After slinging drinks for roughly a decade, I have some strong opinions regarding alcohol. I started low like many do in the service industry, in some dusty wing joint that had a car theme. We served things like "Lube Burgers" and "Lube Tubes", which were 100oz tubes of beer.
I guess I don't have to say that I didn't exactly love that job. Liberties were taken with the names, sports made men murderous, and there was an "all you can eat" wing day... too much. But really, my gripe was that I didn't make enough for all that. Soon I would graduate to fine dining though, and that's where I'd begin to acquire lots of alcohol knowledge.
I also picked up a myriad of life skills. Fine dining is about creating an experience.
Although pressed white shirts and business casual attire are not exactly my vibe, I loved working in fine dining.
In addition to learning a ton about wine, how to suggest proper pairings, and mastering classic cocktails, I also made a ton of money!
Of course, being in my 20's and working late every weekend, I ended up spending a chunk of that paycheck on booze. I developed some fine tastes, and I sure could support em! My 20's were a lawless time in my life.
I learned that a bottle of Amarone would awaken all of my senses, pulling me into my glass as it opened. The fermentation process of this wine is unique, it is made from dried corvina grapes.
The grapes are turned essentially into raisins on drying rugs, then the magic begins. Because of this detailed process, and the regional specifications, Amarone is pricey. When you open a bottle and see its unique color, you'll understand why. This is a wine you decant, and as you do so the room will fill with the most enticing smell. This is the king of wine, hands down!
Of course, in my photo above I do not have Amarone, ya girl doesn't have Amarone money these days. I do know how to pick a damn good wine under 20$ though!
When I think over all the jobs I've had, fine dining is my favorite because I think that winemaking is fascinating. It's astounding how many grapes there are, how many different ways there are to process them...
I also think it's wildly interesting how much religious history winemaking has, how wine has changed political tides and marked history. However, as much as I love wine, particularly Amarone, it is not my favorite alcohol.
Nah, I just like addressing more than one prompt, and fine dining was worth remembering on chain. It was a time in my life where I saw some of the most ridiculous things. It was also a period where I excelled professionally, becoming an event planner of sorts for a small but bustling wine bar. During this time, I was able to gather life experience that has helped me numerous times.
For this I am beyond grateful!
Another big takeaway, enjoyment wise, were Champagne cocktails. The name is a misnomer, as these drinks can be made from any kind of sparkling wine (Champagne is only from Champagne, France). In the photo above I've selected Prosecco for the Italian grape's punchy acidity.
This is a simple drink, made with 1oz of lavender liqueur, a squirt of lemon simple syrup, and topped with Prosecco. Perfect on a summer evening, preferably wearing something flowy with the sound of the ocean in the background... Champagne cocktails of all kinds are a vibe.
I had to give them an honorable mention. However... good bourbon takes the cake as my favorite alcohol! I am a whiskey girl through and through, and really love any good whiskey. Looking through my camera roll, I found that I do not have a photo of my top dog though.
A photo of a giant jug of beer instead.
In its place, here is a link to their website, which provides a description of Rabbit Hole Cavehill, my #1. If you are a whiskey fan, and like the funkier flavor of a high corn spirit, I strongly recommend splurging on this 10/10 whiskey!
The link above gives tasting notes, a cool history lesson behind the selection of the name, and a store locator! I enjoyed checking their page out, as they are modest about the masterpiece they've created.
In the review on Craft Spirit Shop, it is described as "a connoisseur's delight".
I couldn't agree more!
Since I didn't have my own photo of Rabbit Hole's Cavehill, which I enjoy in a low-profile glass with a giant ice cube, I wanted to share something else that I found incredible. I'm always on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind whiskey, and this one caught my eye straight away!
This super small batch whiskey comes from the same distillery as the lavender liqueur above.
While there, I had a liquor flight, which featured all 13 of their house made liquors. Each shot was around .5oz, and not all of them were good.
I'm not a fan of vodka or gin unless they are disguised with something else, so about half the mini shots were unappealing to me.
Both the lavender liquor and this whiskey were so good I took bottles home though! This bottle of honey habanero whiskey was just the right balance of spicy and sweet, I couldn't imagine adding a thing to dilute it.
Shots of this were saved for special occasions, and it was sad when it was all gone.
The price markup on shipping was too steep for me to consider buying another, but it was memorable all the same. Besides, I couldn't rep whiskey without a photo of one I really liked!
How about you, do you have a favorite alcohol?
All photos are my own.
This is my response for this week's Weekend Engagement topics. Cheers to fun prompts! 😄
