How is your relationship with drugs and alcohol?

[Fuzz]

The Botanist is a fantastic gin.

[DoubleF]

If you guys drink gin and tonics that only have gin and tonic in it... you're really missing out. I hated gin and tonics until I mused to my wife I could do better than the crap at many food and alcohol establishments. She agrees I make one of the best she has ever had. My gin and tonic are generally the following:

Gin
Tonic
Pinch of salt
Lemon Zest
Thin slice of cucumber
Cracked Szechuan pepper corn (slight spice and citrus flavor)

I also often ask my guests (err, used to because fricken Covid) whether they liked a juniper/botanical heavy taste or a citrus/sugary taste (akin to preferences for a sweet or dry wine). The above is often is often a big hit with my guests.

I consider Bombay a bit more "balanced". I usually use Hendricks or Botanist for Juniper/Botanical focused mix, Bombay as a "neutral/baseline" mix and Strathmore Gin (Seaberry) or Citadelle as the citrus/sugar focused mix.

Most of my friends agree they can definitely taste the difference between the Juniper/botanical vs Citrus/sugar focused mixes. I was hoping to experiment more with flower waters and fancier tonics in my Gin and tonis this summer, but Covid put a huge dent in that.

There is also a scene in American Gods that always sticks out to me where Shadow discusses that a Gin and Tonic isn't just a name, it's a command.

[Buff]

I drink. Sometimes I wonder if I drink too much. I sometimes go weeks or months without drinking though, so I don't know.

However. Camping season, I drink. My buddy and I each buy a case and they're both gone after a 3 or 4 day trip.

I love me some whiskey! I don't do that very much though during normal times, but this last year I tried out Wiser's Manhatten and Wiser's Old Fashioned. I enjoyed them both. I alternated between each one each night. Only one drink of about 2oz per night though for most of July and August.

I drink wine at family gatherings. I've hardly had any wine at all this year!

I don't touch drugs. I never have, I never will.

[Galakanokis]

I drank pretty heavy for the better part of 30 years but now I rarely drink. No other reason than I can't be bothered to really. Can't even remember the last time I was really drunk maybe my 40th a few years back when I put a pretty good dent into a 60 of rye.

Was always able to handle my booze perhaps it happens when you start young. Rarely suffered hangovers even after 12 hour binges on cheap draft and whiskey. It was never an issue with work or home life no real problems whatsoever just don't drink now. I will absolutely go for beers and still have the odd drink at home but it is few and far between now especially now that I don't play hockey, that was 8-10 beers easy 3 or 4 times a week.

All in all the relationship has always been good. No bad episodes or friends that can't handle their booze. No destroyed marriages or friendships. Can't even think of any bad times really. The less I drink the bigger I get so that has kind of backfired on me I guess but otherwise all good.

[N-E-B]

I love getting drunk and drinking. It’s a blast. I absolutely hate being hungover and I’ve noticed now in my mid-20’s the thought of being of hungover has acted as a very good deterrent to drinking. I’m starting to get the dreaded two-day hangovers and it’s just not worth it.

I used to drink every weekend. I think since the pandemic started I’ve been drunk maybe 4 or 5 times in a 9 month span. It’s fun but the hangovers just aren’t worth it anymore. My body isn’t 18 anymore.

[Sainters7]

I've never been the type to really get hooked on alcohol, despite the fact I enjoy it. I just don't have that tough, boozer's constitution, I've been getting 35 year old style hangovers since I was 17 ha-ha. I'd prob permanently have gut rot if I ever became an alcoholic, just don't have the stomach for it (literally). There's periods of my life where I've prob drank a bit too frequently at times, and I prob drink a bit more than I normally do during this quarantine, but it's never gotten into "problem" territory.

As for the other part, like Dave Chappelle once said, I don't do drugs...only weed. I definitely like weed way more than I do alcohol. The way most people have some beers while watching the game, I'm reaching for the jazz cabbage. There's definitely been times in my life I've done it too much, and for sure have over-indulged at times during the pandemic - I was temporarily put out of work for almost 6 months because of Covid, so when you're stuck at home with no real schedule...y'know...

