Watered down drinks? I don't think so.

[Steve]

Some debate about watered down drinks recently so I thought I'd see what others think.

This is my opinion and not based on any inside knowledge just my own experience and thoughts. But I think the hotel gets an unfair rep on this issue.

The bartenders will make your drinks as strong as you like, if your drink is too weak ask for another dash of alcohol in it or ask for a double when you order. Different people like different strengths so I'd expect the staff to err on the side of light because if they are too strong folks just leave them and order another which is a huge waste of alcohol.

I have seen the bar staff break open the seal of a bottle and pour it straight in, many many times. In the almost 10 years cancuncare has been running lots of people have mentioned watered down drinks but no one has ever said they witnessed it actually happening.

Icecubes: Most people ask for ice in their drinks. It's hot in Cancun. Ice melts quickly and if you dont drink up fast you'll end up with melted ice water in your drink, therefore making them seem watery.

Cost: In Cancun a bottle of Smirnoff costs about $10, the cheap stuff probably $5 - this is at Walmart. If you order in bulk like TTR does then much cheaper than that.

Lets imagine the drinks were watered down by 25% and lets say 200 bottles are served per day. The hotel would save about $300 a day. When folks are paying $300 per room per day and there are 500 guests that is no kind of saving to risk your reputation on.

Guys if you feel the drinks are too weak for you, ask for another splash. You wont have a problem. It's simple!

What do you think?

[lovinglifeinIN]

I will preface this with I have only been there once. I don't have the experience of Steve. The drinks were not watered down. As was stated, if you ask for more, they will oblige. Very friendly as well.

Now, was it top shelf alcohol? Hell no. But for what we are paying for...... who would expect top shelf? This is a very cost effective vacation to get the amount of fun units provided per dollar. And yes, I have used a highly sophisticated means of dollar spent/fun unit calculation. That would be MY personal experience.

I have been to five star resorts in the Carribean. They are wonderful!!! There is nothing like Temptations. Period.

Drink and be Merry!

Shannon

[Jeff & Beth]

Absolutely, 100% agree with Steve. As I noted on another thread, I've seen the bartenders open new bottles of Bacardi right in front of me and start pouring. When would they have time to water them down?

If you want your drinks stronger, just ask. I'm sure the ice melting (as mentioned by Steve) might be the reason they seem watered down to some...especially the slower drinkers.

Much to the my wife's chagrin I was blacked out for 6 out of 9 days last March. They are strong enough that I have to watch my intake. In Nov I was carried home by friends at 4pm from the pool. Now, I may not be a good example as I don't drink often at home so I have no tolerance and I am not a heavy person. They'll get you as messed up as you want them to, maybe a bit more if you don't be careful.

[kristinanddoug]

I actually prefer drinking the Dos Equis on tap, so no worries about it being watered down. But you absolutely need to order a double (muy fuerte) every time on the frozen drinks (Miami Vice, etc) if you want to taste the alcohol. I learned this after drinking 16 Miami Vice's one day at the Sexy Pool and then realizing all I had to show for it was red teeth and bright red tongue, and a bit of a buzz, not sure it was from the liquor though.

[RandH]

Not watered down at all. Good hell, if those were watered down, I wouldn't have survived. I thought the drinks were all great. Everyone needs a Wet Pussy!

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Good topic Steve, and for a lot of us there could be a number of factors that affect how we taste the booze down there. The mix, how the climate affects our taste buds, our tolerance due to being at sea level as opposed to higher elevations for most of us, the fact we are drinking at all hours as opposed to the end of the day, etc. etc.

At the end of the day I know I can get quite intoxicated on the booze there so it gets a thumbs up from me!

[BIG JOEP]

I agree I have never had a problem getting buzzed up pretty good myself! We have always wondered the same thing when people say that on here?

[Chris and April]

People who complain about watered down drinks are the type of people who find anything to bitch about.... Ask for more liquor, easy as that. Its not hard and the bartenders dont have a problem with it...

