. Don't bother eating there. Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch. Get it with 2-3 cubes in it. They have plenty of scotch there. You can always drink Johnny gold if you want something simple and not too terribly expensive. The hancock bar is beautiful if for nothing else than the view.

Whenever I'm hosting people coming in from out of town who don't get here often, the Signature Lounge at the top of the Hancock (enter off of Chestnut) is a definite stop. The drinks are a bit on the pricey side, but you can't beat the view. Even on cloudy days, it can be fun to look down on the clouds and see the tops of other buildings sticking through.

I doubt one drink there will seriously dent your wallet, and it's a unique experience. Don't be wary.

Edit: Damn - beaten by three minutes.

nr706 wrote:Whenever I'm hosting people coming in from out of town who don't get here often, the Signature Lounge at the top of the Hancock (enter off of Chestnut) is a definite stop. The drinks are a bit on the pricey side, but you can't beat the view. Even on cloudy days, it can be fun to look down on the clouds and see the tops of other buildings sticking through.

I doubt one drink there will seriously dent your wallet, and it's a unique experience. Don't be wary.

Edit: Damn - beaten by three minutes.

Great minds think alike.

jpschust wrote:Great minds think alike.

Yeah, and apparently ours do, too.

jpschust wrote:Go to the Signature Room at the Hancock building. Don't bother eating there. Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch. Get it with 2-3 cubes in it. They have plenty of scotch there. You can always drink Johnny gold if you want something simple and not too terribly expensive. The hancock bar is beautiful if for nothing else than the view.

I certainly agree that the Hancock view is fantastic, and is a great idea. I also agree that you should learn to start enjoying Scotch. However, I have to disagree about adding ice. Maybe for your first (legal) drink, but I wouldn't suggest making a habit out of it. Maybe some water, but ice? Throw the ice in bourbon, or a blend, but please, let that single-malt whisky be.

Another suggestion is The Violet Hour, though if you don't have too much experience with the ingredients, you might take less away from your first visit there.

danimalarkey wrote:[

I'm a terrible person- I love my scotch colder and with ice to slowly add water. I'm a terrible whisky drinker, and I know it

Amazingly, I still remember when I was 21. That was when the drinking age was 18, so I'd been drinking legally for three years. My drinks of choice (other than beer or Boone's Farm) were Whiskey Sours, or Grasshoppers, or Harvey Wallbangers. So I'm guessing the sophisticated nuances of the cocktails at the Violet Hour might be lost on someone new to drinking legally.

nr706 wrote:Grasshoppers

Man, I made Grasshoppers recently for the first time in, well, maybe ever, and they are pretty tasty in a melted mint chocolate chip ice cream sort of way. A hit with the recipients (who weren't me).

Certainly not refined or nuanced.

Aaron Deacon wrote:

nr706 wrote:Grasshoppers

Man, I made Grasshoppers recently for the first time in, well, maybe ever, and they are pretty tasty in a melted mint chocolate chip ice cream sort of way. A hit with the recipients (who weren't me).

Certainly not refined or nuanced.

We made Grasshoppers at our fraternity parties sometimes. I'll leave it at that.

This is a real interesting post actually. If I could go back in time and not be at a crappy college bar on my 21st and really could enjoy that first drink in a place that I'd remember forever, what would it be?

-Do I go with a Hogaarten Grand Cru at Hopleaf?
-Perhaps a bartender's choice at Violet Hour?
-Cask Conditioned, hand pulled beer at Map Room?
-How about a Manhattan at NoMi or Signature?
-Guinness at a Fado or Gage?
-A Bergoff at the Bergoff (I still believe they have Chicago's first re-issued liquor license? - maybe).

Decisions decisions?? Whatever it is, savor it and put it in a place in your brain that won't be affected by your soon-to-be-had hangover. It's the first step on a long and wonderful journey my friend.

Maybe we could look at this as, "what would be the most memorable drink in this city and where?" Is it a classic "Chicago cocktail" in a Chicago landmark or is it a trendy place with a trendy drink, or one of the world's best drinks served at a memorable bar/environment? I resubmit...

jpschust wrote:Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch.

As a non-Scotch drinker--but one, I like to think, with an open mind--I can't help wonder: why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

Scotch, though it's probably my preference more time than not, is a little intense for a young drinker, don't you think? I have no idea, of course, how much experience this person has, but I'd think a beer or wine would probably be more suitable and palatable. Hopleaf would probably be a good venue for trying out some less common brews, or Quencher's, Map Room, etc. Beer is especially appropriate, I think, if this is a pre-dinner drink (Scotch on a relatively empty stomach can be harsh for the young ones).

Gypsy Boy wrote:why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

It's manly.

Aaron Deacon wrote:

Gypsy Boy wrote:why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

It's manly.

I agree, and while drinking Scotch, I like to smash beer cans against my forehead.

David Hammond wrote:I agree, and while drinking Scotch, I like to smash beer cans against my forehead.

Funny. When I drink scotch, I like to break beer bottles against your forehead.

Gypsy Boy wrote:

jpschust wrote:Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch.

