6 Unlikely Cocktail Combos
This week our editorial team sat down to conduct research for a cocktail showdown: Unlikely alcohol and carbonated beverage combos. Gathering inspiration from time spent abroad, our starving artists' budgets, and our imaginations, we came up with the list of competitors.
In a world where craft mixology is taking over, ingredients are often over-thought, and the drinker is becoming alienated from the drink, these cocktails go back to basics. One part alcohol, one part carbonation, six times over. This worldly, yet unrefined, taste-off might also stir up some unexpected feelings: Nostalgia for your 40-ounce drinking days, warm memories of dinners in Spain, or even Red Bull-induced pangs of nausea. Take it all in.
Fanta & 40
A.k.a the "ghetto-mosa" or the Brass Monkey. This drink was decidedly an "acquired taste," but by the end of the competition, the taste had been acquired by most.
Calimocho
Stemming from the Basque "Kalimotxo," this drink is equal parts red wine and Coca-Cola. The sweetness of the soda works surprisingly well with the fruitiness of the wine, making it a fast favorite.
Tequila Poppers
This shot is a two-man job inspired by a fuzzy Spring Break in Acapulco. Pour equal parts tequila and 7-Up in a shot glass, then cover it with a napkin and your palm, bang it against a hard surface, and shoot. The second person then covers the shot-taker's mouth with a napkin and shakes their head vigorously. It may look violent, but that's half the fun!
Chambulls
Pronounced "shambles," as in: How your night will end if you stick to this caffeine-spiked Champagne. We found this one in the international club scene, where we unanimously decided it should stay.
Breakfast Beer
When done right, with Guinness poured from tap and freshly pulled espresso with crema, this a.m. nod to p.m. is delicious. That said, the DIY version (canned beer and not-quite-fresh espresso) lost a little in translation.
Boilermaker
Familiar with the term "a shot and a beer"? When you combine the two you have a cocktail called the Boilermaker, a shot of whiskey dropped into a glass of beer — definitely a crowd pleaser.