I like trying to have something without too many calories, so I don't have margaritas too ofter. I like drinks with fresh squeezed citrus, so a Cosmo, lemon drop, Deep Eddy Ruby Red/splash of club soda, etc. I enjoy going somewhere the bartender takes the time and makes a really good appealing drink!

I live in the south - a good bourbon with a splash of water on the rocks.

..or a good Bloody Mary

..or a good Margarita

..or a glass of champagne

...just learning to like martinis made with Titos vodka

What is your go to before dinner cocktail?

Bombay Sapphire Collins. I always ask the bartender if he/she knows how to mix one before ordering.

At an authentic Mexican Cantina, a pitcher of classic lime margarita, no ice in pitcher, just in the glass.

If it's at 101BK, an IPA.

In the summer, a good, strong Tanqueray and tonic with lime.

What Cattyles wrote, or perhaps a dirty martini. I do not care for sweet cocktails.

My favorite is a Kir Royale (a touch of Chambord with champagne, glass rimmed with a twist (not a slice) of lemon).

A gin & tonic or Kir Royale used to be my standards when a cocktail was required -- sometimes a Cape Cod (vodka and cranberry juice). I have been more of a wine drinker -- beer with pizza or spicy Asian and beer or a margarita with Mexican food.

Now that our oldest has become a bartender, we tend to sample a lot of other and often unique drinks. He even makes some of his own liqueurs and infusions. He made something with earl grey tea that I'm hping to get to try this summer, but in general, I tend to like lighter drinks with soda or tonic and a possibly a splash of juice.

I had a modern gin & tonic at a restaurant here -- I think it is one of their specialty drinks -- adds grapefruit and mint. We've made that at home and I really like it. I plan to try a French 75 soon -- champagne with gin and lemon juice. And a Sea Breeze (adds grapefruit juice to the Cape Cod). A Bay Breeze adds pineapple juice to the Cape Cod and if you add orange juice it becomes a Madras.

Daiquiri...not one of the strawberry frozen things but the light rum and lime juice. Yum. Sometimes I have a scarlett o'hara...lime, cranberry juice and so. comfort.

I love Sidecars when I want a cocktail in a restaurant, but I often order a glass of Proseco. Mojitos are our summer drink at the waterfront cabin, but they are kind of the drink-them-all-day drinks and I've never had one in a restaurant that compares to the ones I make.

Champagne or a margarita made with muddled fresh citrus. There used to be a drink called an electric lemonade and I would drink those in the summer. I have no idea what was in it.

Blood orange margarita.

I usually get a lemon drop if I order a cocktail. Generally I prefer IPA's but if dinner is something that lends itself to something different, I'll stick with wine.

The place my son works at has a 'mystery' cocktail choice-it's whatever the bartender feels like mixing up with your spirit of choice. I prefer vodka, so I was pleasantly suprised recently with a ginger cocktail with a bit of lime simple syrup.

Cosmos or Margarita ... but for the most part I prefer wine.

Bellini, if made with fresh peaches.

Cosmo, but with Pom juice not Pom infused vodka

Sangria

Caipirinha if I can get it. More often than not I can't, as not every bar stocks cachaça. I quite like the Dark and Stormy at a local eatery, as they make their own ginger beer in house and it is awesome. I like Cosmos and lemon drops. Margaritas if I'm at a Mexican restaurant. You can tell I like sweet things...

Cawaps, I was just about to suggest a caipirinha. Yum

And I'm trying to remember a drink I had on New Year's eve. I don't remember all the ingredients, but it wasn't overly sweet, and it had basil in it.

I'm also a margarita girl, and usually don't go for anything but a traditional margarita on the rocks, but a local Mexican restaurant makes a great cucumber margarita.

We've been making st. Germain cocktails.

Equal parts St. Germain, Martini Bianco and gin with a dash of bitters. Shaken.

Water ... I watch my calories, so I would rather use them on a good brownie and not on an alcoholic beverage!

Gin and tonic with lime. Am not fussy about it!

I love gin but I have a pine allergy and recently I realized that I have a reaction to gin. I would love to be able to try some of the interesting drinks that I see in menus but would hate to spend $8.99 for something that I didn't like.

I usually don't order anything special - usually a vodka tonic with a little cranberry juice or a margarita. Unfortunately, lots of places serve terrible margaritas so I guess they are as much of a crap shoot as the menu drinks. Thankfully margaritas are pretty cheap.

Scotch & Water (preferrably Glenlivet)

Being up in NS I think we are slightly behind food and drink trends. That said artisanal bitters are big up here, and bourbon based cocktails.

DH had this one last night and it was awesome: Bourbon, Amaro, Cocchi Americano, whiskey barrel bitters. Not too sweet but the bitters really took the edge off the bourbon and was a very smooth drink.

I also really like the Teatotaller: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/recipes/cocktail-recipe-field-guides-teatotaller/article20770355/

On a really hot summer day, pastis and water but I guess that's less of an apertif and more "day drinking"

Margarita, made with Sauza Hornitos tequila, or Hendricks gin and tonic.

