Congrats is coming - let me give you some advice from my friend Uncle Wiley.
Ater years of trial and error it all boils down to this - DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING THAT YOU CANNOT CLEARLY SEE THROUGH.
Purity is the ultimate in liquor so Vodka, Gin, Everclear are all fair game - Tequila, Jack, Scotch - they are all just pastimes until you lean how to drink like a refined gentleman.
Vodka (not that Country Club crap that goes for 16.95 a gallon) such as Stoli, Grey Goose (careful , it's wicked) Finlandia etc. are the best.
Tonic is the mixer of choice.
Uncle Wiley's favorite - Vodka (you can keep it in the freezer for months - it won't freeze but it will be c-c-c-c-cold) - and tonic with a bit of squeezed lime and 2 big honkin' green olives over Ice. empty and reload - enjoy