What Do You Drink?

Yes, it was as good as it looked.

I make no secret that I love a potent potable, although I am far from a dipsomaniac. Aside from wine—and I shudder to think of what middle class America considers "wine," something called Cupcake and another called Barefoot currently impose upon the shelves of most markets—I think a man or woman's choice of adult beverage says much about that person's personality.

Personally I love the Vesper martini, invented by Ian Fleming of James Bond fame while writing at the Duke's Hotel in the Mayfair district of London. I had been on the beverage for a year or two before I had it at the Duke's Hotel. It is three parts gin, one vodka, one Lillet Blanc, with a dash of bitters, served straight with a citrus twist. Generally I like any good gin, be it Beefeater, Tanqueray, or something similar. The best gin I ever had was "No. 3" by Berry Brothers & Rudd of London. I have only seen the stuff once in the United States though.

I think much like myself, gin is an acquired taste that most do not acquire, but those who do can somewhat appreciate. As with my posts, there is great variety in quality of gin and the number of botanicals is not as relevant as most think. The distillation process is really what is key. It is what separates Beefeater from Gordon's (which was a good gin before they watered down the alcohol content from 50% to 40% for American consumers). Also, like gin, I have a bitterness than some cannot get past, but can grow on those who do. And finally I have a bit of snob appeal that may or may not be justified.

What do you drink?

On an unrelated note, I once spent a weekend with a Swedish Baptist and his family of teetotalers. During the car ride to his house I, tired from the trip, suggested I would not mind a tightener upon arrival. He said, "Oh, we're all teetotalers in my family." Not understanding the word, I thought it would be "tea totallers," perhaps indicating enthusiasm for Harney Teas some 10 miles across the New York state border. "Yes," I replied, "I like tea, but I would prefer a stronger drink. Do you have any gin?" Horrified, he explained that no one in his family drank alcohol and they kept none in their house either. I respected his family's position, part religious and part the result of a history of alcoholism in his lineage, however anyone who lives without Bordeaux (or "claret" for English readers) is only living, but is not actually alive!