Post #439940 by GatorRob on Sat, Mar 14, 2009 12:25 PM

I admit I am somewhat obsessed with straws. Wide straws, no. White straws with the little blue line down them, no. Bendy straws, dear heavens, no! My general rule of straw selection is thus:

• If it's in a double old-fashioned glass or smaller, I reach for the thin cocktail straws, almost always white and always in pairs. The otherwise-dreaded Party City sells them. As Sven says, they force you to sip and not gulp. They also prevent you from sucking up any ice shrapnel, which is not a good thing.

• Taller drinks get longer, but not too wide straws. Generally, I prefer red here. Don't ask why. Maybe it's because I just like the way a long red straw looks in a Zombie glass sticking straight up next to a fresh mint garnish.

I don't like blue straws. Just don't think the color blue belongs in a glass at all.

I do like black straws. They're very elegant looking in the right drink. But probably too elegant and contemporary for tiki drinks.