[Sultryfox]

Seriously, I like drinking vodka and I watched the bartenders pour my drinks and if I drank that much pouring for myself at home I would have been plastered, and I barely was buzzed. When I got my own bottle of vodka and poured my own drinks in the room, that was way different. Same amount of ice, same amount of "vodka" - but seriously, it seemed like all mix from the bar and very little punch. It also wasn't hard to get Smirnoff, but when my husband asked for Cuervo, he was hard pressed to get them to actually pour that, tip or not. We started to tip based on whether they honored what he asked for after a few days. Anyway, it was what it was, and I will be happy to conduct another unscientific experiment in two weeks when we arrive :-)

[Fredmgill]

This is a great topic, I would imagine the generic alcohol would have less potency, besides the cost savings to the resort, having guests drinking basically 18 hours a day, this may prevent several over intoxicated incidents. I am a "vacation" drinker. I do prefer to be able to drink a good part of the day without losing my composure, not saying that always happens. Again, to the point of ice melting, you also need to factor many people have thier own larger mugs which ='s more ice.
Paul

[Donald]

A lot of people like those LARGE 32 oz mugs which hold like thirty ice cubes
You would have to put 5 to 7 shots in one of those for a regular strength shot. With all that ice and the drink lasting longer = ice melting = watered down drinks by the guest, not the resort.
I,ve seen enuf wasted people to now the drinks are not watered down.
Some people should have their drinks watered down cause they are a disruption to the other guests.

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by Donald

A lot of people like those LARGE 32 oz mugs which hold like thirty ice cubes
You would have to put 5 to 7 shots in one of those for a regular strength shot. With all that ice and the drink lasting longer = ice melting = watered down drinks by the guest, not the resort.
I,ve seen enuf wasted people to now the drinks are not watered down.
Some people should have their drinks watered down cause they are a disruption to the other guests.

Great answer Don!!!! LOL
Couldn't be more true! Glad most of our April Addicts realize it, hey?

[kmontoya]

Originally Posted by Sultryfox

Seriously, I like drinking vodka and I watched the bartenders pour my drinks and if I drank that much pouring for myself at home I would have been plastered, and I barely was buzzed. When I got my own bottle of vodka and poured my own drinks in the room, that was way different. Same amount of ice, same amount of "vodka" - but seriously, it seemed like all mix from the bar and very little punch. It also wasn't hard to get Smirnoff, but when my husband asked for Cuervo, he was hard pressed to get them to actually pour that, tip or not. We started to tip based on whether they honored what he asked for after a few days. Anyway, it was what it was, and I will be happy to conduct another unscientific experiment in two weeks when we arrive :-)

that seems strange to me. i love cuervo, and i had no problem getting it! i know the taste of cuervo, and it most certainly was. sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. im really suprised to hear that you are going to go back, as it seemed as if your whole vac. wasnt very good.

[Western Iowa Traveler]

I agree with Donald, we actually like having plenty of ice in our large mugs, yes it melts, yes it may water the beverage down a little bit, but you have to remember you are in the hot sun all day long drinking lots of booze and pop, drinking some water is critical, and if melted icecubes in my drink helps with that water intake, works good for me!

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by kmontoya

that seems strange to me. i love cuervo, and i had no problem getting it! i know the taste of cuervo, and it most certainly was. sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. im really suprised to hear that you are going to go back, as it seemed as if your whole vac. wasnt very good.

Originally Posted by Western Iowa Traveler

I agree with Donald, we actually like having plenty of ice in our large mugs, yes it melts, yes it may water the beverage down a little bit, but you have to remember you are in the hot sun all day long drinking lots of booze and pop, drinking some water is critical, and if melted icecubes in my drink helps with that water intake, works good for me!

Two good answers!!!!

[LabradorCouple2732]

One big thing people forget, it, you can usually drink more at Sea level in hot weather. In your room, you probably had the airconditioning on so it wasn't hitting you as hard.

