The casino is often associated with drinking and cocktails. Indeed, one of the most popular trends in casinos is offering a few free drinks, just to get the players nice and relaxed before a game. Of course, the drinking culture surrounding gambling has changed quite a bit in the past few years.
For a long time, casinos were tailored to appeal to men. During that time, the drinks would include whiskey, bourbon, and similar hard alcohol, that is usually associated with manliness. However, recently, the casino is tailored more towards women. Meaning cocktails are the dominant choice.
Drinking and the Casino
In the digital era of the 21st century, online casinos have largely taken over the gambling market. Most people nowadays are looking for convenience, as well as quality. Luckily, iGaming can provide both. Online casinos feature a wide variety of slots and table games, including blackjack and poker.
Most people, however, prefer to gamble on slots. For good reason too, as these games are simple and fun. Not to mention, you can play live casino game shows, slots, table games, and more by visiting certain online casinos. But, the trouble is, when playing from home or on the go, drinking a cocktail just doesn’t feel the same.
That is why a lot of gambling fans still prefer to gamble at the land-based casinos, where the best bartenders serve up some of the top drinks. This is also the reason a lot of newbies visit brick-and-mortar establishments.
What we’d like to talk about in this article, are what the best drinks to get at a casino are. Of course, “the best” is often a matter of taste and opinion. So, instead, we’d rather say “what are the most popular choices of drink.” Without further ado, let us attempt to answer the question.
The Martini
The Martini has had a stellar reputation in popular culture. Ever since Sean Connery first uttered the words “Dry martini, shaken, not stirred.” In his seminal portrayal of the super spy, James Bond, the drink has become a staple at bars and casinos.
Traditionally, the Martini is a concoction of gin and vermouth, often with an olive or a lemon twist serving as the garnish. It revels in its simplicity, and provides quite a kick for a gambler looking to have a quick drink. However, the high alcohol percentage is also why we’d recommend drinking this one in moderation.
Gin is not for everybody however. In fact, a lot of people quite hate it. If the taste of gin does not suit your palette, then you will be happy to know that a lot of casinos replace the gin with vodka. Indeed, nowadays, you can simply ask for one or the other.
So, if you are a fan of Bond, and have been interested in trying out a martini, we can confidently say that there is not a casino bartender in the world that doesn’t know how to prepare a good one. Just remember, “shaken, not stirred.”
The Margarita
At its core, a margarita is a simple drink, consisting of only three ingredients; tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Some have tried to sweeten the beverage with simply syrup. For those who have a sweet tooth, this is certainly a fine choice. However, note that it might clash with the salted rim of the glass that margaritas often come in.
Most gambling fans might be familiar with tequila only for its capacity as a “shot drink.” However, the spirit is an essential staple of any bartender’s liquor cabinet. Though many might not be aware, it is a surprisingly diverse spirit. It is, most likely, for that reason that the Margarita has been the most popular drink in the United States for the past couple of years.
Gin and Tonic
Where would casinos be without a G and T? A highball cocktails served in a tall glass, the gin and tonic is as simple as it gets. The ratio may vary, however, you will most often find it served part gin, and 3 parts tonic. Some casinos, may alter the ratio to a 1:1, but that is becoming exceedingly rarer.
As is the case with the margarita, some have tried to “spruce things up” so to speak, by adding simple syrup to the G and T. Others throw in a hint of acid, by adding lime or lemon juice. The drink is almost always garnished with a lemon twist as well.
However, at its core, the classic G and T needs no additions. It is a simple, easy-to-make, and delicious cocktails, and has remained a popular choice in casinos all over the world for that very reason. It is so simple, you could even make it at home, while playing your favorite games at online casinos.
What Not to Order
We list these three popular choices for drinks at the casino, with the caveat that, if you prefer anything at all, go for that instead. Whether you like cocktails, whiskey, or even just a beer, anything is fine, so long as you are enjoying yourself.
That being said, there are some cocktails that are best avoided when gambling. Alcohol can be great in moderation. However, once we come under the influence, our decision-making is not the best. Meaning, we can make terrible choices when placing wagers.
With that in mind, we would like to list a few cocktails that are best avoided when gambling, due to the high concentration of alcohol, and their quick-acting effects. So, unless you can really handle your liquor, these are the choices to avoid:
- Long Island Iced Tea: vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, and gin, all topped off with cola go into making a LIIT. The drink is fine, however, its high alcohol concentration makes it a horrible pick when gambling
- Zombie: a Tiki cocktail comprised of juices and various rums, the Zombie gives you a clue right from the start. Unlike the LIIT, the Zombie is sweet, making the high alcohol content all the more deceptive.
- Death in the Afternoon: Hemingway’s cocktail of choice involves mixing Absinthe with champagne. While it sounds like a great party drink, it is best avoided when gambling.
