Visiting a cocktail lounge is a popular first-date activity. Sipping on a cocktail gives many people the liquid courage to put date-night jitters aside and relax. Talking with your date about the selection of drinks is also an easy way to break the ice. If you’re stumped on what to order, below are a few choices that will get the date off to a fun start.

3 Delicious Drinks to Try on a First Date 

1. Mojito

Watching a bartender create a beverage can be a point of discussion. If you are seated close to the bar at a cocktail lounge, you and your date can watch how mojitos are made. For fun, you can make bets on how long it will take for the bartender to completely muddle the mint leaves. This drink combines mint, white rum, soda water, lemon juice, and sugar to create a sweet, tropical concoction.

2. Classic Martini

A martini is a vermouth-based cocktail that can easily be customized. This means you and your date can bond over enjoying the same drink, with minor tweaks to suit your individual tastes.

Due to the juniper berries in the liquor, for example, a gin martini has a mildly fruity, floral taste and is often garnished with a pickled onion. A vodka martini, on the other hand, has fewer layers of flavor but a smooth texture. This version is often paired with a green olive. If you or your date like the saltiness of olive juice, order the vodka cocktail “dirty.”

3. Tom Collins

A skilled bartender at any cocktail lounge should be able to make a Tom Collins. If there’s a lull in the conversation, you can share the story of how this tangy gin libation got its name.

Legend holds that in 1874, people in New York City and Philadelphia would participate in a sort of hoax. A person would ask a friend if they knew a man named Tom Collins, who was spreading rumors about them. This was a lie, and the friend would go off to look for the Tom Collins in question, to the amusement of all. Soon everyone was on the search for this fictitious individual. A bartender came up with the idea to name a drink after the character. When people came looking for Tom Collins at the bar, they would be presented with a cocktail instead.

If you’re looking for a fun first-date spot in Lincoln, NE, head to retro-themed Starlite Lounge & Banquet Room. The cocktail lounge is known for its array of weekly specials. Check out the happy hour prices for craft cocktails, domestic beers, and microbrews online and visit the bar on Facebook to see photos of the lively libations the team has created. Call (402) 475-8822 with questions about booking the space for parties.