I love semi-sweet and fruity cocktails. Real sangria, mango margaritas on the rocks, raspberry lemon-drop martini, hurricanes, mojito, Kahlua and cream, peach bellini. My husband is really good at throwing together whatever we have in the house and making something tasty. It usually involves coconut rum, which I love.

ETA: We were served "Dirty Bananas" in Jamaica, and make them at home now. It's like a banana split in liquid form. So good! I got addicted, the resort bartenders would see us out and bring one over, knowing I couldn't resist. :D

This time of year, I like drinks that are clean and not too sweet. Club soda, vodka and a slice of lemon or orange is my go-to. I do like mojitos but like someone else mentioned, it's rare to get a great one out. I do like some of the artisanal or craft drinks that have become popular but they are often overdone for me. I also like margaritas (with salt) and moscow mules but I rarely have more than one before I switch to vodka and club soda.

Dirty Martini made with Tito's or Grey Goose-along with a side of olive juice. I like it extra dirty, but then I don't like paying for just all olive juice, so as I drink a little down, I add a little olive juice at a time to the vodka in the glass, which is way too strong. Does that make me a cheap drunk?? Probably! LOL!

No, really, I LOVE Dirty Martini's, but they are so strong, I wouldn't be able to walk out of the restaurant if I didn't do it that way. I only do this when I am out with the girls'.

Amaretto sour in the winter. Vodka tonic with lime in the summer. I discovered a french aperitif called Lillet.. which is my new favorite at home before dinner drink.

I am generally not a liquor drinker. I will have margaritas or else we just sip a good tequila from a shot glass.

These are really good and we've made them around the holidays. Can you tell we like Cabo Wabo tequila? Although, lately, the tequilas are not agreeing with me, so I have cut back.

Cinnamon Girl

2 oz Cabo Wabo or other premium tequila

1/2 oz. orange juice

1 oz. Rose's sweetened lime juice (get in mixer section of supermarket/liquor store)

1/2 oz. Cointreau liqueur

Cinnamon stick or ground sugar

Mix liquid ingredients in shaker over ice. Pour into martini glass. Garnish with ground cinnamon or cinnamon stick

Red Rocker

1.5 oz Cabo Wabo

1/2 oz amaretto

3 oz. cranberry juice

splash lime juice/Rose's sweetened lime juice

Mix ingredients in a shaker over ice and pour into martini glass

Titos vodka and grapefruit Lacroix. Sauvignon blanch with grapefruit Lacroix. I have Lacroix problem:)

I very rarely stray from Cabernet so don't have a favorite mixed drink. Occasionally I will have a Blue Moon beer with a big slice of Orange or maybe try whatever is in vogue around the holidays or when on vacation.

Cindy, no, but I think I need to! Mmm, that looks and sounds great.

I've never been much of a drinker but years ago when I would go out, a Watermelon Kamakazi was my go to drink.

terriks, was it cucumber basil gimlet by chance? DH had one recently. Probably not. I went looking for other ideas and found a bunch.

I'm a bourbon fan, especially Basil Hayden:

Manhattan

Old Fashioned

From trips to France, I've developed a liking for Kir Royale.

For brunch, champagne cocktail (a favorite place adds raspberries)

I love Caipirinha. A good friend who lived in BA for a while makes them ... She has a source that imports cachaca for her. That stuff can really knock you on your fanny.

I wonder if it is being in Texas -- Cachaca is available here, but I thought DS bought it in PA too. DS is a big fan.

In re cachaca ... it's my friend that makes a fuss over the fact that it needs to be imported... I've never tried to buy it, she may just find what's available here to not be as good?

Summertime: St. Germaine cocktail or an Aperol Spritz.

i think that strawberry margaritas made with fresh strawberries are probably my favorite tho, if out, i usually just order white wine...

love kahlua on the rocks as an after dinner drink.

Had a Caipirinha in Brazil and did not like it at all. I do like a Madras or my family's version of a Whiskey Sour. I like some of the hard ciders, too.

Just bourbon on the rocks is my fave, if I'm in a liquor mood, but I had a really delicious Blackberry Smash at Sushi Roku in Santa Monica awhile back & the name says it all ; J

Salty Dogs are my go-to - basically grapefruit juice & vodka on the rocks w/ a salted rim. I usually won't say no to Bloody Marys either.

Most of the time, I'd rather just have a IPA.

I hardly ever have a cocktail. If I am going to order an alcoholic beverage it's usually wine. The few times I've ordered cocktails it's either an apricot brandy sour or an over the top calorie wise frozen mudslide. Like drinking a milkshake with a kick.

I am a more of wine drinker. I love big bold Cabs and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc when in the mood for white. My cocktail of choice is a gin martini, preferably made with Bombay Sapphire. I hate vodka, it gives me a headache.

I usually drink Pinot Noir, but do enjoy an occasional vodka martini.

I had a margarita with mottled jalapenos and strawberry... then the typical lime juice etc. It was out of this world. Yes, I am from Texas.