Diet coke would be an odd choice with a legit bourbon. I'm a woman and I almost always order an Old Fashioned or a bourbon (usually Bulleit if I'm out) with one ice cube. I just don't think anyone really cares about the amount of liquid you have in your glass unless you're sloppy drunk or belligerent.

At home I will make myself a bourbon and diet ginger ale. We usually have Bullet at home. When I'm out I will order a Manhattan or Old fashioned, typically with Makers or Knob Creek.

I drink good bourbon and make a mean Manhattan. When out somewhere that doesn’t specialize in cocktails, I ask for a Jack and Coke or a Makers and coke. Sometimes just a makers with a single ice cube, but that isn’t a great night strategy.

Diet Coke is gross.

I’m not a bourbon snob, but one of my basic cocktails of choice is whiskey soda. Just whiskey and plain soda water on ice. A little less harsh than straight but not as overly sweet as adding coke or ginger ale.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose some people like a bourbon and Coke. Some like bourbon with ice. Or bourbon and branch. To each her own. But I take it straight as do most bourbon drinkers I know. Good to have options available if you are hosting. Have fun!

You walk around a party or pub with 1oz or 2oz of neat bourbon...in a rocks glass? That seems like such an insignificant amount of liquid to walk around the room with, if that makes sense.

Yeah you walk around with a whiskey glass abut 1/4 full. It’s strong and you sip slowly. No one cares.

I drink bourbon and ginger beer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d order Jack or crown royal and Diet Coke

Is Jack & Coke still a thing? I know it was a popular drink in the 90s. Same for Captain & Coke. But tastes have evolved in 30 years, I assume.

There are no rules that certain drinks are proper for certain decades.

I drink Old Fashion when chilling but crown and coke when I’m playing black jack or at the races.

Diet coke is a waste of a decent bourbon. I'm no bourbon snob - I drink it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into something like an old fashioned or Manhattan. Any of the labels you mentioned are fine for that. But coke or diet coke will ruin it - get something cheap for that, you won't notice the difference.

DH is the big bourbon drinker in our house but I will occasionally have some with ginger ale. I also like various bourbon cocktails. But once you get last a certain price point, I think people prefer to drink it straight. According to the bourbon trading groups on FB, it seems like Blantons is the tipping point.

I add s tiny splash of very cold water to release the flavors. That is all.

But each to their own!

Anonymous wrote:Rail or Jim Beam with diet coke.

+1 Ginger ale is my bourbon mixer, but yeah, I have Beam for that, and Bulleit or Makers or Woodford for drinking neat or on the rocks.

I hate the taste of diet coke and would never drink it. Here is the think diet coke gets you buzzed/drunk faster. Sugar in regular Coke makes your stomach empty more slowly( vs Diet Coke) into the small intestine, slowing down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose some people like a bourbon and Coke. Some like bourbon with ice. Or bourbon and branch. To each her own. But I take it straight as do most bourbon drinkers I know. Good to have options available if you are hosting. Have fun!

You walk around a party or pub with 1oz or 2oz of neat bourbon...in a rocks glass? That seems like such a insignificant amount of liquid to walk around the room with, if that makes sense.

I hear what you’re saying but yes, that’s what I do.

Just kind of looks like you're holding an empty rocks glass if you really only have a shot or two in there. And you have to take baby sips of it. Unless you start with "three or four fingers" worth, which is a lot of booze, seems sort of awkward is all.

I recently had a delicious and new bourbon called Blood Oath, that was phenomenal. However, for my own Old fashioneds or Manhattans, I’m happy with Evan Williams!

For me, it’s always an Old Fashioned, which, in a way, is building a soda mixer with bitters and a little bit of water, sometimes even seltzer, and syrup and orange.

But I’m not a bourbon snob. Whatever they got is fine.