Though I quit drinking...'Absolut'ly a few years ago, I cant help but 'appreciate' fine spirits. Thought I would pen down a few points of fine drinking...rather, boozing. Sampling a fine spirit is to experience it and not for the 'sake' of drinking...or just to be 'cool'.



The moment you pour a drink into your glass...

a) Assess its appearance...the colour, consistency, texture, legs, body etc

b) Take in your long nose...the first aromas, memories, reminders, fragrances etc

c) Savour the taste...the first tasting impressions, relate to something, discover something...etc.

d) Linger over the finish...long, short, palate, lingering nose, last impression, last thought etc.

The experience should always be an 'interactive' one and the enjoyment of a good spirit would always be affected by your own mood, the occassion, the company, the time of the day or night and the food that you pair with it!






Some truths of 'decent' drinking:

a) Always alternate your drink with water to say refreshed.

b) Avoid topping up! Always pick up a fresh glass to keep track of your intake!

c) Eat a little before drinking...this slows the absorption...though eating whilst at it is good too!




d) Space your drinks...between soft beverages...this can help pace an evening.

e) Always think about how you are going to get home if you drink at places other than your own home! Please dont drink and drive.

f) Do not force your companion to drink more than he/she wants to. As Mallya says, a friend who forces you to take more than you want is never a friend at all!

g) (This applies to hommes) If you are drinking with a woman, please do NOT get her drunk. You lose your respect for obvious reasons. Besides a drunk babe is as useful as pissing in the wind!





Let me suggest a fine drink for the ladies as well as the gentlemen...how about the Moscow Mule? Its easy to make...you dont have any 'exotic' ingredients....and is simple on the stomach and head too!

Moscow Mule: For this you'd need:
1) 45 ml of any decent brand of Vodka like Skyy, Absolut, Grey Goose or Belvedere Vodaka...please dont use Blavod...the Black Vodka. (Note that I havent included Smirnoff!)

2) Juice of half a lime

3) Large twist of lime peel

4) Ginger beer

5) Slice of lime for garnish...maybe a sprig of mint too.

Method:
Pour the lime juice into a tall glass and drop in the twist of lime peel. Add ice cubes before pouring in the vodka. Now top up the glass with ginger beer. Garnish with the slice of lime, sprig of mint and serve. Easy as that! Cheers!





It is always interesting to know the history of the drink....it gives you something to talk about and also to show off to the babes ;)

Ok, here is the history of Moscow Mule....
In 1941, John G. Martin of Heublein, spirits and food distributor in east coast and Jack Morgan, Owner of the Cock'n Bull bar in Sunset Strip, Hollywood met in a bar in Los Angeles. Together they invented Moscow Mule by mixing Morgan's singer beer with Smirnoff Vodka and lime in order to market the proprietor's struggling Cock'n Bull's ginger-beer franchise.

They ordered specially engraved copper mugs and Martin set off to market it in the bars around the country. He bought one of the first Polaroid cameras and asked barmen to pose with a Moscow Mule copper mug and a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Then he would leave one copy of the photo at the bar and take a second copy to the bar next door to show them that their competitors were selling their concoction. Between 1947 and 1950, thanks to their invention, Smirnoff vodka case columns more than tripled and nearly doubled in 1951.

Drink responsibly. The test of a responsible drinker is that one should be able to say NO to a drink at a party but still be able to enjoy!


Amen
d_w

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PS: The above pics were shot with my digicam Canon IXUS 850 IS from a book called Zest issued by ITC - Welcomgroup

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