I mentioned some time ago that I was prompted to buy a bottle of gin and some tonic, the most refreshing thing I could think of, that I liked, in the present circumstances we find ourselves in.
So I bought a bottle, and then another the next week, and another. I was getting through a bottle of gin all by myself. I don’t have many visitors and if I did I wouldn’t be offering them such a rare and beneficial commodity. But it did occur that a bottle a week might be a bit extreme for a lone drinker, so desisted.
But I work hard in that forest and a kir just before evening meal really does not cut it so I thought, what the hell, and put it on today’s shopping list. At U I found the dry white Alsace sec for my kirs (2 bottles), the Porto Blanco to accompany my dinner, the Calvados (which I do not need to replenish this week) for my cafecalva after dinner and all sorts of spectacular foreign stuff that I don’t even recognise as well as dozens of different whiskys. But not a sniff of the gods’ gift to the cloggies. I spent 10 minutes in that aisle, searching, searching left and right up and down with no luck and was drawing some suspicious looks from those who noticed all the booze already in my chariot.
And then, there it was, the gods’ gift to all Englishmen abroad, a bottle of gin, and not just gin, a Gordon’s gin. How had I missed it? The answer was obvious, it was tucked away right at the back of the shelf and partially hidden by a bottle of Vodka or some such muck. Some crafty bloody Englishman had got here before me and, having filled his chariot with loads of other stuff, tried to make sure that no-one else got the very last bottle. I shall savour it this evening as I imagine the look on the miscreant’s face when he returns for his stash.
But was he learning from me? Last week I could only find one bag of MaCain’s frozen AirFryer Chips and, as I only pick up frozen stuff as I head to the till, I hid it behind some bags of other stuff, much less appetizing. But I was cleverer than the mystery gin snatcher, my bag of chips was still there as I headed for the exit.
You know what, @David_spardo? I used to do the same thing for a long time, but with my favorite frozen vegetables and organic oatmeal : but gin might be more useful for survival !
My wife quite likes Bombay Sapphire, never have got on with gin personally.
Far be it from my job to police your alcohol consumption but, yes, 750ml of 40% spirit (I think Gordon’s is 37.5%) is 30 units. Not extreme, but definitely a bit over the recommended limits.
The recommended limits nowadays are zero. I realize you got to be over 80 (I think) before there were any limits, but that is a lot of gin, man… I personally can get to zero gin easily( and have been gin free for 50+ years). Now, beer..is another story but at least I try.
A large (Irish measure, 1/4 gill X 2, not English 1/6 X 2) Bombay Sapphire and a Fever Tree tonic is the ideal way to unwind after a day of doing SFA That’s what retirement is all about.
IMO there are many enjoyable gins around, although I would tend to keep Gordon’s for making slow gin because it’s quite smooth but doesn’t intrude much on the fruit.
Favourites, not always available, have been Antidote from Sicily, flavoured with lemons, Needle from Germany with pine needles and Nakano BC Kodachi Japanese Craft Gin from Japan that has an essence of cedar and turns slightly milky in the glass.
You might well find that a better gin needs a bit less to come through and provide enjoyment. Even Tanqueray has a lot more presence. Be warned though, some of the better gins are well above 40%.
I’m plainly an utter lightweight. Just had 1 1/2 glasses of a côtes du rhône with dinner and can really feel it when I stand.
I cut off your comment here @Roger_Lapin as some of us still have to do FA! But a it big fan of Bombay. A friend grew up in Whitchurch where the distillery is so many educational visits have been made over the last decade! Big fan of Brighton Gin too, they’ve only been around for 15 odd years now but they’re piling up the awards so they’re obviously doing something right, although sadly that is far more difficult to get in this country, I have my ways but we don’t speak of them
There is an increasing realisation that there is no limit below which alcohol is unequivocally “safe” and it has numerous negative health risks both long and short term. I think David is well aware of its dark side and will be sensible.
I drink very little spirits these days.
Ales, cidres, and I do enjoy wines, but my days of anis before a meal, and a small digestif, (or goldfish bowl of brandy in Spain) have passed.
I think it was Griff Rees-Jones who expalined: .. We all have an allocation of alcohol to drink in our lives; I have used mine up in the past couple of years.
In my past I have used up a lot of my allowance, so have decided to try to take it a bit slower now.
I think that is right.
Just like tobacco, if alcohol was only “invented” today, then it would never be legalised. Far too damaging to individual health and to society.
A distillery has recently opened up in the village, all their products are artisanal and very nice too, I tried them all during a degustation, the gins are very good, they also have anis drinks, I bought one of each for the house. Products | La Sauvage
Ooh I love a G&T and often have one in the evening. Bombay Sapphire is my favourite and I currently have a Gordons Orange Gin on the go as well which isn’t bad. However nothing beats a drop of JD in my book and I keep three or four bottles of different ones in as well. Tip- when lemons are cheap, slice them up thick, put in layers of baking parchment in a plastic box and freeze, you can add straight to your glass and saves watering down with ice cubes too. Lasts months
Last week I could only find one bag of MaCain’s frozen AirFryer Chips and, as I only pick up frozen stuff as I head to the till, I hid it behind some bags of other stuff, much less appetizing. But I was cleverer than the mystery gin snatcher, my bag of chips was still there as I headed for the exit. 
That’s what retirement is all about.
!