M'learned friend below rejects the Dry Martini; very well.

What are your favourite pre-prandial tipples?

Limiting the list to 5 is the difficulty:

1. The Vieux Carre.
2. The Negroni.
3. The Dry Martini.
4. The Classic Champagne Cocktail.
5. The Aviation.

Honourable mentions to the Vieux Carre's siblings, the Sazerac and the Old Fashioned.

As you can see, this is a most pleasing list. Which are your favourties?

Of course my house is full of limoncello and grappa.

I like to pronounce Grappa in a cockney way. :-( I'm Jack the Grappa :-( It entertains myself.

I had some other drink the other day which was home made can't remember the name. It was red and tasted like medicine.

I wonder sometimes if the Negroni isn't a touch overrated (controversial, I know),

For me, it's (in no order):

Caipirinha
Aviation
Champagne cocktail
Margarita (tarty, I know, but I like it)
Vieux Carre

And yes, all of my cocktails are from 40s american literature

Grappa, when good, is a fine beast. When bad, it's appalling.

When all beer is gone, the early house on the Quays does not yet open for 2 hours and the host Mario thinks he has hit on a plan to see us through the hellish interval.

Never really had the same allure after that.

http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/ohwell.gif

Lots of ice, squeezed wedge of lime. And most importantly, not f**king GOrdon's tonic

4 or 5 in a pint glass topped up with tonic.

Afternoon drink when feeling very rough.

But I will not forget it.

Otherwise id say a vodka , champagne n red bull kicks off an eve , as does brandy, chombourd n champagne

Especially if ones had a bit too much smack for lunch