Save for three days it has largely been a dry January for me. Going to break the booze fast in style tomorrow when I visit the mother and sister though. Acquired some Lillet Blanc for knocking out a Vesper or two for the first time. The Lillet, export Tanqueray, vodka and a lemon twist should be a stern drink. OG recipe is Kina Lillet, but as this was discontinued many moons ago, the Lillet Blanc is the accepted substitute.

I got well and truly shitfaced with some badgers last weekend. Might be why I’m sick as a dog now. Definitely not a dry January here.

'You must drink a little more than moderation'.  Ha.  

Subs are more [5] than 8.5 though.

Lucozade Zero and Fernet Branca.

I can't be trusted at all.

Probably for the best.

Actually.....@Brooks may be onto something there....

At £1.85 500ml this is a solid porter.
5% so about the strength you want.
It doesn't do anything new but holds its own.

It is very full, slightly sweet and with those subtle liquorice tones you would expect. It clings to the bottle and has a molasses like taste and thicker viscosity than usual lager or stout.

It's because you can actually taste the bottle stuff.

LivDiv wrote:

At £1.85 500ml this is a solid porter.
5% so about the strength you want.
It doesn't do anything new but holds its own.

It is very full, slightly sweet and with those subtle liquorice tones you would expect. It clings to the bottle and has a molasses like taste and thicker viscosity than usual lager or stout.

I don't really drink stout/porter much these days, found myself getting ruined by the hangovers too often when I was big into them, but I've been on the Super Bock Black during lockdown. Got a crate of 24 for £25, it's about as refreshing and crisp as stout gets. Wasn't expecting much but I'm definitely into it.

I got my mate that pineapple rum for his bday.
He said it was great, unfortunately it was peak lockdown so I didnt get a taste

Day two of a four day booze sale at HQ. Spent eighty quid so far. Gathered a haul for yuletide festivities; four proseccos, a prosecco magnum, seven bottles of pinot grigio (mum only drinks fizz and pg... and martinis), and took a punt on the above line up.

Vodka looks fancy and is present bound, the Pineapple Grenade Rum has good rep and has balls at 65%. DMF Coffee Rum can't be any worse than the hemp and after a quick Google it seems I'm in safe hands. The Pogues single malt however was a risky punt given Shane's dodgy dentistry. I thought me dad might like it but after another browse online I don't think I'll subject him to it and get him something with a bit more provenance. I'll let my own liver and tastebuds take on this challenge.

I tried that Pogues whiskey at an sampling event. By the time I reached that stall I was into the 3rd hour so my tastebuds were fecked. It seemed fine. Nothing Earth shattering. The blended version was quite good for that division.

I remember liking the blend better than the single malt. But I was well gone by that time.

I made Martinis at the weekend for mum and sister, Riri Martinis however, or at least my version of. Rihanna's favourite tipple allegedly, hers is a little washed out, 50ml of gin and 25ml of coconut water. I do the same but throw in a 25ml measure of Malibu (or the cheaper Bali in this case) for that totally tropical taste, a chunk of pineapple adorning the rim. Refreshing, totally out of whack for winter but drinkable all the same.

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Popped in a posh beer shop to see if they had any good vermouth for my vodka martini addiction, ended up buying a Dolin.  Also fancied trying something I'd never had before, so after a chat with the friendly, surprisingly beardless beer man I grabbed a bottle of Fernet-Branca.  Early days as I'm halfway through my first drop, but at this stage it tastes like drinking Night Nurse immediately after eating a packet of Trebor extra strong mints.  I can't work out why it's not hideous, I've had three sips while typing this.

It is like drinking the liquid from those small squeezable karvol capsules.