Straws
There are people that are anti-straw in a drink. I suppose they think it's a little phallic or that they are worried they might throw the straw into the trash and kill sea turtles and dolphins. Certain drinks are purposefully served with a straw, often because of chilling, dilution, or if you suck the overproof rum float off the top you won't know what hit you.
I’ll consider a straw for my Gin and Tonic, especially if you serve it in a tall glass so I can pull each sip from the cold bottom of the glass and past the chilly ice cubes so it is extra cold and refreshing. Don’t give me a straw for my Boulevardier, please not one for my Margarita, and sure as hell do not put a straw in my Sazerac (I’m looking at you dreaded dready caucafarian bartender at the High West Distillery’s Bar in Park City who put a plastic straw in the worst Sazerac ever, a blasphemous concoction that was shaken with absinthe, served on the rocks and topped off with soda - you’ll never be forgotten, especially since you topped it off with a little soda water and a pair of cheap, black plastic straws).
Really people, stop putting plastic straws in front of yourself and others. You have plenty of other single- or multi-use options: paper, grass, bamboo, metal, glass. Lots of options that don’t kill those cute sea turtles.
Now drinkers, if a bartender puts a straw in your drink, before taking it right out and abandoning it on the bar, how about you ask why the straw was included. Maybe it’s there for a good reason.
What to look for in straws
- Material: I have a definite preference for metal, stainless steel is most commonly available and that’s alright with me. Copper works very well too, especially if you like the patina it gets. Now why metal, versus paper, hay, glass or whatever other option that is far better than plastic? I use my straws to sample drinks, as my regular stirrer, and as an impromptu strainer. So while those other straw materials might be more eco-groovy, I put a preference on the more reusable material and that is metal.
- Diameter: 8mm is the ideal diameter in order to prevent ice or anything else in your drink from clogging the opening. My 5mm straws regularly clog and I avoid using them.
- Length. I like two lengths: 5 ¾” for short drinks and 8” for taller drinks. I have a few 10” for my larger tiki mugs. Use the appropriate length for your glass or mug.
- Straight vs Bent: Straight straws only. Bent straws are prone to ice clogs too and they’re less easier to clean
My recommendation
I’ve ordered these 
However, my best recommendation is for you to make your own. Buy a 
My final recommendation is to not put your straws in the dishwasher. The outside will look nice and clean but there will be gunk stuck on the inside. Yuck. Every set of metal straws I’ve bought has come with a brush. It is there for a good reason.