Hummm, straight on ice is the only way I drink vodka cabman. Are you saying that you drank too much that way - ie not cut with something? If I'm not drinking wine with the wife during dinner then I am happy with 3-4 shots of a good vodka or scotch with some ice. Gets me mellow and off to bed I go. I do supplement my cocktail with a couple bottles of water that I alternate between. The wife and I are not into parties these days so we rarely push further than the mellow. But on the random night we start playing 80's rock hits then all bets are off.