While on the subject of expensive alcohol, I had an opportunity to attend a "luxury tax" - I heard they served Patron - party thrown by one of the African-American frats on campus, but my stingy ass didn't feel like paying to go to a party where I wouldn't know anyone except my roommate. Not wanting to pay seems laughable now, but I was REALLY low on cash this semester.
I'll give up many things (professional haircuts, the gym, clothing, my phone, internet, fresh produce) before I'll give up good beer (specifically, good IPA or, on occasion, a nice porter or stout). Life wouldn't be worth living for me without good beer.
We were the recipients of a wonderful bottle of 12 year old single malt this past week, delivered by a friend of our friend in Scotland. Straight off the plane from Scotland.
Would I be the object of pity if I admitted it was the highlight of my year?
I am like this with beer. The price of microbrews or good beers is astronomical now, and I'm spending $10 or more for a 6-pack. I still refuse to drink Miller, though.
As a good Kentucky girl, I will sacrifice many things before I will give up my top-shelf bourbon. Who's up for bourbon balls, bread pudding with bourbon sauce and some bourbon on the rocks at my house?
@Flackette is a Red State Elitist: This Kentucky girl also agrees with you and I am VERY picky when it comes to my bourbon. I am also partial to moonshine if it is made properly.
The only drink worth savoring is an Islay Malt, preferably Lagavullin or Laphroig, 15 years or more. Purchase said bottle, open it, pour a stiff glass, add a small amount of water to allow the whisky to fully into its own, sit in a large, comfy leather chair with the fire going and a great book (MR James' ghost tales would fit this weather). Now drink.
@dianersb: I have three of the four, sadly no fireplace either. I'm staring at our christmas tree and thinking damn I want a fireplace, it's just so unreasonable...
@ASmallTurnip: You can sex me in a lady like way any time. Oh I miss decent malts but luckily some scots are arriving on wednesday, hopefully bearing gifts.
@emilyanne: I prefer a Speyside to those smoky Islays. Give me a Balvenie every time. The 10 year old for week days and the 27 year old portwood for Sundays.
Oh yes - apparently my coworkers and I will be partaking in some "holiday cheer" very shortly, i.e. breaking into the multiple bottles of wine that various companies have sent us. WIN.
@bitchytexan (hellodarling!): So jealous. In the land of the non-profit/school means no vendor appreciation gifts, which is one of the most awesome things about the corporate world.
There is a fantastic Polish vodka named Luksusowa that tastes like Chopin and costs like Smirnoff - $20-$30 a liter, depending where you go, and its the smoothest vodka EVER. Buy it. Drink it. Love it.
Good Gin. Seriously. Nothing ends a bad workday or the week better than a Bombay Sapphire martini (dry, with olives please). Any other gin just will not do, and cheap gin??? Not near these lips.
I am a horrible, horrible person. Let me tell you why: I still drink cheap wine, despite knowing that there are things that are better out there.
I like firm, robust reds, like a good shiraz or cab sauv. I can taste the difference in more expensive wines--the subtleties, the depth of flavor, the vegetal/woodsy/punchy depth that makes an expensive wine taste like an expensive wine.
And yet, for daily consumption, I drink Barefoot. Or Yellowtail. Good wine is a real treat, but it's like...I don't wear my best clothes or my nicest shoes everyday, because I can't justify the expense to keep replacing the finest tippy-top stuff. I wear Dr. Martens and Target clothes everyday, because that's what works for my tastes and budget most of the time.
Same with wine. Cheap on the daily. Nice for special occasions.
@tscheese: I'm as bad as you are. If I want to afford my nightly wine, I can't go too expensive. Sometimes you just need your nightly wine to get you through the day.
@tscheese: I'm this way with beer. I drink Yuengling on the regular, better stuff for special occasions. I never go as low as Bud or Miller or anything, because even I have standards.
@tscheese: Are you not a fan of "three-buck Chuck'? We can't get it here in BFE, but we do have friends visit that bless us with a couple of cases a year.
