by D. Kearney Sparano

Created on: March 23, 2009   Last Updated: March 24, 2009

Alcohol is a wide, wide world. There is a lot going on there, some of it is fantastic, some not so fantastic. Over the years I have done some searching to figure out what I like and what I would rather pass on. I have my stand by's, my preferences and my occasional indulgences.

Wine: I would never categorize myself a great wine connoisseur. It is a skill and hobby that seems way too involved for me. That is not to say though that I don't like wine. I tend to prefer French or Italian, not because they are French of Italian, but because they are good. American wineries sometimes won't blend there wines which will create problems in flavor. Europeans don't seem to have this problem since they do blend.

Two of my favorite wines are Tavel and Fiole from the Chateauneuf du Pape region. They are a rose and a red table wine respectively. They have a wonderful flavor and glide over the tongue beautifully. I also tend to like Yellow tail which comes from Australia but has Italian roots. It is a good stand by, everyday wine in my opinion.

Beer: I am an avid beer drinker. I tend to like stouts, ales and anything not too hoppy. If you have read other articles of mine then you know my favorites. If you are unaware then you can follow this link http://www.helium.com/items/1316891-beer-favorites-g uinness-sam-adams

Spirits: I have always defined spirits as straight alcohol i.e. whiskey, vodka, gin and so on. I'm a whiskey man, preferably Irish whiskey or scotch. I am not that big into American after an evening of over indulgence. My favorite brand of Irish whiskey is Jameson's' 12 year which is just a little but smoother then regular Jameson's. For scotch my preference is Glenlivet, however Dewar's White Label is also good.

Cocktails/Mix Drinks: I am not a big drinker of cocktails, but there are a couple I enjoy. Gin and tonic is fantastic on a hot summer day. It is simple and refreshing. I also like a martini, gin martini. Alton Brown is right and James bond is wrong, gin makes a superior martini. Aside from those drinks, I rarely order a cocktail at the bar and I order those infrequently at best.

Liqueurs: If there is something that I drink even less then a cocktail it is liqueurs, but I do have 2 preferences. While in Italy I did develop a taste for limoncello. Before that I was always a fan, and still am, of Bailey's Irish Cream. I suppose these choices speak to my mixed heritage.

And those are my favorite alcoholic drinks.

Cheers!

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