Beginners Guide to Delicious Alcoholic Drinks

13 Delicious Alcoholic Drinks That Are Perfect for Beginners

What is the best alcohol for beginners? There is such a huge variety of all sorts of alcoholic drinks, but where to start from if you are a beginner? Hard liquor could easily put you off due to its punchy taste. Sugary cocktails could always be your plan B, but if you want to explore your senses and your taste buds, here’s an ultimate guide to the 13 best alcoholic drinks for beginners. They could all be easily found in the bar or your local store. 

1. Baileys Irish Cream

Baileys Irish Cream is a smooth velvety rendezvous between fine Irish whiskey, Irish cream, all-time favorite chocolate, and notes of vanilla. Baileys is great to taste by itself or with some ice. It could qualify as the best tasting alcoholic drink for beginners. This delicious drink is being made in Northern Ireland and Ireland and it was introduced in 1974 as a one-of-a-kind drink on the market. Don’t let the sweetness fool you, this creamy goodness has 17% vol.

2. Radler Beer

If you’re not a big beer lover but love the appeal of an ice-cold beverage on the beach, then Radler is a great beginner’s drink to consider. While there are many brands of beer that produce Radler beer, you can always mix it yourself- a 50:50 mixture of beer and a lemon-flavored soda like would satisfy your thirst. Radler is one of the best sweeter tasting low levels of alcohol drinks with only 2,5% vol. for longer-lasting enjoyment.

3. Pimm’s

Pimm's is an English gin-based fruit cup, also sometimes considered a liqueur. It was first produced in 1823 by James Pimm. It has a reddish dark color and a taste of spices and citrus. 

Pimm’s is usually served as a cocktail with lemonade, ginger ale, or sparkling white wine, and a bunch of vibrantly-colored fruits like apple, cucumber, orange, lemon, strawberry, and mint. It’s quite high on alcohol levels with its 25% but it’s one of these drinks you can sip slowly and enjoy. 

4. Port Wine

Considered to be the best-tasting wine for beginners, Port wine is a Portuguese distilled spirit produced in Northern Portugal. It’s a dry or semi-dry, but still very sweet, red wine with a few white varieties. Port wine is usually served as a dessert wine but it could easily get you in the mood with its 20% vol. 

5. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

First introduced in 1984, this drink is named after the 17th-century Welsh privateer of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum is perfect for beginners due to its sweet and desert-like flavor.

It can be enjoyed by itself or with mixers. The spices entangle you in warmth as they enchant your taste buds. With its 35% vol. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum can be enjoyed hot or cold.

6. Jägermeister

Jägermeister is a German digestif that is usually served before or after a meal. One mindblowing fact about it is that is made with 56 herbs and spices, which also classifies it as a herbal liqueur. 

This sweet alcoholic drink was developed in 1934 and the recipe has never changed! Some of the ingredients are fruits, roots, citrus peel, licorice, anise, poppy seeds, saffron, ginger, juniper berries, ginseng, sugar, and caramel. Enjoy the 35% vol. herbal strength.

7. Sambuca

Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavored, liqueur, and a great introduction to the broad amount of alcoholic flavors out there. If you’re looking for sweet alcoholic drinks for beginners to buy, this is a good place to start. 

The most common is White Sambuca, but there is also black sambuca and red sambuca. It contains star anise, sometimes, green anise, elderflower, and licorice. Sambuca is best consumed by itself, with ice or with water. Some even put it in their coffee! With its 42% vol. this is a great beginner's shot drink too.

8. Apple Cider

Made from fermented apple juice, cider is a tasty alcoholic drink that is predominantly consumed in the United Kingdom. It could be produced with most apple juices, but the best is the cider apples which are drier and more bitter. 

Cider alcohol content varies from 1.2% to 12% vol. Different ciders vary from sweet to dry, and from cloudy to crystal clear. Cider is ancient beverage evidence of which dates back to 55 BCE. There is a huge variety of ciders around the world, and there is also a non-alcoholic apple cider.

9. Schnapps

Some of the best alcohol for beginners, Schnapps comes in several forms, including distilled fruit brandies, herbal liqueurs, infusions, and flavored liqueurs. Flavored liqueurs are probably the most popular ones amongst beginners. 

They are made with syrups, spices, or artificial flavorings that go in neutral grain spirits resulting in a strong but very intriguing beverage. Schnapps tastes sweet and goes great with ice and carbonated water on the side. You can enjoy 42% vol. in flavors like peach, apple, cherry, and orange.

10. Amaretto

Amaretto is another of the nice sweet alcoholic drinks for beginners to buy. This sweet liqueur, with a mild bitterness, originated in Italy. This great beginner’s drink is made of apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach, or almonds. All of these ingredients are natural sources of the benzaldehyde colorless organic compound that provides an almond-like odor.

It contains 21% to 28% vol. and it’s great by itself, as part of a drink or even in your coffee. Amaretto is often added to desserts so don’t be surprised if the flavor seems familiar.

11. Sangria

Sangria is one of my favorite alcoholic drinks for beginners. It originated in Spain and Portugal, and it’s so refreshing, especially served ice cold like summer in a glass. Sangria is one of the most popular drinks in Spain, and a reason to pack your bags for a spontaneous holiday. 

Traces of the drink date from the 18th century. The recipe varies depending on the region. In the core of it, there’s always red wine. Add a bunch of fruits inside along with ice, and this is one way of having it. You can also add sparkling water and extra sugar according to your taste.

12. Mimosa

Made of sparkling white wine and orange juice, Mimosa is one of the best-tasting alcoholic drinks for beginners. The drink is named for the yellow flower of the mimosa plant.

You can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Served in a champagne glass, it has a refreshing taste that many would love. It’s very simple to make at home, and it’s also served in most places.

13. Tia Maria

With its roots in the 18th century, Tia Maria is one of the best-tasting alcohol drinks, especially for coffee lovers. It’s a dark coffee liqueur made originally in Jamaica but made in Italy. 

The unique flavor comes from using Jamaican coffee beans. In addition, there is also Jamaican rum, vanilla, and sugar. The alcoholic content is 20%. It’s great consumed with ice, mixed in a cocktail, or added to your coffee for an extra kick.

How to choose?

So what is the best tasting alcoholic drink for beginners? Whatever you decide to go for first, don’t forget that you have all the time in the world to try everything. 

Don’t be a quick drinker! You won’t be able to enjoy the taste in its finest way, also keep in mind you may get drunk quicker than your friends if you are a beginner. Take it slowly and discover what you like and what you don’t like. And don’t base your choices on peer pressure. Cheers!