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Last week's discussion of what to put on your wedding registry made me think fondly of all those crystal wine glasses I never use… so I thought it might be fun to have a discussion about what you're drinking these days. What brands are your favorite for wines, spirits, and others? Any mixers you absolutely swear by? What's your go-to cocktail if you're ordering something fancy?
If you mention anything that you think is regional, please do let us know where you are…
(We've talked in the past about tips for moderating your alcohol intake, as well as had discussions about how some professions seem to encourage a lot more drinking — as well as what to drink at an office cocktail party. Please always drink responsibly!)
Here's what I'm drinking in 2018:
- Gins (for martinis, up, with a twist): I always get Hayman's Gin where it's available. Other standbys are Hendrick's, Tanqueray No. 10, Bombay Sapphire… Because of my love for Hayman's I'm always winning to try any Old Tom gin, since it's kind of a rare recipe for gin these days — but there's a wide variety in how they taste.
- Tequila (on the rocks with lime): as long as it's blanco, añejo, or reposado, I'm not picky, but I love to taste test different ones. I haven't gotten into mezcals too much.
- Vodka (for vodka sodas): Absolut or Ketel. This is my “I probably shouldn't be drinking tonight so I'll get a vodka soda with a seltzer on the side and keep adding seltzer to it…” drink.
- Whiskey/bourbon: We don't do well with whole whiskey bottles in the house, but I tend to buy airplane bottles of Knob Creek, Bulleit, or occasionally Honey Jack. When out at restaurants, I tend to go by price and age.
- Actual cocktails: For calorie reasons I usually prefer straight alcohol, but occasionally I love a good Manhattan, Aviation, or a Bee's Knees if it's on the menu and looks tasty.
- After dinner drinks: We've always had Drambuie at family gatherings, so I've always drunk that (on the rocks).
- Since law school, I've enjoyed a good port. I was on exec board for law review, and when the old board and new board went out for dinner at a fancy restaurant, one of the guys insisted we all order “Cockburn's” port because, ha ha. I actually liked it, but it's hard to buy a bottle because it goes bad pretty quickly and I'm the only one who drinks it, so this tends to be something I only have at a restaurant.
- Oh! And I just started drinking this in the last year or so, but caramel vodka is really good for an after dinner drink. I originally purchased it because someone on Facebook suggested that this is what you're supposed to do with hollow Easter-related candy: bite off the head, fill with caramel vodka, and drink away. We haven't done that… but caramel vodka is surprisingly good over ice.
White wine: I don't drink a ton of white wine, but like everybody, I really like Conundrum! My go-to gift wine is Pouilly-Fuissé because I really loved it years ago when I took a wine tasting class.
Red wine: I'm not terribly picky, but tend to prefer malbecs, tempranillos, zinfandels, or pinot noirs. (I never drink cabernet sauvignon because we had a case of it for our wedding and it always made me sneeze. Lately I'm also trying to stay away from blends/meritages — they feel a bit too much like juice — but I do like me some 19 Crimes.) Speaking of juice, my parents still swear by the Bota Box (Old Vine Zin), and it's our go-to boxed wine for parties and other events where having four bottles of wine makes sense.
Beer: When I was pregnant I liked O'Douls' nonalcoholic beer, but I'm really not a big beer drinker. My husband is all about the stouts and porters, though.
Mocktail: A reader called this “unicorn juice” — seltzer plus pink lemonade powder — and it's what I drink when I want a treat but I'm not drinking alcohol. I'm also a fan of seltzer mixed with just about any juice.
{related: we rounded up 10 great mocktail recipes}
(I feel like I should point out that I'm not drinking all of this in one night — if it's a Saturday night and we're out with friends I try to stick to two servings of alcohol for calorie/sleep reasons.)
All right, ladies, that's my wide range of what I drink. (Pretty much everything but rum and beer, right?) What do you drink? What are your favorite bottles and brands, and how do you find new ones? Do you buy them based on what's in stock, do you read reviews at spots like Caskers, or do you buy them based on an amorphous thing like the bottle art?
Psst: here are some great products to help you with moderation:
Pictured above, some ideas on how to moderate your drinking: Caloric Cuvee, [sold out] but similar) and Wine-Trax; all $9-$19 at Amazon. I've also talked about how much I love the beautiful cocktail glasses from The History Company because they're generally smaller!