Here in Labrador we are well above sea level and it is freezing all the time. I can drink maybe 4 beer before I start to get buzzed. We go to Sept-Iles Quebec often for hockey, which is at sea level and significantly warmer but only 400km away and I have to drink 8 or 9 beer before I get buzzed.

This is all from personal testing, no real scientific proof to back this up.

I am going to get Mythbusters to do the scientific testing for me!

[cheifboy]

Originally Posted by kmontoya

that seems strange to me. i love cuervo, and i had no problem getting it! i know the taste of cuervo, and it most certainly was. sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. im really suprised to hear that you are going to go back, as it seemed as if your whole vac. wasnt very good.

I can vouch for that and A few other pepole can to ha jim glen monique I had no problem getting tossed my self cant wait to do It Agian In april

[kmontoya]

Originally Posted by cheifboy

I can vouch for that and A few other pepole can to ha jim glen monique I had no problem getting tossed my self cant wait to do It Agian In april

ok funny man! was that as in tossing yourself, or me tossing you? i sure know the alcohol tossed all of us!!! here's to the bartenders for putting up with all the silly crap we hand them!!!!!!!!

[kmontoya]

Originally Posted by cheifboy

I can vouch for that and A few other pepole can to ha jim glen monique I had no problem getting tossed my self cant wait to do It Agian In april

ok funny man! was that as in tossing yourself, or me tossing you? i sure know the alcohol tossed all of us!!! here's to the bartenders for putting up with all the silly crap we hand them!!!!!!!!

[Bambidamnit]

Originally Posted by Steve

Some debate about watered down drinks recently so I thought I'd see what others think.

This is my opinion and not based on any inside knowledge just my own experience and thoughts. But I think the hotel gets an unfair rep on this issue.

The bartenders will make your drinks as strong as you like, if your drink is too weak ask for another dash of alcohol in it or ask for a double when you order. Different people like different strengths so I'd expect the staff to err on the side of light because if they are too strong folks just leave them and order another which is a huge waste of alcohol.

I have seen the bar staff break open the seal of a bottle and pour it straight in, many many times. In the almost 10 years cancuncare has been running lots of people have mentioned watered down drinks but no one has ever said they witnessed it actually happening.

Icecubes: Most people ask for ice in their drinks. It's hot in Cancun. Ice melts quickly and if you dont drink up fast you'll end up with melted ice water in your drink, therefore making them seem watery.

Cost: In Cancun a bottle of Smirnoff costs about $10, the cheap stuff probably $5 - this is at Walmart. If you order in bulk like TTR does then much cheaper than that.

Lets imagine the drinks were watered down by 25% and lets say 200 bottles are served per day. The hotel would save about $300 a day. When folks are paying $300 per room per day and there are 500 guests that is no kind of saving to risk your reputation on.

Guys if you feel the drinks are too weak for you, ask for another splash. You wont have a problem. It's simple!

What do you think?

I think people should stop being so critical....... just go and have fun, let loose, play games and meet your new best friends! !

[Ready2party]

We didn't have any trouble getting buzzed or getting whatever liquor we asked for. As another poster noted, its not top shelf but for the price of the vacation its fine. If it really bothers someone they can always bring their own. Will took a bottle of Maestro Dobel tequila last trip. The bartenders kept it cooled for him and poured from it when asked. We can't wait to go back! Come on March 3rd!

[RnJ]

The only reason I can understand someone thinking drinks are weak is if they think novelty shots and the "tequila" used in games are straight 80-proof liquor, or if they don't understand that most "beach drinks" are usually around the same alcohol content as a strong beer once you add all the mixers. The key: if they taste like candy, they're not straight liquor!!

If you want straight liquor, the bartenders will be happy to pour it for you. Yes, I have much personal experience.

