This week and last, made the fantastic journey from Screwdriver (with club soda and dash of lemon). Back to Bay Breeze [until I again tire/bore with that (plus, fewer supermarkets now carry the tiny cans of pineapple juice)]. And who knows, mebbe give a Cuba Libre a shot in the lineup?

Gin? Vodka? All academic after putting the cork from a bottle of Rain Vodka under one's snout, [of course followed by a little whistle wetting (some Rain, Pellegrino, and rocks .... aaah 'Sparkling Rain')].

It'll be noon in ....

Vodka is simply a sissy drink... It's for people who don't like to taste anything other than the candy they mix it with.

Mostly true, but primarily for traditional other cocktails such as Martinis and such. Back before so many cities outlawed smoking in privately owned but open to the public, martini bars were also cigar bars. In fact we used to marvel how silly all the variants were - I'll have an absolut martini extra dry with a splash of tonic and a lime twist.

No, that's a vodka tonic. If it were not cigar part, we would be perfectly content going into any establishment and get a dry Tanqueray Martini rocks, three olives, thank you. (my goodness, even the olives have gone designer.)

As for naming anything served in a martini glass a "martini", I haven't tried it yet but one of these days I'm going to walk into a bar and order a beer martini -- which would be any beer served in a martini glass, right?

Vodka is simply a sissy drink, unless you're Eastern European. It's for people who don't like to taste anything other than the candy they mix it with. Vodka, taken in shots right out of the freezer so that it's almost syrupy, is another matter. Nothing goes better with caviar.

Gin is it. The original Bloody Mary and Screwdriver both called for gin. Gin & Tonic is excellent for the summer; Martinis are a bit of an overkill, though nice in cooler times.

Yes, for Limoncello; yes for Mojitos; yes for Tequila & Tonic.

If grapefruit is too bitter (not for me), then cut it with orange juice. Add grenadine or simple syrup (as noted above) if it's still too bitter. Or, make the bitterness the thing of it by cutting it with tonic. Bitters (not the English beer by that name) is an entire class of alcoholic drink that includes dry vermouths, Richard, Pastis, etc.

And for something surprisingly refreshing, add Ouzo or Pernod to lemonade over ice.

I prefer Wieckse to Hoegaarden for a Witte beer.

We got a bunch of those while we were in Aruba and I didn't care much for them. The spice just didn't agree with me. I prefer Celis White (made by the guy who invented Hoegaarden) to either of those.

Bell's Oberon (Wheat Beer) with an orange slice for a beer.

They're hard to find in bottles around here although I've had them at restaurants. Quite good.

I find grapefruit too bitter, so have never tried it mixed with gin. Is there an similar substitute?

Gin martinis are my go-to summer drink.

But if you want some juicy goodness, I suggest an Income Tax:

1/4oz Sweet Vermouth
1/4oz Dry Vermouth
1oz gin
Juice of 1/4 orange
dash of bitters

Combine ingredients into a shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with a thin slice of orange.

Bell's Oberon (Wheat Beer) with an orange slice for a beer.

Bell's is located in Kalamazoo MI and makes some very good brews, that I prefer over most national brands.
-Porter
-HopSlam
-Two Hearted (IPA)

Instead of gin, use vodka (it's called a greyhound), it dilutes the bitterness of grapefruit juice without adding the distinct, and in the case of grapefruit, distracting flavor of gin. Save the gin for one of the most refreshing summertime beverages, the traditional gin and tonic.

Then there are the plethora of "boat drinks" ranging from the sublime Meyers and OJ to the exotic PainKillers (Rum, Pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice and nutmeg).

I find grapefruit too bitter, so have never tried it mixed with gin. Is there an similar substitute?

How about good ol' tonic water?