Anon
Loving cider recently:Angry Orchard Rose and Bold Rock IPA Cider.
White wine: Pretty much any New Zealand white – Matua is an awesome cheap option. Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc also.
Rose: I always switch it up – does anyone have any current favorites?
Red: Agree with 19 Crimes, also like Apothic
Seltzer: White Claw Black Cherry is amazing
Anon
Ah, and for KK below: I drink cider at restaurants because they carry things I can’t get at local liquor stores. I drink Seltzer in the summer because it’s refreshing or when I want to watch calories for the evening. I drink wine with my friends and family because we find it fun to try new ones and compare.
Buckeyeesq
You should try Down East cider! A little drier and, I think, more flavorful.
Kk
Kat, I know this is a post that probably took a while to write, but I’m struggling with the intended purpose. I’m not particularly interested in what YOU’RE enjoying- on this blog, I’m interested in something more strategic and your reasons behind your choices.
Examples might include: I drink titos and soda at receptions where I’ll be standing, because if someone bumps me, I know it wont stain. Or, carrying wine in my left hand means I can shake hands with my right hand and it wont be icy/cold.
Looking forward to reading the comments!
Anonymous
I think it’s fun to see what everyone else likes. I pretty much drink based on taste, no strategizing here.
Ellen
Yes it is, but even tho I love White Russians, there are SOOOO many calories in it that I dare NOT drink them anymore b/c Dad says they will go right to my tuchus. I think he is right b/c I stopped drinkeing them as soon as I returned to NY from Law School. Men at GW would always try to ply me with drink’s including White Russians and Cape Cod’s b/c they knew they tasted like candy but packed a punch. Of course I did NOT drink all of them, b/c I knew the men were not just interested in stareing at me, but also to get me tipsey enough so that I would do stuff with them (s-xeual stuff). I never really enjoyed doeing stuff, especially if I were tipsy, b/c they always tried to make me do more stuff then I wanted to do. FOOEY!
Anonymous
I’m confused by your comment. If you’re looking forward to reading the comments, then why are you questioning the intended purposes of the post?
Kk
Because I’m hoping some of the commenters will include why they like particular drinks, not that they’re drinking Conundrum because “everyone else is”
Anonymous
That would be a super boring post — I don’t drink red wine at parties because it stains. The end.
Anonymous
Huh? It’s a fun post!!
Anonymous
+1
Apples
I don’t know. If she had done that, there’s a high risk it would have turned into one of those often-ridiculed “Is Red Wine Professional?” posts. I’m interested in what other people like, especially on a fun post.
Anon
Yes! This.
Anon
I think this is an interesting idea. For example, a friend who started in Sales at a major oil company in the 80s was told by his boss to drink scotch rather than bourbon or other liquors on sales trips to reduce the change of a hangover.
Anonymous
Yeah, except that sounds like total BS.
Triangle Pose
Yeah that’s dumb.
Anon
It worked for him but thank you for your opinion
Mrs. Jones
I’ve tried about 20 different ciders over the past year, and Treehorn is the only one I really like. It comes in different flavors, which is fun.
Anonymous
Oooh! Maybe you have some advice. I love “soft” ciders with that aggressive hit of not-too-sweet apple flavor, but the hard ciders I’ve had have all either tasted like mediocre lagers with apple flavor or like a pinot grigio made with apples. I’d love to find commercial hard cider that’s more similar to that “unpasteurized cider left in the back of the fridge” flavor; which is to say, aggressively apply with a bit of funk.
emeralds
Where are you located? I would recommend checking out whether you have any local small-batch artisanal cideries in your region. They’ll be your best bet for what you’re looking for! I also hate mass-market hard cider (Angry Orchard etc.) but love love love cider from my local-area producers (granted I’m in a state known for both booze production and apple orchards).
Anonymous
Probably too late on this, but Down East Cider in Boston (more so when it’s on tap than when it’s in a can) hits that precise cider-in-the-fridge sweet spot. Every time I go back I filter my restaurant choices based in part on if I think they have Down East on tap…
Rainbow Hair
In case anyone is out this-a-ways, Iron Bark Cider in Claremont has been a game changer for me. I generally don’t like cider because it’s often syrupy, or because it’s so close to beer I’m like, “why am I not just drinking beer? i love beer!” … but Iron Bark’s stuff is so crisp and clean and interesting! They make an earl gray based cider that’s [kisses fingers]!
