Beer, Wine, and Liquor (Part Two)
I'm one of these people that goes into cycles. For awhile I will be on a beer kick, then after awhile I'll get into wine. At the moment, I'm enjoying the hard stuff, though not in the way I had started in my younger years.
When I was first introduced to liquor, it was in the form of mixed drinks. I think it was a screwdriver, or something. Vodka became a favorite liquor, as did tequila. I made my way through different mixers before my all-too-brief stint in the military. That is where I learned how to do shots, and started my love of (insert booze here) on the rocks.
Vodka was my first love in the realm of hard drink. While some may feel that there's no flavor to vodka, there is something to it depending on the quality. It's rare that I've been able to afford anything that is "top-shelf", so usually my choices were rather cheap, save for Stoli. Stoli was a treat for me, as I viewed it as expensive relative to my income. These days, there are a lot of brands out there, and one that I have found that I need to keep away from is Smirnoff Whipped Cream flavored vodka.
 |
| Yes, I like Cosmopolitans. Bite me! (Image from liquor.com) |
 |
| Mmmm, Scotch. (Stock Image, Gotstock.com) |
Vodka was my first love in the realm of hard drink. While some may feel that there's no flavor to vodka, there is something to it depending on the quality. It's rare that I've been able to afford anything that is "top-shelf", so usually my choices were rather cheap, save for Stoli. Stoli was a treat for me, as I viewed it as expensive relative to my income. These days, there are a lot of brands out there, and one that I have found that I need to keep away from is Smirnoff Whipped Cream flavored vodka.
 |
| Evil never tasted so delicious! Photo from Crown Liquors Website |
Now, I don't usually buy 750mL bottles, but in this case, I didn't have a choice. It didn't last two nights. I killed that bottle so fast, even I was shocked. Needless to say, I haven't purchased another bottle since.
Gin is one of these spirits that is quite divisive. It's one of these love-or-hate drinks, and I love it. Gin and tonic was one of the first mixers I had, and since then, I've gotten to love it on the rocks. Tanqueray is a favorite, though it's currently out of my price range, but there are a lot of nice gins in the lower shelves.
Gin is one of these spirits that is quite divisive. It's one of these love-or-hate drinks, and I love it. Gin and tonic was one of the first mixers I had, and since then, I've gotten to love it on the rocks. Tanqueray is a favorite, though it's currently out of my price range, but there are a lot of nice gins in the lower shelves.
 |
| Trust me, it tastes fantastic! Photo not credited |
I never considered myself a whiskey drinker until I got older. In my youth, I wouldn't refuse Southern Comfort, but I wasn't aware of it being a bourbon-based liqueur. Talking of bourbon, I had never been able to reconcile the taste. While certain brands are tolerable, there's one that I will not touch: Jim Beam. It was the first bourbon I had, and it made me realize that I do not like bourbon.
 |
| ...and they say Scotch is an 'acquired' taste. Photo from JimBeam.com |
There's this weird burnt-oak taste to bourbon that I just cannot get past. I've tried a few others, with varying results, but it's just fair to say that I'm not a bourbon fan.
Canadian Club, though, has become my go-to for whiskey. This is primarily due to it's price around here, which ranges from $14.99 to $24.99 for 1.75L bottles. It's a mixed whiskey, and I find the taste to be very nice, and it goes down smooth.
I have to point out that the first whiskey that got me back was Irish Whiskey, mainly Jameson's. The taste and smooth nature just appealed to me; the price, however, is the only thing keeping me from buying it more often.
Sooooo, Scotch. I wasn't sure if I would ever touch is, as I had always heard that it was an acquired taste. What I didn't know what that, as being a fan of Irish Whiskey, I had already acquired the taste! Luckily, there are places that sell the little 50 mL bottles, and that's how I sampled Scotch for the first time: a bottle of the Glenlivet, aged 15 years. Sadly, this is a case of having champagne tastes and a beer budget. One day, though...
Canadian Club, though, has become my go-to for whiskey. This is primarily due to it's price around here, which ranges from $14.99 to $24.99 for 1.75L bottles. It's a mixed whiskey, and I find the taste to be very nice, and it goes down smooth.
I have to point out that the first whiskey that got me back was Irish Whiskey, mainly Jameson's. The taste and smooth nature just appealed to me; the price, however, is the only thing keeping me from buying it more often.
Sooooo, Scotch. I wasn't sure if I would ever touch is, as I had always heard that it was an acquired taste. What I didn't know what that, as being a fan of Irish Whiskey, I had already acquired the taste! Luckily, there are places that sell the little 50 mL bottles, and that's how I sampled Scotch for the first time: a bottle of the Glenlivet, aged 15 years. Sadly, this is a case of having champagne tastes and a beer budget. One day, though...
 |
| My Three Whiskies! |
Images from product sites
I'm not going to mention any specialty liquors or other liqueurs, as there are a ton of them out there, and I don't know which I've really enjoyed. With that, I'm going to wrap this up with the good stuff from south of the border: tequila!!
One night, I was out with friends, and someone said "Let's do shots of tequila!". I didn't know how that process went before that night, but it began a long-time love of the agave wonder. I learned a lot about tequila over the years; quality, type, brands, and so forth. We were given a bottle of Patron Extra-Añejo, and it was great! I've not been able to get my paws on some seriously top-shelf tequila, but I'm sure it would be worth the price. The only problem is that demand is outpacing supply, and there is talk of shortages within a few years.
One night, I was out with friends, and someone said "Let's do shots of tequila!". I didn't know how that process went before that night, but it began a long-time love of the agave wonder. I learned a lot about tequila over the years; quality, type, brands, and so forth. We were given a bottle of Patron Extra-Añejo, and it was great! I've not been able to get my paws on some seriously top-shelf tequila, but I'm sure it would be worth the price. The only problem is that demand is outpacing supply, and there is talk of shortages within a few years.
 |
| Some go with "Lick, Sip, Suck", I just drink it. Photo uncredited |
Yeah, I know this makes me look like a lush, but in truth, I just like to try out different types of booze. I like to know about drink from the common to the unusual. One day, I may try sake!
So, that's my take on booze. Raise a glass, and drink responsibly!
--Nerikull
So, that's my take on booze. Raise a glass, and drink responsibly!
--Nerikull
All photos are posted under the precepts of Fair Use. The blogger owns none of the images.
This blog is the sole opinion of Nerikull, and does not reflect any view of Google or its brands.
Offended? TFB.
Offended? TFB.
Comments
Post a Comment