Hot Takes on Drinking Culture That Nobody Asked For

These are opinions. Some of them are correct. Some of them are controversial. All of them are sincere.

Hard seltzers peaked in 2020 and we need to admit it

They served a purpose. They introduced a generation to flavored alcohol that was not neon-colored and sugar-loaded. But the market is now saturated with 400 brands that all taste the same, and the novelty has worn off. If your drink's best quality is that it has no flavor, maybe it is time to try something with flavor.

Shots are never the right answer

At no point in an evening does anyone need to consume 1.5 ounces of liquor in one swallow. Shots exist to bypass the experience of drinking and go straight to the effect. This is the fast food of alcohol — quick, regrettable, and you always wish you had chosen differently.

The best cocktail bars have no TVs

A bar with a TV is a sports bar. A bar without a TV is a cocktail bar. These are different experiences and they serve different purposes. If you want to watch the game, go to a sports bar. If you want to have a drink and a conversation, the TV is a distraction that prevents both.

Cocktails made with real ingredients are worth the premium

This is not an opinion. This is physics. Organic honey tastes different from corn syrup. Fresh lemon juice tastes different from citric acid. Real botanical gin tastes different from flavored vodka. The difference in a cocktail is not subtle. It is the difference between eating at a restaurant and eating a microwave dinner. Both are food. One is an experience.

The best drink at any party is the one the host is excited about

Enthusiasm is contagious. If the host opens a bottle and says "you have to try this" with genuine excitement, that drink will taste better than a technically superior drink served without comment. The story behind the pour is part of the flavor.

You should tip your bartender even when the drink is bad

They are making drinks for 200 people at once. Your bad old fashioned is not a personal failing. It is a volume problem. Tip anyway and go to a less crowded bar next time.

Instagram has made people worse at enjoying drinks

If you spend more time photographing your cocktail than tasting it, you are doing content creation, not drinking. The first sip of a well-made drink — while it is cold, before the ice has diluted it — is the best sip. If you miss it because you were adjusting the angle, you missed the point.

The right drink at the wrong time is the wrong drink

A Negroni at noon in July is wrong. A frozen margarita at a December dinner party is wrong. A shot of tequila at a business lunch is very wrong. Context matters. The drink should match the moment.

Everyone should host at least once a year

Hosting is a form of generosity. It says "I want you in my space, eating my food, drinking my drinks." It is vulnerable and it is kind. You do not need a nice apartment or a full bar. You need willingness. That is the whole requirement.