Mixologist Alex Ott is a tricky effing trickster. When we were filming my “Too Many Patrons With LeMarvin” segment a few weeks ago, I mentioned to him that I’ll drink anything BUT gin. I told him it gives me headaches, makes me puke, and I just all-around loathe it. So, to call my bluff, he made me a gin drink without telling me.

AND I DRANK IT

AND I DIDN’T DIE

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky.

So he comes to our office a week ago with a few bottles of New Amsterdam gin for us to try, and I’m all, “nuh uh, I don’t drink that,” and he’s all, “oh yea, stupid? Well that was a gin drink I made you a couple weeks ago!!!! Sucker.” (Okay, he didn’t call me stupid or a sucker, but that’s totally how I felt.)

And now I present to you New Amsterdam’s “Soho” – I tasted it. It’s delicious. And I didn’t die. I guess I’d just been mentally psyching myself out since that time I drank too much gin and was convinced my life was over. Hmph.

SOHO

2 oz New Amsterdam gin
Spring of mint
Stem of lemongrass
1/4 ts ground ginger
1 oz agave nectar or simple syrup
1 oz lime juice
2 oz ginger ale

• Cut lemongrass into small pieces, and combine small palm full into bottom of cocktail shaker glass.
• Muddle with mint until flavor is released, add ginger and all other ingredients, then shake very hard
• Strain over ice in a highball glass until glass is 3/4 filled up.
• Fill up all the way with ginger ale!
• Garnish with lime wheel that has been spiked with lemongrass straw.

Cocktails aren’t for everybody, and the list of reasons for that is a mile long. Soda adds calories, juices don’t make you as drunk as you could be (now, that’s just a lie), and a lot of guys think cocktails are only for women, anyway. But some folks, like me, just enjoy the taste of pure, ungirlified drink every now and again. And for those of you who do, too, here are a few brand suggestions to try on your next trip to the bar.