Guys can drink cocktails too

No, Jäger bombs don’t count


There’s an unspoken stigma around men ordering so-called girly drinks.

Apparently, if you’re a bloke you can’t sit in a cocktail bar with a glass of strawberry Prosecco or one of Bar Aroma’s Porn Star Martinis. Either it’s the name, the fact that they come in dainty glasses or that, God-forbid, they’re pink.

Yes they might be pricier than a JD and Coke but they last longer, usually have more alcohol and quite frankly, are delicious and classy.

So what happens when you’ve dressed to impress, out with a lady and get to the bar? She orders a Cosmopolitan with no hesitation but what about you? You want to seem smart, sophisticated and better than this prick Will she keeps dropping in and out of the conversation.

You’re better than Will. You look better, you sound better… and then you get a Budweiser. Total Will drink. You need something a bit more.

The menu is full of words you don’t know and strange exotic colours seemingly straight from the tears of unicorns. It’s scary. If a mate sees you with something even remotely bright, it’s social suicide. Do I bow to social pressure and get a pint? The barman appears, asks what you want. Time to choose.

There really is something for everyone, it doesn’t have to be sugary and pink. There are short, sour ones and long, simple, alcoholic ones like a Long Island Ice Tea and they’re all OK to order when you go out for a few on Cowley Road or in the cosy setting of happy hour at Joe Perks.

not just for girls

The stigma around cocktails among us boys is both understandable and unfortunate.

Chances are, all you had before Brookes were beers at the local and apple Sourz shots the club, because that’s what everybody else did. Some blokes try to dive into this new world with open arms, and find it is both expensive and damn near impossible to enjoy. They give up and go back to the Strongbow of their forbearers. It’s safe. It gets you drunk. It’s cheaper.

But a cocktail can be so much more than a drink. It’s the multi tool of the liquid world. Need a conversation starter? Order something with a weird name, like a Fuzzy Navel.

Need a flirting strategy? Get her a Screaming Orgasm.

Trying to impress on a date? Follow the footsteps of 007. The alcohol content means you can get drunk, while the price and typical size means you don’t end up off your tits (usually).

Cocktails are great things, so do yourself a favour next time you see a happy hour sign and go in. You won’t regret it.