this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2025
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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They seem so good in the movies, but actually taste mostly just like straight vodka, which most people aren't going to enjoy.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

That's why you gotta order them wet so there's more.vermouth in there. I prefer them dirty as well (splash of olive brine)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

The price of liquor!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I read that while the martini was his signature drink, he actually is depicted drinking champagne more frequently in the films. So just drink champagne!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Avoid brut though if you want to enjoy it

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Vodka doesn't have much flavor, but the Vermouth adds a nice touch. Most Vermouth is crap, though and has a sharp edge. The Dolin Dry is more floral: https://www.bittersandbottles.com/products/dolin-vermouth-dry

As for shaking, it's a matter of taste. Vigorous shaking in a covered shaker with crushed ice breaks small shards into tiny crystals. These quickly melt, though, so it's really the very first taste where it's a bit tingly.

Toss in 3 large green olives with garlic or pimento and it's a pretty decent, hard to mess up drink that anyone can make at home.

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[–] [email protected] 134 points 1 month ago (2 children)

James Bond was an alcoholic, with good reason. He didn't drink vodka martinis for the taste, he drank them to dull the pain and horrors of his job. As much as he drank, he probably didn't really taste the booze anymore.

The original James Bond from the novels was a dark and brooding high-functioning alcoholic, who operated at his best with a drink or two in him at all times. He was pretty useless without the drink. A vodka martini would quickly get him in the right headspace to accomplish his latest mission.

The movie Bond was reinvented to be this dashing, handsome womanizer who drank and smoked socially and was charming as hell. Basically, a 1950s ideal male fantasy. This Bond probably could've used a classier drink than straight vodka, but that's one aspect of the books they kept pretty loyal.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I haven't read the books. Is there any background for choosing vodka martinis in particular? As opposed to, say plain vodka. Was it just a more socially acceptable dose of alcohol?

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago

2 oz vodka because much of the time, he was a spy with Russian adversaries and he wanted to blend in, also note that he doesn't specify which vodka because he actually doesn't care. 1 oz Gordon's because beneath all that he's a true red blooded Brit and he'll always proudly drink British gin. Lilet Blanc because it's not his money and he's surrounded by wealthy people so he might as well buy the most expensive vermouth in the world. Shaken not stirred because he wants the drink to be cold, causing him to drink more slowly, and because it will water it down, meaning he will appear to be drinking more than he actually is and people will underestimate him. I can't figure out any obvious subtext for the lemon twist, but it is a very classy way to have a martini. Call it a Vesper to memorialize his first love, and emphasize that he doesn't and can't have a life outside of being a spy, he's condemned to this world.

The Vesper is the best fusion of lore and a cocktail you could ever conceive and will never be topped.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The Vesper is James Bond's personal invention, from the very first novel, Casino Royale. It's basically his own custom twist on the vodka martini.

He explains he only has one drink before dinner, but he prefers it's a large one, ice cold, and made very well. He drinks plenty of other types of alcohol throughout the books, but he's pretty particular about this one evening aperitif.

The movies kind of latched onto it and just made him drink vodka martinis in general. Although the 2006 film Casino Royale had him order his custom invention from a bar, almost word-for-word from the original novel. It's named after Vesper Lynd, the first girl Bond truly fell for in the novels.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (4 children)

i think one of the reason they simplified it is that the vesper martini can't be made anymore

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Regular martinis are disgusting. Who thoughT mixing gin or vodka and ocean water would taste good?

However, martini variants are great. I love a good espressotini, or a super dirty tini. The classic is just... Bleugh

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

An espresso martini is only a martini in the sense that it’s served in the same glass. Haha. Definitely a dessert drink.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

The best dessert drinks are served in a martini glass though.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 month ago (1 children)

(Though he’s probably responsible for an equal amount of wasted bourbon and whiskey)

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (8 children)

Whisky is good, but definitely an acquired taste

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Not all of it lol.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Gimme a nice peaty Laphroaig. Something that tastes like a tire fire on a football pitch

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Islay malts always taste like somebody put a cig out in them. Ew.

Balvenie 14 year for me, thank you very much!

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Yeah. Acquired from the bartender.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (2 children)

As a vodka enjoyer, I do love me a good Vodka Martini. But that shaken thing Bond has going on is pure blasphemy.

