What Spirits Should You Never Bring to a Party?

by Mike Pomranz, Posted Aug 24th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Jagermeister in the snow. Photo: janeyesee, Flickr

Our counterparts over at AOL U.K. recently ran an article entitled "Comedy Booze" lamenting the unfortunate habit some guests have of using parties to re-gift hard alcohol they found unfit to stomach back when they received it. From Greek ouzo to French pastis, it's a multi-culti takedown.

Of course, sometimes that famous Brit wit doesn't cross the pond. We know some folks who adore pastis, and others for whom a bottle of Jagermeister might be considered quite a smashing (or quite funny) addition to a party.

That said, we can certainly sympathize with the sentiment. After the jump, three things we think you should never bring to a party. Tell us what we missed!

3. Triple Sec - Don't bring this orange-flavored liqueur unless you are certain at least three friends are arriving with tequila. Everyone knows bottles of triple sec are dirt cheap and typically sold in giant volumes. Not classy.

2. Manischewitz - Dropping by a party with a bottle of this alarmingly sweet wine is not gonna be appreciated unless it's seder season. Manischewitz might be kosher: Bringing it to a party as a joke is not.

1. Anything "well" - Inevitably, some chuckle-head thinks his idea of bringing a plastic bottle of bottom-shelf hard alcohol can be passed off as hilarious. Patry attendees are already saving a small fortune by imbibing the mixed drinks others make: Now is not the time to skimp on quality. Going cheap at a fancy bar can be ironically thrifty: Bringing thrift to a party is just cheap.

What bottles of booze would you not dare bring to a social gathering?

Filed Under: Lists, Drink Recipes
Tags: alcohol, AOL UK, booze, british, british isles, comedy, hard alcohol, liqueurs, lists, Manischewitz, spirits, Triple sec, well

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-24-2009 @3:18PM Matt Mazz said... I was once at a party that ended with one of the last guests chugging from a bottle of creme de casis. That's my vote.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @3:20PM Matt Mazz said... Creme de casis. Was at a party once where all the decent drinks were gone and a guy was chugging CdC directly from the bottle. So gross.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @3:20PM fino35 said... Boone's Farm, we're not in High school any more.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @3:23PM Sarah said... Anything that tastes like college.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @5:39PM Stephanie said... Peach Schnapps. That kind of fits with Sarah's.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @5:52PM ghanima said... I had friends bring a bottle of Sour Puss to a small gathering once. I'm still reeling from how foul it tasted by mid-bottle.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-24-2009 @11:44PM needcaffeine said... 1st thought is everclear.
2nd would be anything flavored; people prefer to make their own mixes; nothing that's premixed.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-25-2009 @2:18AM samme said... 1) I have to agree with the processed corn-syrup-and-chemical-flavoring mixers being an absolute NO(Woo $3 a gallon!).

2)Some less-expensive bottles are actually decent, but you can't guess, you have to know what you are bringing and know it is good. A friend brought a plastic bottle of Yukon Jack to one of my gatherings, I was surprised to discover that I actually liked it. He said it was his favorite whisky, and it was a lot better than I expected from the packaging.

3)A note to the above - Everclear has a place. It can't be purchased here in WA so it is something of a novelty to us. It works really well for certain applications like soaking into oranges or adding a little punch in things that you don't want to add the liquor flavor to.

Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-25-2009 @8:01AM Ryan said... Jagermeister is always something that seems like a good idea to drink, when it's WAY past the time you should have stopped drinking.

I also second the Schnapps, unless your a mixologist that can really do something with it, rather than bringing it alone to be drunk straight like we did back in Jr. High.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-25-2009 @10:09AM Slashfood Editor said... Low-grade vodka. Since I'm not a vodka fan, if you show up with a tub of cheap vodka I will be very, very unhappy with you.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-25-2009 @12:14PM npupp said... No, Jagermeister is near essential at a party! Jagermeister , Vodka, + Generic Energy drink. Awesomeness :D

I'd opt for Malibu, Peach Schnapps and MD20/20.

Of course, the anally retentive geek party host wanting cocktail party uses excel and a secret mojo to email request for bottles to people. Comedy booze accepted in addition ^^
Reply