Also from personal experience, you can take your half-full Bubba mug to the pool bar, tell Jose you need more tequila, and he'll turn the bottle upside down and wait for you to say "when." Even if that's 5, 10, 15 seconds.

There is every opportunity to get as plastered as you want to get at TTR, I promise.

[glenn/monique]

Steve is correct........I drink, I fall down, nothing watered down about them. I even sometimes have to tell them to let up on the booze. I have even had four ounce sambucas from them. Yet that was a shot.

[Roxie]

Originally Posted by Bambidamnit

I think people should stop being so critical....... just go and have fun, let loose, play games and meet your new best friends! !

I agree...you want to be more drunk - order some shots...even if they are watered down...you'll get drunk soon enough!

[hedoaddict]

First let me say that I like the drinks the way they are. I can drink a lot of them and not worry about which room is mine. Here is a consideration though.... for those of you who have seen them crack open a bottle and pour, have you ever actually looked at the alcahol % printed on the bottle? What says that Smirnoff that the resort buys is the same as the Smirnoff that we can buy in the stores? I asked one of the ACs (no longer working there) that question and she wouldn't answer directly, but she gave me a smile and the slightest of nods. Anyone ever look at the bottle of UV blue vodka sold in the US? 60 proof not 70. In any case, I agree with many of you, if you want to get stinking drunk, just ask for a double.

[kimandkorri]

I have never had a problem with the alchol. I agree during the day they fill the glass to the top with ice and if you don't drink it fast, especially in a large glass, it's likely to be watered down before you finish.

Late in the day and at night I usually start drinking scotch, Johnny Walker Red either on the rocks or with a splash and I can assure you it's not watered down. On numerous occasions I have seen them break the lablel. I have no problems with their drinks except memory loss most days!!

[bullet]

Question: Can you normally tell who is there on the first day of their vacation? Of course you can...they are usually the most drunk. We called it the first day jitters. If the drinks were watered down, that probably would not happen.

We had 24 once mugs...we ordered Chunky Monkees so the ice was blended and part of the drink. Because of the watered down theory...I asked them to top off the cups with smirrnoff after they poured in the monkees. We started at around 10am and had 3 of them by the pool. At 4pm, Marlene called me over because she could not move. I helped her to the room and realized I was done, too. 8 hours of sleep later, we were ready for burgers. Like so many of you are saying, if you want them strong, just ask. But then, don't be surprised at what happens.

[christysp]

I don't feel the drinks are watered down at all. I'm a seasoned drinker of hard liquor, and I blacked out the first day I was there, and then proceed to do the same thing the next day. First day jitters aside, I was buzzed after drink #2. A few times I was sitting at the swim up bar at the sexy pool, and one of the bartenders told me to open my mouth, and he poured Cuervo straight from the bottle into my mouth and didn't stop until I said STOP. They are very generous with the alcohol, and I say AWESOME JOB TTR!

[Sultryfox]

Originally Posted by kmontoya

that seems strange to me. i love cuervo, and i had no problem getting it! i know the taste of cuervo, and it most certainly was. sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. im really suprised to hear that you are going to go back, as it seemed as if your whole vac. wasnt very good.

There were a lot of things that happened to us in the last trip that were not anyone's fault, it was just really bad timing and some violated expectations. We want to get away for our anniversary and thought we would give TTR another try in the right season for reasonably good weather, and reasonable expectations. We were only able to get away last time for 5 days, and 2 of those days the resort was basically non-functional because of the storm. We had fun in the pool and on wave runners for 2 days, even though it was still cloudy and rainy. So, we are going this time for a solid week and hope to experience all the parties and shenanigans the way they were meant to be Then we can judge the place accurately - and can't wait for the boobs cruise!

We are bringing our own alcohol for our room, and our own mixer. There was no hot sun to melt our ice last time, and I know there is a difference between the liquor they pour and what I pour - but no biggie, we have a plan that makes that issue a non-issue for us. I see more of an upside to it for a lot of things you all have brought up - it is all good!