Redbull

Red Bull is a carbonated energy drink, and in a bar it works as a sweet-tart soda mixer. Expect a bright, tangy profile that is often described as a cross between tropical fruit, citrus and a faint candy-like note, with a clear sweetness and fine, lively carbonation. It has no real bitterness or dryness, so it reads as a fruity soda rather than a neutral mixer like club soda or tonic. Serve it cold. Chill the can thoroughly before opening, because carbonation and flavor both fade quickly once it warms. Pour it over plenty of ice in a highball or Collins glass, which keeps the bubbles lively and leaves room for a tall, diluted build. Add it last and pour gently down the side or over a bar spoon so the fizz isn't knocked out. Vodka is the most common partner. A standard vodka and Red Bull uses roughly one part spirit to three or four parts mixer, and a squeeze of lime tames the sweetness. Light and silver rums work in the same way, and a split of rum and Red Bull with fresh lime resembles a loose Cuba Libre. Tequila blanco with Red Bull and lime is another easy highball. For the bomb-style serve, drop a shot of herbal liqueur such as Jägermeister into a glass of the drink. This is a drop-and-drink shot, so use a sturdy tumbler or pint glass. The sweetness doesn't suit delicate or heavily aged spirits, so use clean, mid-priced bottles rather than complex sipping ones. Citrus helps balance the drink. A lime or lemon wedge, or a splash of fresh juice, adds acidity that the mixer lacks. As a non-alcoholic option it works well over ice with a lemon wedge, or alongside salty snacks like chips, nuts and fries, whose savory edge offsets the sugar.