You learned any number of important lessons from your brief contact with alcohol, despite being from an alcohol challenged state.
You should probably have some words over your friends who duped you into believing that a long island ice tea is "light". There is no ice tea in there. Rather an assortment of up to 5 liquors simulate the taste of ice tea to to rather wicked effect. But I guess you know that by now!
Most important is "don't mix drinks" ... as in when out for a night drinking, pick one base liquor and stick with it. The other biggie is "don't break the seal." Hold off on peeing as long as possible, because once you start, you won't stop. You'll be hitting the head more often than a gaggle o' women who have gossip to attend to.
I go back and forth on my favorite mixed drinks. Old standbys are Coke 'n sumthin ... sumthing being variously Southern Comfort, Rum (esp. Dark Rum) or my dear friend, Jack-in-the-Black. Out of a sense of nostalgia I may have a Seven and Seven.
I also occasionally go for one of the "girly" mixed drinks, such as a Fuzzy Navel. You forget you're drinking with those things. They don't really sneak up on you and hit you on the head, though. AND you get to justify you actions by claiming that you are getting lotsa vitamin C from the OJ (the other component is DeKuypers Peachtree Schnapps, although technically you can use any peach brandy).
Tequila Sunrises (grenadine, orange juice and tequila) are another very attractive mixed drink, also with the "Orange Juice is good for you" excuse attached.
A sentimental favorite is the Buttery Nipple (and it's cousin, the Slippery Nipple) Both of these are shots ... when poured correctly you can see the individual layers of each type of alcohol, so it looks cool too.
The Buttery Nipple is Bailey's Irish Cream topped off with a dollop of Butterscotch Schnapps (preferably DeKuypers)
The Slippery Nipple is Bailey's, Kahluha, and Sambuca which is licorice flavored. Since it's a shot you don't really get the full taste immediately, but enough rolls around on your tastebuds for you get the idea.
Large parties become more fun with the appearance of Blowjobs (shots. simmer down), which is merely a shot of kahluha with lots of whipped cream on top. They are to be consumed without using hands to get the beverage in your mouth ... so you have to lean over, take the shotglass in your mouth and stand up and throw your head back to drink one. GREAT photo opportunity.
All this being said, a lot of the time when I drink, I DON'T mix ... I drink for flavor not for effect. (compare with Griff who drinks for effect with flavor being a side-bonus). My favorite yummy thing is a fine Single Malt Scotch in a snifter for the enjoyment of the experience. Glenmorangie is my favorite, and while not cheap, doesn't break the bank. I also enjoy a brandy as an after dinner treat.
I have never developed a taste for the see-through types of alcohol (vodka, gin, or grain), although have tried all three. I once had quite the enjoyable evening consuming lemon drops but that was about the only time I've voluntarily consumed vodka. Grain was a college staple, particularly in the purple jesus punch, which at my school was made with grape coolaid drink powder, no water, all grain.
I've had moonshine a time or two as well, but find homemade cornlikker to be too harsh.
I'm a lady after all.
