Okay, perfect. If gin works for you as a primary color, you'll have no shortage of fascinating cocktails to explore. I'll list three of my favorite discoveries in case you feel a mad-scientist urge coming on. They are, in order of least # of expensive ingredients to most, the bees knees, the white spider #2 (first served to me by thenewgreen, incidentally), and the aviation.

a few links: http://notwithoutsalt.com/2011/06/26/bees-knees/ http://www.voxmagazine.com/blog/2011/06/drink-this-the-aviat...

All the links I could find for the white spider #2 called for sour mix, which is appalling, and no egg white, which is tragic. So here's the recipe as thenewgreen transcribed it for me:

1oz gin .5oz cointreau 1oz lemon j .25 simple syrup 1 egg white

(Combine in shaker with ice, shake vigorously, strain into a chilled cocktail glass)

I perfectly well understand club aversion. I suppose some might call me outdated, or just prematurely cermudgeonly, but I've always preferred the conversation of my companions to the deafening cacophony of the jukebox and all the other barflies bellowing to be heard over it. Still, there are a few spots here and there where good cocktails coexist with serene atmosphere. The bars of really good restaurants sometimes offer this. (And by good, I mean imaginative, rather than just posh and expensive -- the latter type often skate by on name brands and perceived opulence rather than relying on any real innovation).

Assembling a repertoire of drinks to sling in the comfort of your home is a time consuming process, no doubt about it. But if you do, you'll have even less reason to suffer the club, and all of your friends will love you for it. Best of luck!

p.s. I was thinking of including some of our exchange in an upcoming blog post, but will only include text from you by your own permission. Would you like your comment posted? No pressure, either way.