When it comes to mixed drinks, especially two-ingredient cocktails, is there anything less revered than the screwdriver? If the classic drink is Dave Chappelle, then the screwdriver drink is Rodney Dangerfield. It’s not “respected” in the cocktail world, but I don’t know why.
Think about it for a moment. Why do we have such a negative image of drivers? This highball cocktail is simple, delicious, and doesn’t require any mixology skills. This should be on par with drinks like gin and tonics, jack and cola, seven and seven, and other two-ingredient drinks.
All you need to make a screwdriver is orange juice (preferably freshly squeezed) and vodka. If you think about it, why is the champagne-infused mimosa so popular but not the driver?
Is it because some people had bad experiences with this cocktail when they were younger because they didn’t have the taste or skill level to mix other cocktails? With a hangover that felt like an ice pick in the brain? , which may be enough to make you stop drinking this drink. But it’s not the orange juice’s fault.
It’s probably because of the negative stigma that vodka has always had to fight over the years. For many drinkers, vodka is considered a low-grade spirit. There are many delicate, flavorful premium vodkas on the market, but some drinkers have the impression that all vodkas are harsh, too spicy, and insanely cheap. Add orange juice to this image and you’ll see why this cocktail doesn’t get the praise it deserves.
confused history
As with all mixed drinks, there are many different stories about the creation of the screwdriver. The most common stories revolve around American military personnel in the 1940s. You couldn’t find bourbon or other popular spirits overseas. Vodka was popular. To make it tastier, I mixed it with orange juice. The history of the name is even more mysterious. Some believe the name comes from the fact that factory workers used screwdrivers to stir drinks instead of spoons. Whether true or not, this is an interesting theory.
The juice is worth the squeeze
Just for taste, orange juice is packed with nutrients like potassium, folate, and of course, vitamin C. For those who don’t know, vitamin C is important for maintaining bone and teeth health (among other things). It’s also an antioxidant and helps the immune system, so it’s great when flu season starts. The key is freshly squeezed orange juice. Not some nonsense concentrate or Sunny D. Real, fresh, flavorful orange juice is the starting point.
Vodka is also important
got it. Mix vodka and orange juice. It doesn’t have to be the highest quality, overly expensive, famous vodka. But it shouldn’t be that plastic-handled vodka on the bottom shelf that costs less than a McDonald’s budget meal and tastes like it belongs in a lawnmower motor. There’s a sweet spot. A mid-range vodka that is comfortable to drink on its own is key. Not too expensive, not too cheap.
Simple and elegant dry drink recipe
material:
1.5 ounces vodka
3.5 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
Preparation:
Add vodka and orange juice to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into a cocktail glass over ice and enjoy. Decorate the orange wheel.
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