But really, if you’re out this-a-ways and you like beer/cider and you haven’t yet hit me up to do feminist brewery hopping with me, the time is now.
Anonymous
Mostly I am drinking gin martinis with a twist of lemon. For me, the gin *must* be Miller’s… it’s the perfect gin for a martini. And must have really good vermouth too (currently using Vya brand vermouth, but will mix it up to try new things).
If I’m not drinking martinis (which I do way too often) I’m drinking something sparkling… current favorite is Schramsberg.
kk
Schramsberg blanc de blancs is a favorite of mine too- and you can find it at trader joes, usually!
Anon
I feel like this must be a millennial stereotype, but I’ve been drinking cava. And it must be trending, because it’s become easier to find.
Anonymous
Prosecco for the win here, and I am a long way from being a millenial. Just love how festive it looks in the glass; its crispness. Usually around $15 per bottle.
Rebecca in Dallas
I also like prosecco! La Marca is a pretty good and inexpensive one, dry enough that I can drink it on its own as opposed to using it as a mimosa base. (I can’t do sweet wines, they always give me a headache!)
Becky
TJ: Working moms talk to me about guilt and how you get over it. I have a toddler and an 8 month old and toddler is in daycare which I know is great for him, but the baby is home with a nanny so I know I am missing out on so much every day. I love my job and can’t imagine being a SAHM but I do sometimes feel I should be working less to spend more time with the baby because we will never get this time back. Hence, guilt while working instead of playing with the baby and guilt while playing with the baby if I could be working.
Senior Attorney
Guilt is just a useless emotion. Seriously it’s the worst of all worlds because it keeps you from being fully present for any of it. Presumably you’ve made the choices you’ve made for good reasons, so just own them!
I know it’s easier said than done, but… does your husband feel guilty for working? I bet not. Don’t let the patriarchy play games in your head!
KateMiddletown
I agree that guilt is useless, but I think it comes from some evolutionary place where we’re supposed to watch and protect our young. Maybe knowing that, you can rationalize why you’re feeling it, and then tell it to go away.
Ms B
The Kid is six now and I still have guilt. One thing I have learned is that, on the whole, I put a lot more pressure on my parenting and working than most other people do. If everyone gets out of my house in the morning in clean, seasonally appropriate clothing with their lunches (packed by The Hubs), gets through their day without meltdowns, gets home and eats and then we have an hour of family time, I call it a win . . . and most parents I know agree.
That said, as parents (and as exemplars for other peoples’ kids and other adults), one of the primary things that we do is model adult life. Part of that in 2018 often includes working outside the home and juggling. If I do not do that, then it will not be visible to The Kid and he will grow up thinking that women only have certain roles and I am not all right with that. If we want to make change in the world, then we have to do our part both inside and outside the home.
anon
+1
Nylon girl
I work because I need the money and also because I’m the only woman in my group. I tell myself that I’m the change (more women in senior positions) and advocate to have more women in our firm.
Anonymous
Over the course of raising three kids now in their young 20’s, I tried it all: working PT, FT and even staying home for three years. I can tell you I was most miserable staying home b/c then I had all this time to spend with them, and wanted to run screaming from the house. It was not the magical experience I was expecting! Most important is the cliche advice: be present with them when you are with them. That is what matters. Figure out what life hacks you need to make your situation work. Mainly, just make your decision on working, and then own it, and make it successful for your family. Guilt, second guessing yourself, etc is just stealing productive time from your work, and family time from your family.
Looking back now, I am so incredibly grateful I jumped back in when I did, and kept my earning power up over the course of my career; I can’t tell you what a difference that has made to me. My daughter recently welled up and told me how grateful she was that she had such a powerful role model on being a successful woman with a family.
You have got this.
Senior Attorney
Oh, gosh. This is what I was trying to say but you said it so much better!
Anonymous
SA, been a big fan for years so you just made my day!