I have a recommendation, dear friends. Go to a holiday party- drink crazy booze for free. Do not go to bed until 6am. Wake at 11am. Nurse your pain with coffee, water, diet coke, orange juice, a mimosa and chicken wings. Still feel like crap. Suffer crippling bouts of post-alcohol anxiety. Don't go sleep until 3am. Wake at 8am, go to work and deal with shitty boss.
I guarantee this will remove all your desires for alcohol for at least a week.
@SisterMaryMartha: Ah we have had a frighteningly similar weekend. Spent Sunday afternoon freaking out with anxiety. Yet I later was able to nurse a mulled wine...medicinal, dontachyaknow.
@keldo: @hatepaperdoll: It helps to remember that the anxiety is largely induced by a chemical reaction- but it still sucks. I tend to really beat myself up when I am like this.
@SisterMaryMartha: I know, I read an article about how The Guilt is just a chemical thing, but it doesn't really stop you from thinking "Well, maybe for most people it's just chemical, but I really am a horrible person and also a failure."
@hatepaperdoll: I am always convinced that I have somehow said something reprehensible that I just can't recall. Not for any real reason, just this persistent evil fear that my inner asshole exploded.
@SisterMaryMartha: That. The reason I can't drink Bacardi anymore. Because it's usually based on, yk, the fact that my inner asshole did explode. Yay, me. So adult.
@labeled: I confess: on 3 occasions of severe drunkitude, two in college and one after, I said stupid things to people. Which is to say, I only spoke the truth, what was on my mind- and not necessarily harshly- just you know, unfiltered. In front of others.
Bad.
As a result, I have ever since, been petrified of doing that again.
My parents always keep bottles of good red wine in the house, and I've never seen them drink white. My dad always has a glass before he goes to bed, and even at restaurants, I've never seen him drink anything else. He rarely drinks, ever, except for that glass of red wine, and nothing else. But he isn't really a wine snob or anything.
Meagan, I just fell in love with you all over again. Suggestion: Pull out the plastic, and buy your parents some good (not fantastic) wine, maybe an odd varietal like malbec, and tell them it was on sale, "buy one, get one free." They'll have LOADS of fun looking for bargains in the wine bins. And ocassionally, they may find a winner! I recently found one from Washington State, and one from France. but I'm keeping the names a secret.
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Would I be the object of pity if I admitted it was the highlight of my year?
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Hmmm...must procure missing items, but how?
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When I'm not pregnant of course.
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I like firm, robust reds, like a good shiraz or cab sauv. I can taste the difference in more expensive wines--the subtleties, the depth of flavor, the vegetal/woodsy/punchy depth that makes an expensive wine taste like an expensive wine.
And yet, for daily consumption, I drink Barefoot. Or Yellowtail. Good wine is a real treat, but it's like...I don't wear my best clothes or my nicest shoes everyday, because I can't justify the expense to keep replacing the finest tippy-top stuff. I wear Dr. Martens and Target clothes everyday, because that's what works for my tastes and budget most of the time.
Same with wine. Cheap on the daily. Nice for special occasions.
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I'll be picking up bottles of it tonight and pretending that it's better.
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Still feel like crap.
Suffer crippling bouts of post-alcohol anxiety.
Don't go sleep until 3am.
Wake at 8am, go to work and deal with shitty boss.
I guarantee this will remove all your desires for alcohol for at least a week.
Savings: $15-$45.
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The Guilt in my circle of friends, and it's led to many a declaration of NDA (never drinking again).
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I was just sayin' that this "temperance" thing has its disadvantages. Or advantages, but whatever.
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Bad.
As a result, I have ever since, been petrified of doing that again.
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It's half the fun of drinking Effen Vodka!
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Suggestion: Pull out the plastic, and buy your parents some good (not fantastic) wine, maybe an odd varietal like malbec, and tell them it was on sale, "buy one, get one free."
They'll have LOADS of fun looking for bargains in the wine bins. And ocassionally, they may find a winner!
I recently found one from Washington State, and one from France.
but I'm keeping the names a secret.
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