Overall it's fine, especially while work is up & running again and I have a schedule to keep me occupied, so I mostly only partake right before bed if I do it during the week. Just something I need to be aware of, especially at times when I have way too much time on my hands...like this pandemic.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I love getting drunk and drinking. It’s a blast. I absolutely hate being hungover and I’ve noticed now in my mid-20’s the thought of being of hungover has acted as a very good deterrent to drinking. I’m starting to get the dreaded two-day hangovers and it’s just not worth it.

I used to drink every weekend. I think since the pandemic started I’ve been drunk maybe 4 or 5 times in a 9 month span. It’s fun but the hangovers just aren’t worth it anymore. My body isn’t 18 anymore.

It's funny when I was in my mid-20's an older coworker told me about the second day phenomenon when you get older. He said you'll get to a point where the day after getting blasted is bad, but then the second day after is actually worse.



I chalked it up to old wives tale, but then as soon as I hit thirty I started to experience it first hand. It's like you push through the next day after drinking, but then you kind of crash after work the next day, sleep, and wake up a pile of broken bones the second day.



It's not so much alertness, but the physical depletion that hits on day 2. Maybe it's partially psychological as you're brain is expecting to be "good to go" two days after drinking and then is shocked by still being ****?

[GGG]

I quit drinking almost entirely about 5 years ago because of hangxiety. I would get the day two of general fatigue but it was the anxiety that creep up for a day or two that wasn’t worth it. So now it’s 2 beer at most in a sitting usually 1 and only about one a month.

It probably started around 30 and slowly got worse over 5 years.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by getbak

I don't think I've ever had gin.

Go chew on your christmas tree then you'll see how terrible gin is . Liquid pine needles

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I did a gin mixing class when we were in Glasgow and it opened my eyes a little. We were able to take some samples of each different flavor and make a blend of our own that we then scaled up to a full bottle to take home. My wife's mix consisted of coriander seed, milk thistle, lovage, elderflower, dillweed, parsley, strawberry, rosemary and lemon peel. I went with coriander seed, angelica root, liquorice root, black cardamom, black pepper, kaffir lime leaf, sumac, and cassia bark. It was fascinating to do.

For those who are unclear, gin is basically vodka infused with any number of botanicals/spices etc. What's fascinating is that you can have vastly different flavors in gin that create a bouquet for the nose and then something unique on the palate. It's not as pronounced as scotch, but if you develop a nose for it, gin can be just as interesting and unique a spirit.

That being said, if you don't like juniper or the vague piney taste, just don't bother with it.

This 100% . Gross. Smells fine but yuck. Prohibition style gin recipes are a bit better still tastes likena christmas tree but the were really sweet as that time it was a drink ladies rather had. In the Pacific nw we had a mini gin boom not that long ago when bars would stock gin over whiskey and scotch. Cold dark days.

[combustiblefuel]

It's all about the bourbon whiskey.

My absolute favorite is woodford reserve double oaked. About 100 bucks a bottle but is a monthly buy at times.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by GGG

I quit drinking almost entirely about 5 years ago because of hangxiety. I would get the day two of general fatigue but it was the anxiety that creep up for a day or two that wasn’t worth it. So now it’s 2 beer at most in a sitting usually 1 and only about one a month.

It probably started around 30 and slowly got worse over 5 years.

Ya, that played a huge role in me cutting down. I got anxiety in general which is why I cut the weed out. The hangxity is not much better UNLESS I get a fulln8 hours of sleep and only 1 coffee the next day.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by GGG

I quit drinking almost entirely about 5 years ago because of hangxiety. I would get the day two of general fatigue but it was the anxiety that creep up for a day or two that wasn’t worth it. So now it’s 2 beer at most in a sitting usually 1 and only about one a month.

It probably started around 30 and slowly got worse over 5 years.

I never heard of this..but it validates my experience typically starting in the afternoon after the hangover wears off...started in my early 30s.

