Puss in Booze - What Makes A Drink “Girly”?

An unspoken know-how that we have all picked up from drinking outside of our homes is the ability to cherry-pick a drink off a boozy repertoire that befits the occasion. At times, you find yourself stressing over the fact that what you order can actually communicate something about you. 

Be it a first date or a buddy hangout, if you’re a dude, I know you’ve learnt to skim past anything that speaks brightly-coloured, sweet mixes and even lord forbid— fruit garnishes, on the menu. If you don’t, my bets are that you’re female or just one confident man.

It’s infrequent that we see lads sipping on a pink-bodied mix, propped in a stemmed glass, or a lady tippling down some neat Scotch (Copper Dog and Monkey Shoulder are popular choices) at the bar. In this age of the metrosexual chap, sexism seems to remain unremarked in the world of liquor. However, this time with men at the shorter end of the stick. Women pulling off “manlier” drinks rises in everyone’s estimation, but it is quite the opposite for the man with an appletini. Fret not mate, let’s get you covered - what exactly makes a drink “girly”?

Taste

As Marshall Erikson from the popular sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”, admitted to preferring  “yummy pink drinks with chunks of real fruit that guys secretly can’t order because they’ll be made fun of", it’s a common unspoken rule that men are pegged to drinks that are strong, bitter and perhaps with a douse of football dirt. Fellow sucrose-loving men, I dig. 

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Popular culture has been a bedrock of our gender-centric alcohols. There was a time before Sex in the City that Cosmopolitan was very much a man’s drink, enjoyed during a three-martini lunch. Now, men can rarely order it without others raising a brow or experiencing some not-so-subtle side eyes. 

Popular Cocktails

The fact that we continue to see no less inverted-skirt-like glasses gracing covers of chick-lit novels, secures the “girly” stereotype with pretty much any sweet, colourful, or fruity drinks. To name a few significant ones, you have margaritas, daiquiris, or the popular Sex on the Beach, served up in a coupe, flute, or martini stemware.

Sexism in Alcohol Marketing

If popular culture was the mother of “girly” drinks, then alcohol marketing would be the dad. While we are used to pointing out the inequality in pink marketing, rarely is the deep-seated sexism in alcohol marketing noticed. Take for instance, Skinnygirl reigning a sleek, sexy, and low-caloric appeal versus Captain Morgan pulling off an old, moustachioed, and dude-fisted undertone. 

Naming Associations & Alcohol Content

It comes as no surprise that the line of spirits under Skinnygirl are our stereotypical feminine drink (e.g., margarita, sangria, mojito) compared to rum as in Captain Morgan. Think about the masochistic chime in phrases like “hard liquor” or “stiff drink” and the dots can easily be connected. This is also in part why alcohol content (i.e, ABV) is pitted against the sexism scale, with lower ABV known as weak and girly while being able to hold a drink with higher ABV emits masculinity. 

Furthermore, when it comes down to ordering at the bar, the classic cocktail menu is decorated with pretty names like “Tequila Sunrise”, “Blue Lagoon'', or at least interesting ones like “Rusty Nail”, while your manliest drinks are listed in a dry, matter-of-factly manner like a “rum and coke”,  or with names like “Old Fashioned”. Yawn -- those names almost made me snooze. So, don’t feel a need to stick to the manly cliché or feel like a wuss for defaulting to a “girly” drink, it’s more than explainable.

Gender Stereotypes in Alcohol Branding

According to marketing critic and Canadian broadcast producer Terry O’Reilly, with the fierce competition in the alcohol industry, appealing to everyone is to the same effect of appealing to no one. Unlike the stereotypes put forth in popular culture, gender divisions in alcohol marketing are inevitable. By choosing a gender to target, efforts can then be channelled into attracting that specific buyer demographic. 

Hence, gender stereotypes in branding or alcohol advertisements are often a shorthand to communicating deep pieces of information in the shortest time possible. Rather than having any logical basis to it, naming drinks convenience marketers and even us, the consumer -- ever caught yourself “feeling out” the drinks by their titles while scouring through the menu? High-five. 

Listen to Your Taste Buds

Still, if Ernest Hemingway boastfully loves his mojitos and daiquiris while James Bond likes his martini shaken— not stirred— who’s to say that men should avoid “girly” drinks? Knowing to appreciate your alcohol with a dash of flavour is what savvy drinkers do. It’s like going into a maths exam without a calculator, who dares to say otherwise? Doing your taste buds some justice with a quality cocktail, despite gender-normed trends is simply alluring. 

Choose Your Favorite Alcohol

Nothing speaks louder than confidence, you do you. That being said, if you were to need help navigating the menu, whether you’re a guy or girl, here are some tips on gendered tipples. Or you can curate your own at home with just a few clicks away. Here at Cellarbration, manly or girly alcohols, we have it. Check out our latest promotions this season and receive free alcohol delivery when you spend $99 and above!