Guys’ Night Out: Tucking, Tailoring, and Tequila

A guys’ night out on the town is a great way to cut loose, catch up, and even engage in some friendly competition (darts, pool, or friendly wagering on sports is always a plus). It is a time to reminisce about old memories while, hopefully, creating new ones. And while your group is sure to get noticed by other patrons (and hopefully a female eye or two) you should want to stand out from your friends. Be the one whose presence says “I have an interesting story—or two—to tell.”

There are a few seemingly simple things that you should do to make sure that, even in a crowd of guys, all eyes will be drawn to you. The first is tuck in your shirt. It used to be that leaving your shirt untucked said “I’m cool and laid back, not like these other stiffs with their tucked shirts.” But then everyone started untucking their shirt. And now it just screams “I’m a lazy slob who does what everyone else does.” Stand apart from the lazy pack; tuck in your shirt. After all, it helps show off that six-pack you have worked so hard at the gym for (stayed tuned for an upcoming post on gym etiquette). 

As for that shirt, make sure that it is a “slim fit” or, at the least, tailored to your body. Don’t be that guy whose shirt is so big that it looks like he is smuggling a baby or wearing a fanny pack under the back of his shirt. It costs around $10 for your local tailor to take in the sides of your shirt and contour it to your body. You spent good money on your nice shirt, spend a few extra bucks to make it fit.

Unless at the beach, wear an unstructured blazer. Especially when paired with a pair of dark jeans, a man in a blazer lets the world know that he has a cultivated sense of refinement, even during a laid-back guys’ night. The right unlined blazer will feel like a second skin (and has extra pockets to hold the phone numbers of the new people that you will undoubtedly meet that night). And that jacket helps cover the few extra pounds you may gain by eating those extra wings.

Finally, let your friends order those light beers, Jack and Cokes, and vodka/ Red Bulls. Your choice of drink—manly, exotic, and refined—will lead to one of those evenings that legends are made of: a tequila cocktail.[1] These are not shots of Patron or a sickly sweet margarita. These are the real deal. These cocktails are what the Most Interesting Man in the World drinks when he is not drinking Dos Equis.

Improved Tequila Cocktail

2 oz. Siete Leguas or Siembra Azul Reposado tequila

1 tsp. Maraschino liqueur

2 dashes Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters

1 dash Angostura bitters

1 tsp. agave nectar

***Stir vigorously for 30 seconds then strain into a chilled martini glass.

Twist a lemon peel over the drink, rub the rim of the glass, then drop it in as a garnish.

Yellow Jacket

2 oz. Partida Reposado tequila

1 oz. St-Germain

¾ oz. Yellow Chartreuse

1 dash Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6

*** Stir “for 40 revolutions” the strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with a lemon twist

Oaxaca Old Fashioned (my personal choice)

2 oz. Don Julio Reposado tequila

.5 oz Del Maguey’s Minero Mezcal

1 bar spoon agave nectar

2 dashes Angostura

*** Stir well the strain into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass with one large ice cube

Garnish with a lemon peel

And in the morning, when you are reminiscing (a true bon vivant never brags) about the evening’s events, do so over a Michelada.

Ingredients

1/2 lime

Coarse salt

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

1 dash soy sauce

1 dash Tabasco sauce

1 pinch black pepper

1 dash Maggi seasoning, optional

12 ounces Mexican beer like Negra Modelo.

-Squeeze the juice from the lime and set aside. Salt the rim of a highball glass by rubbing it with the lime and dipping it in coarse salt. Fill with ice.

-Add lime juice, Worcestershire, soy sauce, Tabasco, pepper and Maggi, if desired.

-Pour in beer, stir and serve, adding more beer as you talk about the night before.

It has been said that computers have enabled people to make more mistakes faster than almost any invention in history, with the possible exception of tequila and hand guns. Therefore, remember to sip these cocktails slowly and in moderation. And, most important, put your smartphone away. After all, you are there to catch up with your friends and, if the evening goes well, make a new one.

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[1] For the best cocktail list of tequila drinks, step up to the bar at Mayahuel. Not only my favorite bar in New York City, but quite possibly the world. Try any of their Cerveza Cocktails, especially the El Jimidor. Simply put, “wow!”