[Jason14h]

I’m 40 and don’t ever get a hangover and love social drinking, and wine with dinner , and beer during a sporting event , and shots to celebrate , and drinks with coworkers.

Me and alcohol have a great relationship !

It seems a large key is the hangover effect it has. Almost everyone I socially drink with can function close to perfectly the next day .

I do always wonder how much is mental/placibo effect. If you expect to wake up drowsy and foggy do you ....

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I’m 40 and don’t ever get a hangover and love social drinking, and wine with dinner , and beer during a sporting event , and shots to celebrate , and drinks with coworkers.

Me and alcohol have a great relationship !

It seems a large key is the hangover effect it has. Almost everyone I socially drink with can function close to perfectly the next day .

I do always wonder how much is mental/placibo effect. If you expect to wake up drowsy and foggy do you ....

Do you mix in water and eat properly? I know when I drink I make sure to mix in some water and eat prkoperly and actually find I get less hangovers as I get older. I’ll be out with some coworkers and the next day some of them are real hungover and I’ll be like.. well ya you had 2 chicken wings and no water. No wonder you are hungover.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I drink a couple times a week usually.

Not in any troublesome way but I find myself wanting to drink less and less. I can't function with a hangover and hate the feeling of the day after.
Even if I have a day off I want to get up early, walk my dog, get a good workout in and enjoy my day. Alcohol just inhibits everything.

For the last couple of years I've done dry Jan, Feb & March. Plan to do that again in 2021 and who knows, maybe it will extend even longer. With no social events, it will be easy to not be tempted anyway.

[wwkayaker]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I did a gin mixing class when we were in Glasgow and it opened my eyes a little. We were able to take some samples of each different flavor and make a blend of our own that we then scaled up to a full bottle to take home.

I bought a gin making kit which was essentially a dozen or so ingredients and bottles. For what I got it was pricey but fun to try different gin recipes. Some of the flavour mixes were really gross.

Has anyone tried the premium tonics such as Fever Tree?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I never heard of this..but it validates my experience typically starting in the afternoon after the hangover wears off...started in my early 30s.

I hadn’t heard of anyone else having it until I saw a post on here a few years ago. I forget who made it though. No idea if it is common though. I just assumed it was because anxiety and depression run in my family on my moms side.

[LChoy]

I took up home cocktail making as my Covid hobby, so I'll have to say I have been drinking more. However I still only drink on Fridays and weekends, and even then I'll only make up to 2 drinks a night.
I'm really fortunate that I didn't get the Asian flush passed down to me and my tolerance is really high. I previously enjoyed beers but I'm finding my taste is changing as I get older. Beers seem to hoppy for my taste so I switched to ciders and radlers instead. I also use to collect scotches before switching over to gin because it was cheaper to accumulate.
I never drink to get drunk as I drink to enjoy. Also no drugs for me, knew I needed a security clearance when I was growing up so I never started.

Originally Posted by wwkayaker

I bought a gin making kit which was essentially a dozen or so ingredients and bottles. For what I got it was pricey but fun to try different gin recipes. Some of the flavour mixes were really gross.

Has anyone tried the premium tonics such as Fever Tree?

Fever Tree is pricey for what it is, but it is less sweat than the generic Canada Dry. They do have some unique flavours of tonic water though.
I know some people that swear by the Soda stream tonic, but I haven't tried it.
There are some ultra premium tonic syrup brands too that are really good, but generally I try to let the gin stand by itself and use soda water and a squeeze of lime instead

LChoy

[Roast Beef]

My relationship with drugs has never been there, and I can count on one hand the number of times I did so much as smoke a joint.

My relationship with alcohol was not good, and thankfully it's now non-existent. I haven't touched a drop since early 2018, because I liked it way too much and I was killing myself with it. At the end it got to where getting absolutely plastered and fall-down drunk was the goal every night. I'd start around 5pm, drink until I'd pass out at 3 or 4 am, then I'd wake up at 7am and finish off whatever was left to ward off the shakes, and then head into work for 9am. Rinse and repeat Mon-Fri, and the weekends were for benders. It took a few weeks of rehab and some AA, but I escaped that life.