Alex Becker
When I was a freshman in college, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I truly hated the taste of alcohol. Of course, as you grow older the taste becomes less of an issue since all you really care about is pushing your inner demons deep down inside your soul. However, as a freshman, it’s hard to get drunk if you can’t get the liquor down in the first place. That’s why I spent my entire first year of college experimenting with obscure alcohol combinations. I tried everything from a screwdriver to Jägermeister mixed with strawberry milk. Some things were disgusting and many were putrid, yet throughout the process I discovered some hidden gems which I carried with me throughout my college career. Here are the four best drink combinations for freshmen.
Irish Coffee
This is an absolute classic. Perfect for early morning gamedays, a pre-going out pick me up, or even just to catch a little buzz before class. For those of you who don’t know, Irish coffee is just coffee with alcohol in it. Traditionally, Irish coffee uses Irish whiskey. However, feel free to use whatever you want. Baileys, Rumchata, peppermint schnapps, even vodka will work if you really want it to. The great thing about Irish coffee is that the coffee flavor is typically strong enough to dilute the taste of alcohol. Plus, the caffeine from the coffee gives you an extra boost of energy to balance out the drunkenness which the alcohol will surely cause. If you don’t like coffee, you can also use hot chocolate or chocolate milk. Hell, even a Yoohoo! would work.
Malibu and Pineapple Juice
Just like Irish coffee, I can’t take any credit for making this one up. Malibu is a coconut flavored rum. Personally, I think it’s the best freshmen liquor since it pretty much tastes just like a piña colada. However, if you add a splash of pineapple juice, it brings the piña flavor out even more. Malibu-pineapples are great for beach themed darties as they truly give off those vacation vibes. That said, they’re delicious enough to be drank in any situation. You can even order one at a bar, just make sure your fake ID is really good because Malibu-pineapples almost always lead to getting carded.
Fireball and Apple Cider
If you like the taste of fall, you are gonna love these. Fireball on its own is the epitome of freshmen year. However, just mixing it with a bit of apple cider makes it both taste better and more classy. While Fireball classifies itself as a “cinnamon whiskey,” it’s definitely more cinnamon than whiskey. If you’ve never had it, imagine doing the cinnamon challenge while a sparkler goes off in the pit of your stomach. That’s Fireball. Despite that horrific sounding — albeit accurate — description, apple cider makes FIreball not only more manageable, but actually tasty. When added to Fireball, the apple cider flavor takes over. Yet, the extreme cinnamoniness (I think that’s a word) complements the apple cider to create a cinnamon apple flavor. Basically, it’s adult apple juice. Who doesn’t like apple juice?
Adult Slushy
After all of my experimentation, this is my holy grail of alcohol combos. The thing is, it wasn’t even that difficult to create. All you need to do is run over to your nearest 711 and grab a slushy of your choice (red and blue mixed or you’re psychotic). Then just dump in whatever alcohol you want. Personally, I think something with some flavor works best, so Malibu or flavored vodka (freshmen classic). However, tequila or unflavored vodka work too. This is a crazy customizable drink, so get creative and use whatever you like. You could even make a jack and coke slushy if you wanted. Seriously, the options are endless.
