What Are You Drinking?

[Dr Dave]

Had some fun in NYC. Threw caution to the winds and drank some fun stuff. Smaragd, late harvest Aligoté, Duras. Had an Attitude Adjustment regarding "health food."

We've been arguing with bartenders around town about Negronis. Most are using less Campari. They say because people want them a little sweeter, and I say, yeah, and also the stuff is $5 more a bottle than it was a couple years ago, at retail, anyway. We learned to make them from Joe Carbonara, way back when he was bartending for Laura Brennan at a place in the South End called Cafe Umbra. Very easy: 1/3 gin, 1/3 Campari, 1/3 Sweet Vermouth (We are still partial to Vya, from Andrew Quady, but Carpano Antica is really good). Hipster garnish: thin slice of blood orange. Up in a cold martini glass is best, but we tend to gulp them while they're still icy cold. So when moderation is called for, we call for ice.

Joe got voted Boston Bartender of the Year a decade or so ago. No idea what he's up to these days.

[Harry]

Vincent St Veran Les Morats 2010

Pretty much a textbook example of the appellation.

[sozamora]

Right now? V8 with a touch of tabasco sauce.

[sozamora]

HA!

My son makes me a "spicy V8" almost daily. Don't know how much Tobasco he puts in it, but it's got some serious zap. And I normally drink Tobasco like it's water.

It turns out I was out of tabasco, so I used a little Tapatio. Not perfect but not bad.

At least this makes a little more sense than your banana with Sriracha...

Don't knock til you try it. The secret is just use a touch of sriracha.

[hornplayer]

Last week Monday got a call from Wine Library telling me the Manciat Macon Morizottes I had ordered back in February had arrived and was being delivered. I had no recollection of ordering it!

Can I tell you how thoroughly pleased I am with this little white Burg I bought pre-arrival for $11.99 per? Totally compatible with the hot weather food we're eating these days, as well as just a pleasure to sip after coming in from this hideous humidity.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

HA!

My son makes me a "spicy V8" almost daily. Don't know how much Tobasco he puts in it, but it's got some serious zap. And I normally drink Tobasco like it's water.

At least this makes a little more sense than your banana with Sriracha...

Speaking of bananas with hot sauce, this is one of my favorites. Really nice banana flavor with just the right amount of heat.

[walto]

Mostly Leff and Sebastiani Chard.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I'm drinking the Grappa Julia my sister-in-law brought back from Sicily a few years ago. I broke my grappa cherry on Grappa Julia. You know what "they" say. "You never forget your first". That's a true statement. I've moved on from Grappa Julia to more sophisticated grappas but I'll never forget her.

[uli]

that's the Julia i remember

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Me too, Uli. I posted that photo of the clear bottle because that's the type of bottle my sister-in-law brought back from Sicily. But you're right, I only saw and bought the amber bottles here in the States.

[uli]

They probably always had a clear one but the amber one was very popular in the kinda bars i frequented.

Julia and fior di vite

[Blue Train]

I was given a bottle of Nonino Picolit for my last birthday by a friend from Italy.






I am not an expert, but I like it. Though, I am not enough of a grappa drinker to pay for it myself. haha

[Blue Train]

Oldest sister's birthday yesterday. All kinds of booze on hand.

[uli]

the nonino is probably a great chioce. I had some noninp but forgot which of the variety.

I like



and

[steve(thelil)]

Not ready to abandon IPA's, but in hot weather I prefer a less bitter and less alcoholic one. I seem to be finding Goose Island on tap and it seems to be doing the job for me.

[cookie]

What am I drinking? Coffee. LOTS of coffee.

On weekends, I sometimes put some Allen's Coffee Brandy in it.

[Ron Thorne]

As much, and as many styles of, alcohol I've drank in my life it's hard to believe there's something out there I have still never tried.

So what is the best one to start with? You know, the Glenlivet of grappas?

Check with Jimmy on that one, Scott. I'm sure he'll steer you right.

[uli]

As much, and as many styles of, alcohol I've drank in my life it's hard to believe there's something out there I have still never tried.

So what is the best one to start with? You know, the Glenlivet of grappas?

Check with Jimmy on that one, Scott. I'm sure he'll steer you right.

yeah we re chopped liver.

[Blue Train]

Best Chicago beer on the market, IMO. A little too hot for it now, but their Bourbon County Stout is worth every penny. And it costs quite a few of them...

Not sure why you're just limiting it to just Chicago. Illinois is pwn3d by Goose Island.

[Blue Train]

yeah we re chopped liver.

Absolutely not, I was addressing that question to both of you.

Pretty sure he meant his and my posts in his response to Ron.

[Blue Train]

What am I drinking? Coffee. LOTS of coffee.

On weekends, I sometimes put some Allen's Coffee Brandy in it.

If you weekends run from Sunday through Saturday, sign me up!

[Jimmy Cantiello]

As much, and as many styles of, alcohol I've drank in my life it's hard to believe there's something out there I have still never tried.

So what is the best one to start with? You know, the Glenlivet of grappas?

Check with Jimmy on that one, Scott. I'm sure he'll steer you right.

Since I've never met a grappa I didn't like I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Father Thorne. However, I can say this with certainty, if the label says Nonino, Poli or Nardini you're going to have a defining grappa experience, imo. There's serious history and craftsmanship attached to all those labels.

[LennyH]

Not ready to abandon IPA's, but in hot weather I prefer a less bitter and less alcoholic one. I seem to be finding Goose Island on tap and it seems to be doing the job for me.

They've owed by InBev now so they're everywhere.

I'm thinking they're on their way to being the biggest selling IPA if they're not there already.

[cookie]

Scott: lol!

[tippy]

I feel like this one doesn't give me a hangover. Also was drinking Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc on sale and a provencal rose whose grapes are grown for pressing rather than produced as a byproduct, but I can no longer remember the name of it because I can't get it here (even after attempting to special order through the government, jerks). Stopped drinking beer pretty much because of the calories but I like locals like





I like very balanced beverages across the board, so that's going to be boring to many. I didn't even like soda as kid because the bubbles were too surprising. I have no idea how people can stand cola.