Anon
I dont have it. I had it with my first, stayed home for a few years after I had my second, and could not wait to go back to work after I had my fourth. I loved breastfeeding, taking babies for walks and hanging out with mom at afternoon shopping trips and lunches, but I was unfulfilled when I thought about the long-term. I also could not imagine staying home once my kids were school-aged, and felt financial pressure as well. I work full-time now, with a fair amount of travel and some late nights, and I have zero guilt about it. We need the money and I feel the example of a working mom is sooo critical to my kids. I love that they see their Dad and I both doing what needs to be done, with virtually no regard to gender stereotypes. We both work outside the home for money to support our life, and we both work at home to make our family life run. I also work out a lot and have zero guilt about that either because it is important for my mental and physical health, and, again, I think it is incredibly important that my kids see me prioritizing health.
I think that part of my zero guilt is because I stayed home. While I loved being home with babies, there was a lot of downtime and filling my days with things like baking or cooking elaborate dinners or organizing closets, or going on long shopping trips. I do not believe that those activities contributed to my family anywhere near as much as my financial and work-example contributions do. One more comment, beyond the baby stage, there is only so much “playing” with a two, three or four year old that anyone can (or should) do. They need to play independently and be in play groups with their peers. They need naps and down-time. Older kids are busy with school, homework, activities and friends. So, the stay at home mom life really involves a bunch of other stuff (cooking, baking, shopping, cleaning, organizing), and not to take away from those that enjoy or find fulfillment in those activities, I simply dont and am happy to outsource, share with my husband and cram in what I can, when I can.
Saguaro
This is a great response!
Anonymous
1. I have a friend who is a SAHM, who recently took her pre-schooler daughter to the train station to drop off the dad as he went to work. The daughter asked why there were mommies on the platform and followed up with “mommies can go to work too, like daddies?”
2. I never in a million years thought it would be me, but I am getting divorced and am SO HAPPY that I have my own life and career and don’t have to worry how I’m going to support myself and my kid.
Anonymous
#1 is a real wake up call. Wow.
Rainbow Hair
We have like reverse gender roles in my house: I’m the breadwinner and my husband is the homemaker and primary caretaker. It’s funny because Kiddo will say things like, “and daddies do laundry!” or make a biiig deal out of me cooking dinner. I figure she’ll get plenty of examples of the opposite, so I don’t push too hard to course correct at this point.
Anon
Wow. I am so sad to think of the damage already done to this little girl’s perception of “normal”at such a young age (because I am sure there is a bunch of stuff she has internalized along with what precipitated that question). I hope this is repairable.
CPA Lady
I try not to use the word “should”.
I am generally happy with my life and my parenting choices. Once I start putting “should” on myself, that’s when I start feeling guilty and horrible. There is always someone out there telling you that you “should” be doing more. You “should” be treasuring every moment. You “should” be quitting your job and doing pinterest crafts with your children until your hands fall off. You “should” be making them bento boxes of organic food lovingly sculpted into characters from a TV show they’ve never seen because screen time is the devil.
“Should” is here to tell you that you have already failed. Eff that.
You love your job. You love your children. You’re doing a great job. If you are working a ton of overtime, there are plenty of 40 hour a week jobs out there. Start networking and get one. You don’t have to blow up your entire career because of what you “should” be doing.
If you WANT to stay home, that’s one thing. But if you think you SHOULD want to stay home, that’s another.
Marshmallow
Counterpoint: my mom was a SAHM until my parents got divorced when I was pre-teen. Yes, we did awesome arts and crafts and I had blowout birthday parties and hand-sewn Halloween costumes and those are memories that I cherish. But while my dad was working his way up the corporate ladder and attending college at night, my mom was attending PTA meetings and sewing doll clothes. She was thrown into the job market with no education and no marketable skills, and two little girls to take care of.
I have grown up watching my mom struggle and struggle to make ends meet. She has never been able to provide a dollar of financial support for me, and often can’t provide emotional support because she’s just too stressed out financially to “be there” for me. She has told me she feels a lot of guilt about this, especially things like not being able to pay for college or my wedding. She’s now 57, deeply in debt, and has no prospect of ever retiring. I stress, constantly, about how I will be able to provide for her one day when she finally is too ill to work. I love my mom dearly but I would rather she had gone to college and worked than stayed home with me as a kid, for her sake and mine.
TL;DR: it’s a gift to your children to be financially stable, model a strong career, and take care of yourself. Don’t feel guilty for doing those things.
The Frenchie is My Favorite Kid
I don’t have any working mom guilt.