As a non-Scotch drinker--but one, I like to think, with an open mind--I can't help wonder: why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

There are certain things every guy should know how to do by virtue of being a guy. Tying a tie, both regular and bowtie for a tuxedo, know at least how to clip and properly light a cigar, how to cook a good steak, and finally how to drink and appreciate good scotch.

eatchicago wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I agree, and while drinking Scotch, I like to smash beer cans against my forehead.

Funny. When I drink scotch, I like to break beer bottles against your forehead.

But, to address the OP's question, you really can't go wrong with the Signature Lounge to toast an event. As for what to order, my instincts say a martini or some kind of scotch or bourbon, according to your tastes.

eatchicago wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I agree, and while drinking Scotch, I like to smash beer cans against my forehead.

Funny. When I drink scotch, I like to break beer bottles against your forehead.

Yes, I like that too. Another manly think I like to do is run naked with dogs. Is that so wrong?

Right, EC, we got lost in our masculine reverie. I'd stick with beer, though, but it depends a lot on how much experience with alcohol this young man has.

David Hammond wrote:Another manly think I like to do is run naked with dogs.

Thanks, Hammond. That image will supply me with nightmares for at least the next month.

mresolver wrote:I honestly have no idea as to what his drink preferences are

No clue at all, as in you don't know if he likes wine, beer, whiskey, or gin?

Or you want to go out for a beer, but don't know if he would prefer Bud, Heineken, Guinness, or Bell's?

I know that if I had my 21st birthday to do over again, it would not involve a series tiny plastic shot "glasses" filled with things like Jagermiester and Rupplemintz. Then again, I was in rural Iowa and it was the mid-90's, so some freshly-tapped Cantillon Iris really was not in the cards (not that I had any idea what Cantillon or gueuze or spontaneous fermentation was at that point in my life - a bottle of Heineken Special Dark was cutting edge at that place and time).

All that being said, your first drink when you are 21 is your first drink when you are 21. It is special simply because it is what it is. So, I would aim for a place that matches your personality and tastes. If that is the Signature Room with your bowtie and a fine scotch, more power to you. If it is sitting with your brother at the bar at Tuman's with High-Life longnecks that you subsequently smash against each other's head, beautiful. I know for me it would be sitting at the bar at the Maproom or Hopleaf on a Saturday afternoon savoring whatever obscure Belgian they had on tap.

At any rate happy 21st. I certainly hope where ever you land, someone else is picking up the tab.

yeah, happy birthday!
don't wait too long until you have one of these, let it warm up a bit!

Let me take this opportunity to tell you what NOT to drink on your 21st birthday or for that matter, any other occasion whatsoever:

GREEN CHARTREUSE

I was cajoled into trying this stuff on my 21st birthday ( 28 years ago ) I can only describe it as having a taste profile that combines the worst properties of lacquer thinner and Green River undiluted syrup. I was stupid enough to try it, but smart enough not to "flame" it--- My friend set fire to the lower half of his beard in the process.

If you won't take my word for it, check out this link for some other fool's experience.

http://www.zug.com/scrawl/bar-drink/

P.S. Happy Birthday!!

jmc wrote:don't wait too long until you have one of these, let it warm up a bit!

It's been a long time since I've had one of those, but I bought one yesterday, and it's waiting for me at home right now. Mmmmm.

cito wrote:Let me take this opportunity to tell you what NOT to drink on your 21st birthday or for that matter, any other occasion whatsoever:

GREEN CHARTREUSE

I know you're not alone, but I've gotta disagree on that.

Don't have a Cement Mixer.

cito wrote:Let me take this opportunity to tell you what NOT to drink on your 21st birthday or for that matter, any other occasion whatsoever:

GREEN CHARTREUSE

I love Chartreuse and in fact would have loved to have had this flaming Chartreuse and absinthe cocktail, Neptune's Wrath, at The Violet Hour for my 21st.



Recipe in my Trib article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 7361.story

More on absinthe on my blog:
http://www.movable-feast.com/2008/03/ab ... meric.html

jpschust wrote:

Gypsy Boy wrote:

jpschust wrote:Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch.

As a non-Scotch drinker--but one, I like to think, with an open mind--I can't help wonder: why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

There are certain things every guy should know how to do by virtue of being a guy. Tying a tie, both regular and bowtie for a tuxedo, know at least how to clip and properly light a cigar, how to cook a good steak, and finally how to drink and appreciate good scotch.

I have a penis but am only able to do one of those things. When does the castration squad arrive?

gleam wrote:

jpschust wrote:

Gypsy Boy wrote:

jpschust wrote:Order scotch. Every guy should learn to drink scotch.

As a non-Scotch drinker--but one, I like to think, with an open mind--I can't help wonder: why should every guy learn to drink scotch?

There are certain things every guy should know how to do by virtue of being a guy. Tying a tie, both regular and bowtie for a tuxedo, know at least how to clip and properly light a cigar, how to cook a good steak, and finally how to drink and appreciate good scotch.

I have a penis but am only able to do one of those things. When does the castration squad arrive?

I can do all those things and I'm a girl so when does...uh, never mind.

Being able to tie a bowtie? ... wow, if that's still essential for a 'guy' to know then perhaps shoeing a horse should also be included in the list. (wink)

Antonius