Starker on 31/12/2017 at 21:39
I like alcohol a lot, though I haven't had much chance to drink the last couple of years (it's too damn expensive and time-consuming for a full-time student). I used to drink a lot when I was younger, but over the years I've become a more casual drinker with more discerning tastes -- the kind of alcoholic whose liquor cabinet stays full rather than empty.
I don't really have a preference, I like to try out different drinks, but I mostly drink things like beer, wine, port, sherry and some not too fancy cocktails like Cuba Libre or gin and tonic. Something that lasts a while with a good book. For example, Czech beer like Staropramen, Cockburn's port, gins like Bombay Sapphire (IMO just the right balance of price and quality). I also like whiskey, but the good ones are too expensive for me, unfortunately. Maybe when I'll get rich one day.
Today I'm going to open a bottle of Gewürtztraminer, a German wine. I think it's probably the best German wine I've tasted so far. I like dry wines in general, but IMO this sort has just the right balance of not being too dry and having more flavour and sweetness than the usual white wines.
So, what are your alcoholic preferences today and in general, ladies and gentlemen who like drinks of the alcoholic persuasion?
Renault on 31/12/2017 at 22:56
As of about a year ago, I primarily crave only one alcoholic drink - a really good IPA. I usually pick up something good that's brewed locally.
icemann on 1/1/2018 at 05:29
Give me a nice bourbon and coke any day.
ffox on 1/1/2018 at 11:21
Quote Posted by Starker
..... gins like Bombay Sapphire (IMO just the right balance of price and quality). I also like whiskey, but the good ones are too expensive for me, unfortunately.
I have very similar tastes in gin and whisky. However, there is little difference in price here between Bombay Sapphire and the more common single malt whiskies. Mark you, the top price gins are less than £2000 but the sky is the limit for old malt whisky.
I was given a bottle of The Glenlivet Nadurra for Christmas. It tastes lovely, but as it's 60% it blows your head off at the same time! It costs about twice as much as Bombay Sapphire so I wouldn't buy it for myself.
nickie on 1/1/2018 at 18:42
Ooh, Freddy, could I come and visit. I've got a bit of Bombay Sapphire in the cupboard I could bring with me.
heywood on 1/1/2018 at 18:56
I like a good single malt. I used to be into Islays, but my current favorites are from The Balvenie. I usually get a bottle for Christmas, or occasionally for get togethers with old friends. It's not cheap around here and doesn't last long, so I only splurge on whiskey for special occasions. My other occasional hard liquor vice is Hennessy V.S. Cognac. And when I used to travel to Japan a lot, I used to enjoy sweet potato shochu.
I'm really enjoying the craft brewing movement here. My favorite style is ever-changing, but right now I love a balanced, medium strength (~6% ABV), easy drinking American pale ale. Mayflower New World IPA is a favorite local example. That sounds boring, but I'm getting tired of "trendy" styles: high ABV doubles, spiced seasonals, the IBU arms race, sours, cloudy IPAs, etc. I also miss the cask conditioned ales I used to drink when I was working in England.
For wine, I'm a big fan of Marlborough Sauvignon blanc. I'm not a frequent red wine drinker, but I had a thing for Malbecs for a while, and I really miss some of the Barossa Valley Cabernets I used to enjoy when I lived in Australia. Two that I remember are Grant Burge Corryton Park and Château Tanunda 'The Château'. It's a shame the Aussies don't export their best stuff.
Vasquez on 1/1/2018 at 19:55
I mostly can't drink at all anymore, I get migraine and/or reflux pains :( But if I could, I have a cheap taste, I like half-dry champagne/sparkling wine the most (the half-dry sparklies are cheaper, so I assume they're considered less fancy :cheeky: ). And if it's very late night and need lots of energy for dancing or somesuch, the occasional tequila shot.
One that I've still been able to sometimes drink a glass or two is Fresita, the sweet bubbly that's made with real strawberries. Yum :)
Tocky on 1/1/2018 at 23:34
I like Glenlivet and Glenfiddich for the smoky taste. Like most here I don't buy them very often and only in winter. Whisky seems made for winter. There is a warm cider drink made from cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and a liberal dose of Captain Jack spiced rum which is quite tasty and will warm you up nicely. I put in enough to feel the alcohol in my nose. I like a nice moscow mule too but mostly in summer.
Mostly I like a cheap sour sweet wine in lambrusco or blush. If I can get it maybe Portland Niagarra or Ocoee white muscadine. I've had ports and sherries I like if they are aged well. Not a big one for the dry stuff.
nickie on 2/1/2018 at 07:49
Does anyone here make their own alcohol? Looks like I'll have to start brewing in the Spring and where we're going has loads of 'hedgerow' fruit for wine and sloes for gin. I haven't brewed for about 30 years so I'll be interested to see what I've remembered.
Tommyph1208 on 2/1/2018 at 10:46
I'm from Denmark, and we have a pretty stong drinking culture (that sounds wrong).
I often get a glass of wine or a beer with my dinner (also when dinner is nothing fancy, We have two kids, so it often isn't).
I, as many others have transitioned from "drinking a lot of cheap stuff" when I was younger into only drinking more than one glass only on rare occasions... Lately I've been getting more and more into cocktails, as I like the artistic creation and display of them just as much as I like the taste. I get inspired on youtube and buy up all sorts of fun cocktail tools and gadgets from ebay just to try them out... Also bought a proper liqueur cabinet, which is getting near full.
Another thing I have started drinking is apple cider... My wife and I bought a house 1½ years ago, which had an apple tree in the garden, grafted with 3 different apple varieties... I hated just seeing these apples rot on my lawn, so I started reading about cider production, bought a bunch of equipment, and now have 30 champagne bottles of homemade cider aging in my basement. Of course that necessitates some sample tasting every now and then, as well as drinking other ciders for comparison ;)