I have 3, ranging from 6-years to 15-years old, and I pat myself on the back for getting it all (more or less) done. It is hard sometimes. But no Fs are given here. If the kindergartener doesn’t turn in her “homework,” we’ll live. If the 15-year old has to miss a club meeting once in awhile to watch the younger ones if I am unexpectedly late from work, we’ll live.
Everyone pitches in and makes do, which I think is the biggest help.
My littlest did tell me that the other mommies don’t have jobs (mostly) at her school. I replied that I have a career :) And explained. And she got it.
That said, I did leave a successful track at a big law firm (that I actually loved) to go in-house so I can balance better. I have made some career sacrifices and some parenting sacrifices, but overall I think the balance is ok. And good for the kids to see what life really looks like.
Anon
I don’t feel guilty. There is no evolutionary scenario where mother stays home for months on end to take care of her children. Children either go with mom to procure resources or are cared for by someone else.
Anonymous
I am such a fan of Famous Grouse. I love scotch generally and will mark special occasions with a particularly nice bottle from Islay. But on a Tuesday night when I want an ounce of scotch in eight ounces of water while I watch Netflix or fold laundry or whatever, I always choose the expensive-tasting, bargain-priced Grouse.
My favorite mocktail is diet tonic with a twist of lemon. When I have that “I need a drink” feeling, I always order this. Tonic somehow tastes alcoholic enough to trick my brain but avoids any issues associated with relying on alcohol as a stress release.
PolyD
I like seltzer with bitters for wanting a “drink” but not wanting alcohol. Angostura is classic, but one year for Christmas I received a box of 12 different bitters. I like orange best, but I also have an Aztec Chocolate one that’s very nice in seltzer.
I know bitters have alcohol in them, but when you are adding maybe a teaspoon to a glass of seltzer, I’m not inclined to count that as alcohol.
Anon
I love Angel’s Envy for bourbon. (Distillery tour is fantastic, if you’re ever in Louisville.)
At home, I’ve been making a lot of Aviations, Last Words, Lumieres, etc. I find the one fancy cocktail to be incredibly satisfying – making it, sipping it, seeing it in a cute coupe glass.
SW
I also love Angel’s Envy. Have you gotten to try their Cask Strength yet? It is amazing!
Anonymous
Wine, wine, more wine. Preferably bubbles or rose. I hate red, it tastes like vinegar to me.
For cocktails I love a Manhattan.
Senior Attorney
You could be me except for the “I hate red” part.
Anon
Agreed. I almost never drink white anymore. Rose in the summer and red the rest of the year.
KateMiddletown
For the first month of 2018 I was on a pinot noir kick. I really like Meiomi (many think it’s #basic) and Nicolas. Or literally anything our neighborhood wine shop guy recommends. (Always under $20)
Now I’m pounding Yogi pregnancy tea, gatorade (cucumber lime flavor ftw) and La Croix. I’m not bitter, I swear.
bluestocking
I love the Yogi caramel bedtime tea. And Tazo orange spice.
KateMiddletown
Also if anyone has non-alcoholic beer or wine tips that don’t suck, hit me up. I tried this garbage called Brew Dog, a non alcoholic IPA and it is basically brown hops water. Pass.
Anonymous
There’s no such thing as non-alcoholic beer or wine that doesn’t suck. I’ve tried it all. But pregnancy is a great time to embrace the mocktail!
Anon
Ice cream. :(
Sorry, there’s no true substitute and pregnancy is not fun. But pregnancy is the means to getting your baby, so there is that…
mascot
For N/A beer, St Pauli Girl was the best I found. Becks wasn’t terrible either. Vignette makes sparkling sodas from wine grapes. One of my favorite ingredients for mocktails and cocktails is shrubs (drinking vinegars). Fancy cocktail bars often make their own. I also like the ones that 18.21 Bitters makes. Their bitters are also awesome, but you may not be comfortable with the alcohol content in bitters.
anon
Krombacher Weizen. It even laces the glass.
anon
Another beverage option: make your own chai! You can make a large batch and keep it in the fridge. If you like sipping something, this is a great option. It can also be a great sub for a dessert when you don’t want to add a lot of sugar and calories.
Anonymous
Try Dry Sodas. They have interesting flavors and were created by a woman frustrated by the lack of options during pregnancy. They have a juniper if you like gin.
