Friday 14 December 2018

Cheers ... I think

If I do have one regret it is that I don't drink. Not much, anyway. I know I often joke that I have cheese and whisky before going to bed; but truth be known I don't drink very much. I may have the odd drop of whisky on special occasions, say once every six to eight weeks, probably rarer. And indeed, I do like Guinness. It is my favourite brew. But I drink very occasionally a bottle or a can. In fact, I probably would be classified as a non-drinker. It just does not appeal to me.

Sometimes people give me drinks as presents for Christmas or other occasions. Spirits or wines; and to be honest I just re-cycle them and give them to other people.

The reason I said I regret not drinking is because I just love the bottles.

I had a few moments to spare the other day at a supermarket. I was waiting for someone; so I picked up a trolley and wondered around aimlessly.

I stopped by the drinks aisle and I was astounded at the number of different brands of drinks there on display. There were no fewer than thirty different brands of gin alone. Gin from London, Edinburgh, other parts of Scotland and elsewhere. And rum, and vodka, and tequila, and brandy, and whisky. From every corner of the world.

There were more than half-a-dozen brands of American whiskey, (I like the way they spell it with an E). Some were called bourbon, and proudly mentioned their place of origin - Kentucky, Tennessee, Colorado and so on. There were whiskys from every corner of Scotland it seems. And the bottles ... oh the bottles ... and the labels! Aren't they just beautiful?

There were every shape of bottle you can imagine. Traditional, square ones, rounded ones like a globe, bell shaped ones. And the labels. So beautiful. So well designed. So evocative.

I moved on to other drinks. The rum section had so many wonderful labels with pictures of pirates, old style sailing ships and so on. Vodka ... gin ... ouzo ... liqueurs. All had wonderful names and labels that made the bottle jump off the shelf and shout "Buy me".

I moved on to the wine section; and then the beers and ciders. The same wonders applied there too. So many brands. So many names. So many wonderful wonderful labels.

If I could, I would have bought them all. Not for drinking, of course. All those bottles and cans would last me for an eternity. No, not for drinking ... just to look at them. To pick up every bottle and read the labels; every word thereon. And admire the elaborate multi-coloured drawings and masterpieces on each label.

So ... what does that make me? I like drink bottles and cans of every kind and of every type of drink. But I personally don't drink. In fact, I have never tasted vodka, or gin, or tequila, or ...

Come to think of it; the only two drinks I have ever had are beer and whisky, and rarely a drop of wine.

What's your favourite drink?

Don't say nettles or dandelion tea, please !!!!

24 comments:

  1. Hey! ;-)

    Ok, my fav is cranberry juice. There! Is that better?

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    1. I'll be honest Sandi. I have tried both nettles and dandelion tea. It takes a lot of getting used to. I am told they are good for you apparently. Mint tea is OK, as well as cranberry juice.

      Cheers. God bless you.

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  2. I drink mostly sparkling water these days.

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    1. That's refreshing; especially in hot weather.

      God bless.

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  3. Coffee. I like dry red wine, too :)

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    1. Red wine is OK with food, I find. Not so keen on white wine though.

      I like milky coffee.

      God bless you Chris.

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  4. Personally, I love a good Cabernet. I'll drink the occasional beer, and I, do like Guinness. Does that mean I have good taste?
    Blessings, Victor!

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    1. Yes definitely. If you like Guinness then you have great taste.

      God bless you Martha.

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  5. Evocative ... yes! That's a perfect description! I never thought about the glorious array of bottles, but you're absolutely right.
    Like Martha Jane, I appreciate a Cabernet. But my favorite would be Bailey's Irish Cream. (Pass me a straw, won't you?)

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    1. It's the art of advertising I think, Mevely. They design the labels so well and think up clever names to make one buy the product. For example, I have been given a bottle of beer with the label "Bah Humbug Christmas Cheer". It had a picture of Scrooge on it beautifully painted. The bottle itself is embossed with characters on it all around the neck of the bottle.

      No wonder someone gave it to me as a present.

      I love Bailey's Irish Cream. Have you tried Drambuie?

      God bless.

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    2. I must have sampled it while in bartending school (don't ask … lol!) but I can't recall the taste.

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    3. It's very tasty, whisky flavoured.

      God bless you.

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  6. How wonderful Victor...a library of liquor bottles and cans!
    If you get thirsty while reading the labels and bottles you can open one and taste the knowledge within.

    Blessings ✝

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    1. Indeed I could do that Jan. It is such a pity that I don't really drink enough. Some of the labels, especially whisky, tell such enchanting stories. Like: left to mature in oak casks for 12 years in an old Scottish castle by the sea to the sound of waves crashing by on the pebbled shores nearby.

      What a load of ....; as if the sound of waves would have anything to do with "maturing" whatever that is.

      God bless you, Jan.

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  7. A cold bottle of Guinness will do it for me. I also like Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon but like you, I rarely drink but when I do, those two favorites are nice.

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    1. Hey we agree again Bill. Guinness and whiskey/bourbon. This is Heaven.

      God bless you. Cheers.

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  8. Water. Plain water! I rarely have a drink either. You are right about the bottles. I have a friend who is building a bottle tree. I think you would love one!

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    1. That should be a great collection I think.

      God bless you Terri.

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  9. I'd love a champagne, mainly because the way it sparkled when light shines through. But I can't drink alcohol; my migraines don't like it.

    We love to wander by the bottles though and appreciate them.

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    1. Aren't the bottles just beautiful, Susan.

      God bless you.

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  10. I used to drink alcohol but don't anymore.
    I've had a Guinness a time or two.
    Milk, water and a diet coke once in a while is what I drink now.

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    1. Milky coffee is good; whether hot or cold. Chocolate milk too.

      God bless you Happyone.

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  11. My favourite non alcoholic drink is tea …
    As my dear grand-daughter says Grandma you're tea-rrific!

    For alcoholic drinks, I do enjoy a glass of white wine, and have been known to have a gin and tonic in the warmer summer months with plenty of ice chinking in the glass.

    I do agree with you on the array of bottles at the supermarket.

    Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I agree about tea, Jan. But would you believe I never tried gin. Somehow, the occasion never arose. When in pubs or at parties it is usually one beer and then soft drinks. Never spirits - only whisky at home.

      Wishing you a splendid weekend. God bless.

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