Let's add a whole lot more spice into your nightlife. The evening is not complete without a rundown of our favorite "drinks" of the evening. We got a whole lot to offer. We've got our beers, cocktails, mocktails, punches and a whole lot more. Let's get down with the cheapest drink we have on the menu: Beers.

Some would say we should be proud of our Filipino beer because it has a different unique taste. Yes, it does have a distinguishing taste from other beers. For those who like beer but not with the added calories it usually comes with, we have what is known as "light beer" and, I quote, from the San Miguel commercial, "Same taste, but less filling."

Let's now go to the cocktails or mixed drinks. Here, the excitement never stops. The names of the drinks are unique and interesting such as Sex on the Beach, Weng-Weng, Blowjob, Slammer, Bloody Mary and a variety of other names. If you're interested, however, in getting the spice without the added buzz, we have the mocktails (from the words mock cocktails). These are non-alcoholic drinks that are like cocktails because they are mixed. These, however, won't get you tipsy. Some known mocktails are piña colada and Shirley Temple.

Another type of drink is the punch. The oldest and simplest form of punch is a mix of rum, water and lemon/orange juice. Nowadays, there are added mixes in the bowl. The punch today doesn't necessarily mean its alcoholic.

We also have the usual drinks that people drink. One common favorite drink that people that usually order is the iced tea. You can also find the popular sodas such as Coke or Pepsi. Coffee is also another favorite evening drink.

My education with alcoholic drinks

The very first time I had a taste of alcohol was when I was two or three. Being a curious little kid, I wanted to find out what my dad was drinking. So without being fully aware, I got to drink my first beer, which my dad said I enjoyed. (I wouldn't be saying that now.)

My second time came in high school. I thought my cousin's drink was some kind of strawberry drink, only to find out after taking a big gulp that it was spiked.

Drinking alcohol is basically an acquired taste. At first you won't really like it, but after a few tries, you'll grow to like it (it still depends on the person though). My first ever drink was a mixed vodka. I enjoyed it immensely. It felt spicy at first then it cools down after swallowing. Since then, I got to experiment with other drinks such as beer, tequila, gin, wine, champagne, etc. All had their unique taste.

Most of the bars, bar-and-restaurants, and dance clubs serve alcoholic drinks. The distinction might be that a bar alone will have more variety of drinks. A bar-and-restaurant might have fewer drinks in their menu compared to a bar, but more compared to a dance club where they usually serve beer and sometimes a few cocktails.

The most common drink that you'll see in all three places is beer, mainly because it's cheap. One of my favorite drinks would be the Long Island Iced tea. It is a combination of almost all the base liquors of rum, gin, tequila and so on. I think the principle of making a good cocktail is "the more the merrier". The more things you get to mix, the more interesting the drink gets.

One interesting drink that I just recently tasted was the slammer. It has an interesting "ceremony" before drinking it. The waiter brought the drink in a glass. He covers with a napkin, and then he "slams" it on the floor (he actually just taps it twice or thrice on the table so it will get bubbly). Then you have to drink it straight up. One thing's for sure, I really did felt that my body got slammed because it was really a potent drink. I don't know for some, but my body did not take it well and I was already tipsy before the night was out.

Tequila also requires a bit of a "ceremony" before drinking it. It is served with salt and a lemon or lime slice, which is commonly known as the chaser. First, you put a bit of salt in your hand or if you're getting a bit frisky, at other parts of your partner's body such as the neck. You lick the salt then drink the tequila (usually served in small doses). Then finish it off with a chaser.

There are many more drinks that have more zest in the "ceremony". There is a drink that involves a fire of some sort but I wouldn't know anything about that. These drinks I have just mentioned are pretty common to these nighttime places. There are also some places that have their own specialty drink such as Café Havana in Greenbelt 3. Their drink is called a Mojito. I got to research on it and I found that it is "a simple blend of sugar, mint leaves, lime juice, rum, ice, and soda water (strictly in that order), a Mojito is a tall glass sparkling with bubbles and greenery, garnished with a sprig of mint on top." I never got to drink this but it sure sounds interesting.

There are so many drinks in the world that you just have to explore. Just remember to drink moderately and never drink and drive. I’m not really a connoisseur of drinks but I just wanted to share a bit of my experience with them. I hope you also have learned some tidbits from me.

Did you know?

• Beer is said to have been here since 10,000 BC. Ancient Mesopotamians and Summerians were the earliest brewers.

• Gin was invented by Dr. Sylvius (Franz de la Boë) in 1650 and was originally intended to cure kidney disorders.

• Vodka came from the Slavic word meaning "water."

• Whisky comes from the word Uisce Beatha which means "water of life" in Gaelic.

• Punch stemmed from the Hindi word panch meaning "five," which referred to the original number of ingredients.

Mix your own cocktails

Ever wonder what the ingredients of some of those unique and delicious cocktails are? Here are some that might interest you.

Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:
3/4 oz. each: Rum, Gin, Vodka, Tequila, & Triple Sec, Sour Mix, Splash of Cola

Shake liquors with Sour mix. Pour in hurricane or large glass. Add splash of cola. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Piña Colada

Ingredients:
3 oz. Pineapple juice, 2 oz. Cream of coconut

Blend with ice until smooth. Serve in a hurricane glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, whipped cream & a cherry.

Sex On The Beach

Ingredients:
1 oz. Vodka, 3/4 oz. each: Chambord & Peach Schnapps, Splashes of Pineapple, Orange and Cranberry juices.

Shake with ice & serve in a Collins or decorative glass.

Dancin' the Night Away

Metamorphosis

Alternative Night Life

Bar-hopping 101

Singin' the Night Away

A Family Affair

Definitely Not For Kids

Cafes For You