Anonymous
That Fre “sparkling wine” is not bad.
Rainbow Hair
How would you feel about a virgin bloody mary? That was my go to drink when I was pregnant. I’m really there for the saltiness and the horseradish anyway (x 10000 while pregnant) so I didn’t even feel like I was missing something.
KateMiddletown
yaaas. i’m hoping to try micheladas with the remainder of the crappy beer, so this is a great idea
Shopping Help Please!
Anyone willing to help with some shopping?
DH and I are a taking a short Mexican cruise and I’d like to pick some fun (i.e., a bit s&xy but not over the top because I’m still me) dresses since it will be just the two of us.
There is no formal night to speak of and I could get away with shorts and tee shirts but some people dress a bit nicer (and some people dress very formally) so I feel like I could wear whatever but I’d like something fun and a bit attractive and not frumpy.
I’m 5’6, 140, 34D and full hips. Also I am 40, so my long ago standby of Forever 21 is out (for me). I’d love something I can just order on Amazon :)
Anon
I like this, and it’s a self-tie wrap (I’ve ordered the long sleeve version and liked it a lot): http://a.co/6IDDGfG
This one has great reviews: http://a.co/5vch7AB
Magdeline
I love these!
Winter
I’ve defaulted to mostly California cabs for red wine and gin and tonics for cocktails. Yes, I’m about a decade behind on the wine, and a century behind on cocktail trends!
I’ll be in france next month, and I realize I am completely unfamiliar with French wines. I’ll likely pick some mid-range wines at random from menus, but if anyone has any advice or favorites, that would be very welcome!
The only French wine I can think of at the moment is champagne…and while that’s good for breakfast, what will I do the rest of the day? ;)
Anonymous
If you like California cabs you’ll probably like Cote de Rhone and Bordeaux. Drank a lot of both in France! Enjoy!
Winter
Thanks! I’ll start there!
Minnie Beebe
Honestly, in France, don’t bother with bottles at restaurants. Just drink the house wine! Ubiquitous, it’s inexpensive, and generally quite good. Key phrase: Une litre, vin rouge/blanc/rose, s’il vous plait! (assuming your’e sharing; otherwise demi-litre.)
Winter
Wonderful, thank you! Will definitely get a lot of use out of that phrase!
joan wilder
It will really depend on what areas you are visiting. There are a lot of very nice regional wines at a good price, which vary based on where you will travel. I usually drank a lot of carafes of house wine and was happy. But I also particularly like both Burgundy whites and reds (which are chardonnay and pinot noir), as well as Loire Valley whites.
Winter
Thanks – PS – Love your name. Now I need to rewatch those movies.
Shopping Help Please!
Oooh – thanks!
Miss
I used to drink wine pretty much exclusively, but it has started giving me headaches, so now I’m drinking Negronis and Boulevardiers. For nonalcoholic drinks, I usually just add a splash of fruit juice to sparkling water.
La Croix
Can’t believe I’m the first one to say it…
bluestocking
Can’t believe I didn’t think to mention La Croix! I take trips to the grocery store and buy nothing but a whole cart full of La Croix. I sometimes drink 3-4 cans per day. Lime, lemon, orange and coconut are my favorites, but I drink pretty much every iteration. I’m hoping they’ll eventually release a cucumber flavor (just cucumber, not the cucumber-fruit combos that are available now).
Anonymous
Target makes a cucumber mint sparkling water (I think the brand is Simply Balanced or something like that) – it’s really tasty!
bluestocking
Favorite red wines: Apothic blend, Cupcake. Easy-to-find, tasty, not-too-expensive bottles. I also love experimenting and trying different wines based on recommendations at restaurants and liquor stores, but Apothic and Cupcake are the main bottles that I buy and keep at home.
White wines: Relax reisling, or occasionally Ecco Domani pinot grigio. I like sweet and light in the summer, but I rarely drink white wine.
Whiskeys: Bulleit bourbon, Templeton Rye, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Yamazaki whiskey
Vodka: Ketel One, only used for dirty martinis
Liqueurs: occasionally I’ll drink a straight tiny glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream or Apple Pucker
Beer: Guinness, Blue Moon, Revolution Brewery’s Eugene Porter, Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Edmund Fitzgerald porter. I will occasionally have Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout when out at restaurants. On the rare occasions that my husband or I cross the border to Wisconsin, we’ll pick up a case of Spotted Cow.
