Last week we shouted, “‘Tis the season!” and followed it up with things like chugging 2,000 calories of eggnog. Or shoving 17 of Grandma’s cookies in our cookie-hole. This week’s battle cry will be a combination of, “Give me another drink” and “Holy god, I shouldn’t have had that last one – I’ll never do that again!”.
We love a good resolution for New Year’s Eve. “I will <insert action to be taken here, that’s doomed to failure almost as quickly as it’s said out loud>.” Rather than be overly philosophical this year, let’s get a few on the books that you’re more likely to follow, shall we? And by all means – eating more healthy stuff, going to the gym, petting kittens – those things are all good for you, so please feel free. And do you know why I’m encouraging that stuff? Because then you can drink more whiskey! You’re welcome.
So this week, I challenge you to make these resolutions:
Buy one great bottle of whiskey for yourself this year.
There are just moments when you want to sip whiskey, neat. (Yes, trust me, there are – sometimes followed by drinking more of it, but that’s neither here nor there). Make it a great bottle! That doesn’t mean you need to spend $1,000 – pick your budget amount, and then do some research. There are some supremely drinkable bottles for $100 or less. Treat yourself, you’re (probably) worth it.
Buy one great bottle of whiskey – for someone else!
Like any great gift, picking out a bottle of whiskey for someone else takes a little time, thought and research. What do they like? If you know they like Johnnie Walker Black but that’s out of your budget, ask the Google machine for suggestions that are similar, as well as your local bottle shop folks. Nothing says, “I actually like you enough to get you this,” than a great bottle of whiskey.
Learn to make a signature whiskey cocktail.
You don’t need to be a master mixologist, or even a bartender, to learn to make a cocktail that’s tasty, looks nice in a glass and is easy to make. What flavors do you like? Sweet? Savory? It’s easy to tell the flavor profile of a drink by reading a few recipes. A small set of cool glasses goes a long way, too. Thrift stores are great for finding a vintage bar set. If you need a little inspiration, my friend at Beautiful Booze makes some awesomely yummy drinks, that are pretty easy to whip up. She usually gives tips on party presentation and prep, which are super helpful. The folks at Liquor.com have a good cocktail recipe database, too – you can search by type of liquor, which makes it easy.
And it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without a good Irish toast! My favorite has always been, “May the road rise up to meet you”, which I tend to modify with, ‘but not after too many drinks’, This year, let’s add:
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven a full half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
Sláinte!
Article by: Jeanne Runkle