It's worth remembering that the taste doesn't just come from the vodka so the vermouth is equally important.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I read a theory that the shaken thing is to deliberately dilute the drink. Shaking melts more ice, which waters down the drink a bit, in order to stay relatively level-headed for any high stakes spying you might have to do later.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah I'm sure there is an audience out there. But you guys probably get your inspiration from somewhere other than films, and don't leave your glasses half full.

Keep at it 👍🏻

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Even a gin martini is a bit of a mid cocktail IMO

There are plenty of much more interesting spirit forward cocktails out there

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

When I was drinking, my favorite martini was Bacardi 151. They don't make it anymore, because the 151 is the proof. Meaning it's 75.5% alcohol by volume.

What people were doing was taking the 151, pouring it in a glass, setting it on fire, and then drinking it while it was still on fire.

Well, it's liquid. It spills easily, even little droplets. And it's on fire. So these drunk people in their early 20s were setting themselves on fire. The drink would spill onto their shirt, and now their shirt is on fire.

On top of that, the fact that it was so strong was something young people weren't expecting at the time.

So they'd drink it, with the same expectency of it being like jack danials, or skyy vodka. It's a little less than twice as strong as those. And it burns like fire going down. Even without literal fire. And then after a few drinks of that they don't have a nice buzz like they thought. They have a full on blackout drunk where they aren't in control of themselves AT ALL.

That was my cocktail of choice 20+ years ago. Just a glass, pour in the 151, and that's the drink. Your "chaser" is that you lick a pussy riiiiiight after. I've been told it's a weird sensation. Like a warming and tingle on the clit, as it's being licked.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

It sounds like it's a good thing you quit

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I like them. I make sure to request "extra dirty" so I get a good olive flavor

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Agree! I usually ask for them "filthy" bc olive with a hint of vermouth is exactly what I like about them. Those and bloody marys are the only savory cocktails I've enjoyed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"Extra dirty please!"

bartender mixes the drink with his penis

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Can't tell if Charley Kelly, or the lucky charms leprechan.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Wet martinis have extra vermouth, so my favorite spin on the classic is a "wet and dirty" martini. Extra olives of course

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I mean, it's better than the normal kind made with gin. I'd rather taste vodka than Pine Sol, personally.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Vodka is an awful spirit. Tastes like paint stripper. Gin, at least, has a fragrant taste to it. (Whitley Neil Quince gin is an absolute delight, as is Sloe gin).

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Yeah they’re vodka martinis. They ARE terrible lol. Gin is much better, more interesting with the botanicals. I usually do Beefeater gin if they have it

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Bonds Wodka Martini does have 3/4 of gin and only 1/4 of wodka:

The International Bartenders Association (IBA) recipe calls for 45 ml gin, 15 ml vodka, and 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc in place of Kina Lillet

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (9 children)

I do like a gin martini, but as a tequila drinker, nothing beats a dirty Tequila Martini.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I like tequila with a pickleback, which is the way less classy version of this.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

God that sounds disgusting. I think, for the first time in 4+ years of sobriety, I actually feel genuinely sad for not being able to try that one out. It sounds so awful it must be good.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Hey, stay strong brother. That one drink isn't worth giving up your progress. I don't know you, but I'm proud for you.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (3 children)

If I'm not doing a small distillery gin I usually do Hendrick's.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

You're not wrong!

I'm a fan of the martini - when I'm in the mood to drink. But make it gin, a good one like Boodles or some of the new stuff with citrus notes.

Another good shower thought today!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah, they are awful. My mate bought all the ingredients and a fancy martini glass, had half of one, and gave up.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Never try boxed wine.

When I was 21, my job had someone lose an entire massive jug of wine in a box. It sat in lost and found for a month before I just took it.

Second worst thing that has ever been in my mouth. I invited people over to try it. If they liked it, they could have it. I figured "I'm not a wine guy, but it's free booze."

I couldn't take more than a sip. Nobody could.

We had to throw the damn thing away.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

If not for boxed wine, how am I supposed to be the host for “Slap the Bag” at music festivals?!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I can't stand wine (it's all vinegar to me, regardless of the price tag), but I know some connoisseurs who say there are plenty of good boxed wines. I don't think the container signifies the quality. My wife says one of the best wines she ever had was a 6 euro bottle of french table wine, better than a 150 euro bottle I got for her birthday.

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