I’m in Chicago, so the Revolution and Spotted Cow may be regional.
Anonymous
I second the Apothic blend! My favorite is just their standard Apothic Red. It’s my go-to inexpensive red wine that everyone loves.
Winter
Apothic is coming out with a wine-coffee blend next month. Very curious and want to try.
Rainbow Hair
Revolution is on the Top 5 Things I Miss About Chicago list.
CountC
I’ve gotten into mixing up all sorts of things with various seltzers lately.
– blackberry balsamic with blackberry tangerine seltzer
– cranberry infused vinegar with plain seltzer
– mango nectar with plain seltzer
– Rose’s lime with coconut lime seltzer
– pinke grapefruit white balsamic with plain seltzer and a dash of bitters (my fave)
Senior Attorney
Ha! We are members of several wineries in the California Central Coast and get regular shipments. In fact, sometimes I feel like every time I turn around LH is bringing home a case of wine from the office! We were laughing the other night about how “apparently some people go to the store for their wine, but we just sit back and our wine comes to us!”
We particularly like Carhartt, Calcerous, and Imagery. And Tuttle. And Tablas Creek. Ooh, and Justin…
And Maker’s Mark Manhattans in cool weather and basil-lime martinis in warm weather!
Amy H.
This is us, too — but in Northern California, so Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Napa Valley appellations . . . . Sometimes it’s fun to go to the pickup parties and taste everything, though, so it’s not always just coming to us. Plus I buy large volumes of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at Safeway!
Glad to know some of your favorites from the Central Coast. Do you like Sea Smoke? Our current club memberships/allocation buying sprees: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Seghesio, Rochioli, William Selyem, Littorai, A. Rafanelli, Nickel & Nickel, and Peter Michael Winery. Other favorites up here — Merry Edwards, Radio-Coteau, Unti, Frick (all Rhone varietals and a very cool grapegrower/winemaker, Bill Frick). Schramsburg for sparkling. Still on the waiting list for Kosta Browne!
Senior Attorney
Yes, love Sea Smoke! Somebody gave us some for our wedding and it was great. Also like Demetria.
Senior Attorney
Oops, posted too soon.
Just wanted to add I feel like you can’t go wrong with Paso Robles!
Amy H.
Thank you! Looking forward to a trip there sometime soon. :D
after dinner drinks
Responding to Kat’s comment about port going bad quickly, this should not be the case. It is fortified wine (and the whole history of port is basically one of trying to keep booze from going bad on long journeys) and unless its a vintage port it can hold up once open about three months (keep it in the refrigerator).
Gigi
My winter cocktail is brandy old fashioned sweet. We make them at home since we’re not in Wisconsin
For beers, I’ve been really into Bissell Brothers (Substance is my current fav.) as well as Maine Beer Co.’s Lunch, and Genesse Cream Ale (on tap, I swear its delicious).
Also a secret shame/so obvious: Allen’s Coffee Brandy and Milk (so many Maine nicknames), which I drink rarely but it is Maine’s 1-5 best selling alcohols for a reason…
Nonalcoholic drinks: Polar seltzer and the occasional Moxie.
Just like that I have realized how much of a Maine cliche I am (excepting the first pick). I haven’t lived there in years!
Maxine
In Sydney Australia at the moment it’s all about the Aperol Spritz ( It is summer here) and Negroni’s at night.
My young Big Law Daughter and her friends also drink Frose ( Frozen Rose) and Pimms with Fruit and Cucumber .
Jacqueline Leib
1609 Virginia Avenue
Jacqueline Leib
I have been enjoying Lolea No. 1 Red Sangria. It has a very peachy taste that is amazing. It will be an awesome summer back yard drink!!!
Wine-o in AZ
Here’s a simple tip for for finding good (or at least decent) wine: check the alcohol percentage. Wine makers who sell to American distributors usually add sugar to big-batch wine to increase the alcohol content to 14-17%. French and Spanish wines are usually no higher than 13.5%. I usually start in those sections of the grocery store wine aisle and prefer wine that’s ~12.5%. It’s much less sweet (and if it is sweet, it’s because of the grape, not the extra sugar), usually more mellow, and…for better or worse…hangovers are less severe.