Alright, kids, this one is pretty quick and straight forward, but is there a more classic mixed drink than a Jack and Coke? Maybe a margarita, but then you need triple sec and stuff. (Side note: the legend, Jon Taffer, always says the margarita is the most popular cocktail in the WORLD.) For Jack and Coke, all you need is…you guessed it, Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola (other colas can suffice). From a high level, this drink is easy to make. Just fill a glass of your size preference with as much ice as you want, as much Jack Daniels as you want, and as much Coke as you want. You want a nice stiff one? Go light on the ice, pour the Jack high, and splash it with some Coke.
Of course, if you want to make it a little classier, and maybe enjoy more than one, there are different approaches. First, use an actual glass. It’s always better than plastic for this drink. Use an appropriate amount of ice, and fill about 1/3 with Jack and the rest with Coke. This will help you enjoy more than one or two over the night. Obviously that’s not necessarily true for a bigger glass. If you’re pouring a J&C at home, maybe you pour a healthy double and just settle in for one glass. Nothing wrong with that. Oh, and use a spoon (or fancy cocktail stirring spoon) to get your drink mixed well. We aren’t scumbags here.
Listen, a Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola is so basic, straightforward, and cheap. But when you just need an adult beverage and don’t want to complicate things, it’s a great easy standby. Hell, class it up and throw a lime wedge in it! Toss a couple in the cart at the halfway house and enjoy your back 9. Or grab one before you hit the range. Just one, let’s not get crazy. Just a little something to take the edge off and clear your mind as you work through a bucket of balls and blade some wedges into the neighboring fairway.
Quick finishing thought – shout out Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago for their Jack and Cokes. In my younger days, I played in a band around Chicago (I know, I’m kind of a big deal) and we would play Reggie’s a good amount. I’ll be damned if that place didn’t have the best Jack and Cokes for some reason. I mean, to the point we specifically sought them out and had discussions about how oddly good they were. Anyway, that was a long time ago and I don’t know if they’re still great there, but they sure as hell used to be.
