What is your go to drink when you're out?

Depends on the situation and setting.

In an average bar with highschool,college friends or family... just beer. Usually Stella, Perroni, El Presidente, Modelo, Spaten or the like, something light to keep me drinking with the boyos all night without getting sloshed.  Especially if I expect the lads and ladies to pressure me into taking shots, which usually happens when its a special occassion.  

I do like a good Guinness, but unless they have a nitrofier for the tap and good traffic or cans of Guinness Nitrosurge I'll pass on it.  I'ts very hard to get good Guinness Draught or similar fish-soup-style stouts outside of Ireland and the UK.  Sometimes you might get lucky in Spain, NY or Boston; but nowhere else really.  I only know of a handful of dedicated Irish pubs that have a nitrifier for the taps in the bulk of the lower-Hudson areas of  NY (Putnam, Westchester, Yonkers, Manhattan). Outside of those areas which are Irish stomping grounds, dont even bother asking about the tap, the bar wench will look at you crazy for even asking, there's simply not enough of an Irish Northwestern European population for them to know about it. You will never find good Guinness outside of a high traffic Irish pub frequented by Irishmen and their descendents and that is a fact.  If 1/3 the bar isn't drinking Guinness Draught or talking with a fierce brogue... its a good idea not to order it on tap.

When out on a date or eating steaks with the lads, a Vesper martini to start... like Bond orders. If its not available I  stick with an Ole Fashioned.  Malbec or Merlot when the meals come out. Usually those wines make me smile and laugh like a school kid, especially when they are high quality.

When out to party hard, like on a cruise, Irish/American Mules or rum/whiskey and cokes are my go to.  

If its hot out or I am at the beach I go with  seltzers (my favorite  of which is the rare and elusive Happy Dad Pineapple). If no hard seltzer is available I will settle for a Long Island ice tea. Personally I like to make my own using Arizona/Arnold Palmers/Snapple/Nantucket Orchards half and half or ice tea and whatever hard liquor we have on hand that ISN'T whiskey or its derivatives.  On occassion at my friends  beach house, I like to spice things up with Strawberry Daquiris or Pina Coladas and beach-focused country music.

When home relaxing on the terrace/deck/yard or hanging with my boss shooting the breeze after monkey business ends for the day... I like to take a play from the book of Boston Legal's William Shatner and Alllan Shore's afterwork boys-room bonding ritual (which was my favorite adult show growing up). This means a quality cigar or some other form of good smoke along with a good ole fashioned or a plain ole  irish whiskey/scotch/bourbon/brandy/sour of high quality... preferably  with a whiskey ball or whiskey rock to really do the trick.  If he/she doesn't like whiske I go with something they enjoy and bite my tongue, unless its tequila, which I cannot stomach. Shared vibes are everything when it comes to keeping your boss happy. 

This is especially true when relaxing at a country, game, or ski lodge.  In the winter specifically, I may enjoy a White Russian from time to time if others I am with aren't whiskey fans just for the sake of pleasing the group and not having to go out to find an extra bottle of something specific to only MY liking. Remember, good company usually doesn't want to go out of their way to make a drink just to cater to you, it gives off snobbish vibes that do not help facilitate the bonding experience.  I have found that most people who aren't North-Western European in descent like vodka more than whiskey, especially when it gets cold out.  Women especially despise whiskey and prefer vodka.  White Russians  are pretty much acceptable commongrounds for  most of my non-Northwestern descended male friends in such settings, adding a touch of masculine sophistication to an otherwise basic vodka drinking session 

Finally. If you must ask, my favorite whiskey so far is Templeton Rye, a small batch staple. But good luck finding it in most liquor stores, it is virtually unheard of, even in NY.  Crown Royal is  a good readily available/mainstream option when in a pinch for some good punch. I'm open to recommendations to try others so feel free  to hit me with them, Chief.