LIQUOR/MIXED DRINKS
Alcohol: the panacea for the socialy inept and chemical dependent alike. Nah, just joking. On the serious side, alcohol can be a a very destructive force if not consumed in moderation and by those that can tolerate it.
That being said (see Sesame Street does rub off on kids), I love alcohol. Not in a filial, or fraternal way, but more of an agape kind of love. There is just so much good stuff out there. I do have to say the I appreciate most type of distilled beverages that I have tried. Tequila and burbon have to be my favorites at the moment.
Tequila (and I mean real tequila, not low end Cuervo or Sauza), is one of the least understood, or misunderstood alcohols out there. Good tequila is only 100% Weber Blue Agave and must say so on the bottle. This is a distinction from Cuervo Gold and Sauza Commemorativo which are both 51% agave and 49% distilled sugar cane alcohol. It is the cane alcohol that causes the violent wretching and tremendous hangovers the next day due to its obvious high sugar content. And that is why you hate tequila and even get noxious to this day from smelling the stuff. But if you can put that bad first tequila experience aside we can continue. Now that we got that out of the way, we can talk about the three types of tequila: blanco/plata, reposado, and anejo. Blanco (white), or plata (silver) as the high end ones call themselves, is the clear tequila. It is clear because it is not aged over a month or two. Because of this, it is a crisp, sometimes rough-edged, thin tequila. Next is reposado, which is tequila that has been aged between two months and a year in oak barrels. Usually these barrels are discards from Kentucky and Tennesee burbon distillers--this is what gives tequilas their color. Lastly, there are the anejos. Anejo tequilas are those that have been aged anytiem past a year. Therefore, there is great discrepancy between an anejo that has been aged 1 year 1 month and one that has been aged for 5 years. In my opinion, reposados are the best. For one thing, reposados give you the best bang for the buck. Another reason is that some of the anejos either loose their bite, or have too much of a burbon influence. Reposados tend to be flavorful but a little more mellow and smooth without being too overpowering. Now that you know about tequila, you can move on to distinguishing between tequila and mexcal. I can't get into that now, but come to my annual tequila tasting party this yearon May 8, 1998 and find out (we will be tasting 40 different tequilas this year). Some of my favorite tequilas are Rio De Plata Reposado, Centinella Reposado, Chinaco Reposado, and Cazadores Reposado. The best tequila fro your money is Puerto Vallarta Reposado @ $12-$15 a bottle.
Next to tequila, good old american burbon whiskey is my favorite. The rich deep caramel color and smokey flavor is a perfect way to warm you up on a cool day. OR float a bit of absinthe or pernod on top and add a mint sprig and you've got yourself a refreshing mint julep for a smoldering evening. Some of my favorite burbons are, of course, good ol' Jack Daniels No. 7(or as Rob and Silvia say "I know him so well, I can call him John), Knob Creek, Elmer T. Lee, Bookers, Bakers, Blantons, or Maker's Mark. Most of these are single barrell burbons. That means that they are produced with extra attention and in limited quantities (even thogh I have never had a problem getting them, ya think it's a marketing ploy?). At any rate, burbons have such complex and distinct flavors, that it's hard not to find one that you like. And besides, burbons are the greatest man's drink. Have one neat to start off the night and you'll be growing chest hair, howling at the moon, and looking for your power tools to build something at 2 am.
The other great thing about alcohol is all the fun drinks that you can mix up. I know that the whole cocktail thing is real big right now and I wholeheartedly encourage any and all exploration into such forays. Some of my favorite mixed drinks are gimlets, cuba libre, gin rickey, jack and coke, tequila and coke, rob roy, abbey cocktail, manhattan, old fashioned, sazerac, greyhound, sambuca and soda, harvey wallbanger, rusty nail, london pick me up, and negroni. The possibilities are endless. All you really need is a shaker, ice, some form of alcohol, some fruit juice or other mixer and you are set for a night of good friends, great times, and good cheer.
Some of my favorite places to grab a drink here in the city are Trader Sam's (best tropical drinks in town and damn are they potent), Blondie's (where a group of us gather every Friday after work), Yancy's (best place to kick back on the couches or play darts in the Sunset), Savoy Tivoli (for people-watching in North Beach), The Buccaneer (best looking bartender in the city it's on Polk), El Rio (best salsa/world beat dancing and drinks), Club Delux (best swing music), the owl tree (best dive featuring and owl decor), Elbo Room (best place to hear a band and grab a drink), the Lone Palm (best swanky cocktail lounge with old time movies in the tagically-hip mission), the Starlight Room (best upscale lounge on top of the Drake hotel), and Blue Light (for some of the hottest women in the yuppie Marina).
So, I must conclude by wishing you much pleasureable imbibing. Enjoy the many splendors that alcohol can hold. Experiment and always look for that unique alcohol or drink that you haven't had yet. You can have your old standards to fall back on, but go out on a limb once in a while. And when you do drink too much, remember that two glasses of water, two aspirin, a B-complex vitamin, and plenty of sleep always helps with hangovers. Or you can just wake up and start drinking again. ON second thought that hurt me more in college than it helpled, so maybe that's not a good idea. Enjoy and always have a toast ready to say.
