You Are What You Drink

On a standard evening at The Central, my friend, out on the town with the men’s rugby team and engrossed in conversation with me at the bar counter, waved down the bartender for a top-up of his drink — a cocktail of gin, crème de violette, prosecco, and seltzer, embellished with a floral garnish. Curious, asking him what he ordered, I was introduced to the Violet Spritz. On the way back to my table, I noticed that the overflowing rugby table was covered in a sea of these lilac drinks. This avant-garde cocktail had seemingly — and quite subversively — become a men’s rugby institution. Taken aback, this moment forced me to ponder: why did something as banal as a bar order surprise me? What does someone’s choice of drink represent, or, to go further, say about them? Naturally, I sought out further research — this time in Aikman’s. Wandering down to the Cellar, I found Tom, one of their bartenders, and interviewed him.

There is a theory that pets tend to match their owners, either in looks or personality, their animal companions becoming almost an extension or manifestation of themselves. Tom confirmed that drinks work in much the same way. “There is definitely a certain type of person that orders a mixed drink [at Aikman’s]. Usually, they are younger and on a night out, looking for something to get them drunk fast […] a Vodka Red Bull is a good sign someone has plans for The Vic or 601.”  While it’s difficult to assume what type of mixed drink a customer might order, admitted Tom, it’s not hard to guess who is out for a pint versus a cocktail.

Tom asked me for my go-to mixed drink — a gin and tonic — and was surprised. “[A] gin and tonic is definitely a more British drink,” he told me, “You don’t tend to see many Americans going for that one.” Gin and Tonics also seem to favour an older audience: “If someone over 50 comes in to order a mixed drink, more often than not it’s a gin and tonic.” Regarding Americans, the seasonal wave of summer golfers hold true to their stereotypes; during the summertime, Coors becomes a hot commodity as the overwhelming favourite of Americans coming off their rounds of golf — perhaps it is a taste of home for them. Though caddies, Tom said, invariably prefer Guinness.

There also appears to be some gender science behind drinking habits. The classic vodka lemonade is the choice mixed drink for many of Aikman’s female customers, while rum and cokes typically draw a more male audience. Additionally, men are more likely to buy pints.

Aikman’s sees its fair share of political society events, and I was surprised to learn that pint preferences also follow party lines. Tom told me that St Andrews Labour Society frequents the lager taps, while Conservative and Unionist Association members vote overwhelmingly for ales: “I guess, being conservatives, they like to be traditional.”

Like friends, music, or favourite books, people see themselves in their drink. A person’s bar order is a reflection, in some respects, of their identity. Whether consciously or subconsciously, what you choose to fill your glass with says something about your values, personality, or nationality — a ‘liquid signature’. They also serve as a sort of social signal, indicating your energy, vibe, and plans for the evening. At the end of my interview, Tom concluded, “Like with anything, it’s all kind of performative.”

While writing this article, I went back to my friend and asked the question, “So why the Violet Spritz?” expecting, if not a profound response, at least an intriguing one. “To be honest, it was economical […] better cost to ABV value than a pint.” 

Image from Wikimedia Commons