...for a memorial service this weekend.

As a man raised predominantly around southern teetotalers, this puts me in a confused and awkward position.

I know I have to get three bottles each of red and white wine, plus an undisclosed amount of beer of various types and qualities as well as a small amount of liquor stemming from no more than one or two varieties, so that we needn't acquire too many mixers or learn how to make too many drinks. The people consuming these will primarily be mid-westerners over 50, with a small number of 21-30 year olds lumped in.

I am looking for suggestions in all categories.

10/21/2008 2:30:56 AM

don't buy them whiskey, especially not bourbon

they won't like it

I suggest brandy... and buy a fair amount of it


- trust me, I've been to my share of midwestern funerals


[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 2:40 AM. Reason : -]

10/21/2008 2:39:50 AM

brandy and vodka (with sour mix, sodas and tonic + limes)

couple of cases of miller in the bottle
a few 12s of heineken and amstel
some leinenkugel's 6pks

10/21/2008 2:42:00 AM

Do buy them bourbon, we midwesterners love it. If they're over 50 your safe with whiskey as they will have been drinking it for the better part of 2 decades.

Seriously though, your safe bet is to buy primarily vodka and then a small quantity of either bourbon or gin, I would go with bourbon though old women tend to love gin. Buy bud light and then a bit of maybe heineken and then some dark beer, a sixer of newcastle and guiness each perhaps.

10/21/2008 2:44:00 AM

I've never heard any of them express a special interest in brandy, and while I know they don't care for scotch (worse luck) I know their families were big on Manhattans.

10/21/2008 2:47:10 AM

brandy bourbon and vodka (with sour mix, sodas - coke/diet coke, sprite, ginger ale - and tonic + limes)

couple of cases of miller in the bottle
a few 12s of heineken

[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 3:04 AM. Reason : ]

10/21/2008 2:57:41 AM

Score one for the guy from the midwest.

10/21/2008 2:58:42 AM

bourbon scotch and gin

10/21/2008 2:59:49 AM

yeah I'm from Wisconsin

it really matters where in the midwest we are talking here

the county my family hails from in WI consumes the most Christian Brothers brandy of any place in the world

10/21/2008 3:14:04 AM

Order as much as possible and keep anything left over for yourself.

10/21/2008 3:21:36 AM

Am I the only one who hasn't seen alcohol at a funeral?

10/21/2008 3:37:14 AM

no...i was like "wait what?!?" when i read the op...but oh well

10/21/2008 3:39:36 AM

I never have... sorrow + booze? That can't turn out well.

10/21/2008 3:47:44 AM

It's not really a funeral. The deceased in question died almost nine months ago, but for reasons that don't need exploring (and which I also don't know) this was deemed an appropriate time for the memorial. Also, she was a big fan of cocktail hour pretty much her whole life.

Also I suppose it bears mentioning that the booze will not actually be served during the memorial, but the group will be in town for several days and will want to drink at other times.

Quote :

"it really matters where in the midwest we are talking here"

All originally from Illinois, part now live in Wisconsin and part now live in Colorado. Plus the part that lives in NC.

[Edited on October 21, 2008 at 3:49 AM. Reason : I mention the memorial service at all to rule out overly "festive" drinks, like margaritas and such]

10/21/2008 3:48:06 AM

From my experiences in Wisco, Whiskey... lots of Whiskey.

10/21/2008 8:58:53 AM

Teacher’s Blended Scotch Whisky in a lowball is how I get my bereavement on.

10/21/2008 9:06:46 AM

a 6pk of lennies is a great idea.

10/21/2008 9:09:48 AM

booze at a memorial service just sounds like bad news bears to me

10/21/2008 11:19:13 AM