Thursday, June 07, 2007

Where's Your Spirit?

What's your favourite drink? I don't want to know about wine or beer, I want to talk Malibu, Vodka and Blue Bols. Mine is classic white label Jim Beam - the World's Finest Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Bells Whisky is my dad's spirit and it was what was in the cupboard when I wanted to sneak a teenage drink so it became my choice through familiarity and I do still love it. Then my eldest brother, Nick, opened this bar in Derby called The Dial (it's been knocked down now and he lives in Australia) and as soon as I turned 18 I got a weekend job there. My favourite and most interesting regular always came in alone and ordered 2 glasses of Jim Beam and drank them both by alternating a sip out of each and then he'd order another pair. Sometimes he'd order four which he lined up in a row at the bar. Eventually we became friends and I'd have a pair with him after work but after I left town we gradually lost touch. Anyway, it's been my drink now, for 20 years and eight months. What's yours?

18 comments:

James Franco said...

I have two favourite drinks, one is my "at home" drink- Jack Daniels

The other one I only ever drink on holiday- Malibu and Pineapple.

That sounds really girly doesnt it?

Although you can't beat a good grappa after a meal.

Rob said...

I like vodka straight from the freezer - when it's gone a bit syrupy.
*salivates*

Heidi said...

I love shots, me! the best is what we call 'half and half', half vodka and half butterscotch schnapps. Ice cold. We discovered it on a snowboarding holiday in what is THE best bar in the world, Pub Mont Fort in Verbier. We alternated this with pints of cider and ended up on our arses in the snow on the way back home.

Vana, your friend lining up drinks at the bar - how funny! Lining up things - now where have I seen that....

Anonymous said...

At Christams and before a posh meal in a restaurant I always have Campari and orange juice - do remember where that came from?
Other than that I drink absolutley ote, in fact there's nothing I won't drink. Except.... that manky pear cider thing you ordered from Burton Bridge

Valentine Suicide said...

Jameson's. Nice and smooth!

Robert said...

Aside from noncy LatAM cocktails with bits of crushed lime and mint floating around in them (Mojito/Caipirinha), I am feeling casked aged vintage dark rum (Ron Anejo Superior). Not your tawdry high street muck. Mix with lime juice, bags of ice and a just a splash of coke. Rum is the new vodka....

I once had a run of holiday Pastis drinking - again bags of ice but with fizzy not flat water... hmmmm.

Anonymous said...

Vodka, straight from the freezer with apple juice and a slice of lime OR Absolut Raspberry vodka and about a gazillion ice cubes.

What time is it.....?

James Franco said...

Pimms O'Clock?

Anonymous said...

I love a good G and T, with plenty of ice, gin (Tanqueray or B Sapphire), lemon and a good tonic. I also used to LOVE Pernod and Pepsi. But I'm alright now. Nero

Anonymous said...

if we're talking bourbon then it's Makers Mark everytime. My favourite drink is black coffee.

Mel said...

Love vodka ice cold with just a splash of lime, but if no one is looking then a large Baileys...slightly warm.....

ally. said...

i've just been introduced to the cheeky vimto via an interview with charlotte church.
two shots of port in a blue wkd and you're anyones.
this is charlottes 'a quick little something to get the night started tipple'.
what i miss desperately is hooch. add a vodka and it was better than drugs.
i sound really classy don't i?
i should've just stuck with vodka.

Anonymous said...

ooh i remember when a vodka / 2 dogs could make a night at Harper's in Guildford a *special* one... I haven't drunk for so long I've forgotten what I drink. Stupid (& a sign i need to go out and get ragged). Although as a guilty pleasure a nip of limoncello after dinner makes me happy as larry.

Rob said...

a good dash of limoncello in the bottom of a tall glass of prosecco and it's yelling and dancing time...

Drunk Mummy said...

I used to drink cider and Cherry B when I was younger. I believe it was called a 'Leg Over' which always made the request to the barman an interesting experience.
Limoncello in prosecco? Rob - what sacrilege!

Anonymous said...

Re: limoncello - try a dash in a G&T. Delicious! If I'm limited to one favourite though it's Isle of Jura 10 year old malt whisky. Shamefully under-rated by the whisky snobs, who seem to think that if the glass doesn't reek of rotting seaweed then the contents can't be worth drinking. Cheaper than most other malts too.

Anonymous said...

I'd have to say any decent single malt, with a touch of water to open up the taste

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with previous reply from Robert. A top quality rum is the most underrated spirit. My fav.s Havana Club 7 y.o or Mount Gay Spec. Res. Straight with ice, or plus squeeze of lime, or above with dash coke. 1st sip takes your breath away.

From eldest bro. owner of knocked down bar. In Aus. Still alive.