Well, Spring Break is over, St. Patrick’s Day has passed, and many college students across the country are recovering from some wild nights. But wait! The semester’s not over, so that means the parties are still coming. The last few drinks have been a bit more complex, and very tropical to go along with all the vacations. But now that we’re back in school, here’s an easy-to-make cocktail to help us ease back into the campus social scene without too much work in making it.

The drink of the week? A Brass Monkey. That funky monkey! Okay, that was an obscure Beastie Boys reference, but the point still stands, the Brass Monkey is an incredibly simple, and delicious cocktail, perfect for a college student.

The truth is, the Brass Monkey is a name used for a variety of recipes, but this is the one that most applies to college students. Aside from cheap beer, what’s the main alcohol at a party? Vodka and rum. Well, this takes both of those, adds in some orange juice, and makes a drink that is not only tasty, but won’t get you strange glances from bartenders who might be confused by more complex recipes.

Brass Monkey

1 part vodka
1 part rum
1 part orange juice

Pour over ice and then stir together. Beastie Boys optional, but encouraged.

Spring Break is upon us, which means 7 days of travel, partying, and relaxation (or pure exhaustion from partying, whatever works). So, if your plans include a trip to a warm, sandy beach for a week of debauchery, make your drink of choice as exotic as where you are. Who wants to be drinking a watered down beer while out on the beach? It’s Spring Break, have fun and trying something new!

So, in the spirit of something exotic and tropical, here is this week’s drink: the mai tai. A staple in tiki culture and the top drink at any Polynesian bar, this drink is perfect for any time at the beach. The name comes from the Tahitian word for “good,” and it certainly is. The main alcohol is rum, so for those of you who are worrying about trying something too foreign, don’t. The liquor may be familiar, but the mix of flavors in this cocktail has a fruity, exotic, and enjoyable taste to them. So sit back, have a sip, and enjoy Spring Break.

Mai Tai

1 oz white rum
1 oz dark rum
½ oz triple sec
½ oz crème de almond
1 oz orange juice
½ oz lime juice
1 oz pineapple juice

Shake the ingredients together and pour over ice in a glass. Garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry.

Credit: Sarah_Ackerman

If there is any drink as common to college parties as Coors Light, it is rum. Every college student knows it as the clear alcohol that mixes with Coca-Cola (this mix is actually called a Cuba Libre, when using good rum and a lime wedge). However, rum is a very versatile and varied alcohol. There are many different varieties that can go into many different drinks. There’s the nuanced flavor of spiced rum, and then the strong dark rum.

But let’s take a minute to look at the staple of college students: white rum. It’s light in flavor, and a bit sweet. Many of the brands college students favor are a bit strong, without a real refined taste. However, that does not mean that it’s useless. In fact, it can be used for a very simple, inexpensive, and absolutely delicious cocktail: the mojito.

The mojito is one of the greatest exports from Cuba, along with the infamous Che Guevara photo and the setting for wonderful scenes in The Godfather Pt. II. It is tropical, sweet, and very refreshing on a hot day. The mix of lime, mint, and sugar gives it a taste unlike any other. It’s the perfect way to elevate a relatively looked down upon alcohol to an excellent cocktail.

The Mojito

1 1/2 oz. white rum
1 lime cut in half
1/2 oz. simple syrup (basically sugar water, with a high sugar-to-water ratio)
4 mint leaves
Soda water
Crushed ice or ice cubes

In a glass, take the mint leaves, pour in the simple syrup, and the juice of the two lime halves. Crush the mint leaves into the mix until fully muddled, or mixed. Add in the ice, and pour in the rum. Top off with some soda water, and garnish with some extra mint.

Image Credit: Sami Keinänen

College kids like to drink, that’s just a fact of life on campus. However, to say that the drinking that goes on at college parties is classy, well, that’s just a stretch of the imagination. There is no way cheap beer is better for anything other than a quick buzz. I’m not saying that we should be busting out the champagne, but a good drink should be enjoyed for the taste, not just the alcohol. So here’s the first of a few recommendations to make your college experience tastier, and classier. Take a step out of your comfort zone, you just might enjoy it.

Up this week is The Big Lebowski’s The Dude’s drink of choice, the White Russian. Very smooth and silky, this cocktail strikes the right balance between sweet dessert and strong vodka.

The White Russian

2 oz. vodka

1 oz. coffee liqueur

1 oz. cream

Pour into a glass over ice, and stir ingredients slowly.

Image Credit: adactio