Before starting, we need to remember something that many people forget: the counter of the bar it should be one of the most democratic places there is.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a single person who wants to drink a shot of vodka, a couple who meet for a date or even friends who always go to the same place together. I like to see the counter as a safe haven, almost like a second home, and there should always be space, not in the physical sense, for everyone.
This whole introduction was just to try and help with the title answer. And the answer is: maybe!
I don’t know if there is an order or rule for drinking! When I think about it, I remember college days (for those who don’t know, I have a degree in sports and one of the definitions of sport is that there must be defined rules for its practice). I think at the counter it’s worth whatever you want. Always with prudence and responsibility.
But which drinks to order before and after?
I practically always ask Dry Martini, I find it versatile and goes with everything. But do not need be like that. It is possible to leave the passage through the counter in a way that is harmonious on the palate.
What I recommend is: if you like citrus drinks, start with a Fitzgerald or some Sour and continue with the fuller and stronger ones, such as Dry, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Boulevardier.
Another point that favors this sequence that I suggested is the alcohol content of full-bodied drinks, which end up being larger. So, starting “at the end”, your night may be shorter if they are not taken more sparingly.
What do I prefer? I start with the Dry – as I said before – and finish with something prepared with whiskey, or even pure, to accompany the end of the night or day.
Again: a trip to the bar is not like a pairing dinner, with rules and details. It’s worth what you want. But the most important thing is to pay attention to the quality of the drinks, always drink water and, most fundamentally, not to overdo it. Enjoy the drinks, notice how they evolve in taste. The world will not end tomorrow and there are many bars and drinks to be explored.
*The opinions contained in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Exame.
