Knowledge Begets Temperance – Part 2

So I’ve had people walking up to me and asking me why is alcohol, especially Scotch so prominent in your posts? Firstly, if their question stems from bearing some sort of negative connotation about Whisky then I direct them to the Whisky Speech, which I have blogged about before: https://pribblebabble.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/the-whisky-speech/. If it is concern that leads them to ask me this, for not everyone is open about enjoying their drink, I tell them, I do not drink without knowledge. Knowledge of the following factors:

1. What is in my drink – I never order based on fancy names. I never mix my drinks.

2. My own capacity – While the aim of any drinking session could be multifold – perhaps to explore a new drink, perhaps to be pleasantly high, perhaps to douse one’s sorrows (if you know me, you know that I never drink to with this aim),  perhaps to lose one’s inhibitions or reservations; irrespective of the intent, one important point for me to always be constantly aware of is when I should stop. Never succumb to peer pressure. A firm stand is more admirable than a very unsteady stand later! 😉

3. The company I am with – trusted, capable, possessing good judgement and most importantly, safe friends.

4. My surroundings – a house party, or a restaurant, or a pub, all play a significant role in the way one drinks.

5. The mode of transportation – MOST important factor. To never end the evening with all the members drunk or buzzed and then be in a dilemma as to who would drive. Always keep the number of a trusted cab services handy. Don’t get your vehicle to those evenings you know there is drinking involved. Simple.

5. Availability of water – This sounds silly, that I ensure I know there is enough water for me to consume before, during and after drinking. Additionally, it also helps to know where the nearest restroom is.

 

Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving

 

Beyond everything, have a scientific inclination. Ask yourself why your body reacts to alcohol the way it does.

I find these YouTube videos really nice. Very informative without being lengthy and preachy.

We are all adults, blessed with either enough judgement about how much to drink and HOW, or blessed with friends who would not lead you onto a path of self-destruction. I am not sympathetic to the cause of drinking to forget your sorrows as there are many other ways to do so; the internet is FULL of things that serve the purpose of being an anti-depressant. If not that, find a buddy to hug really tight, put on your running shoes and run to the nearest ice cream store. You know whom to ask for recommendations, pribble babbles about ice cream too!!!
Oh and another thing I would love to reiterate, those passionate about their Scotch, never do it out of a desire to get drunk. As I have realized on this journey to gain knowledge about all things Whisky (although there is still so much that remains to be explored!) that a true appreciator of whisky never drinks to get drunk, but in order to explore the complex drink that is a Whisky, to accompany that one grain of barley on its journey right from the fields to the glass. I love my Black Dog, and I ardently proclaim so. I also love attempting to gain knowledge on any action I take. There is just one little life and so much to explore; my mind reels at the thought!

Reaching out to my Black Dog Scotch Whisky, I raise my glass to you. thank you for having an open mind when you read my posts and hope you continue to partake this journey with me! Cheers!

http://www.facebook.com/blackdogeasyevenings

http://www.liveinstyle.com/black-dog

http://www.youtube.com/user/AsapSCIENCE?feature=watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scotland – A second hand exploration

A year ago, two of my best buddies from college went to Scotland with their friends from the universities they studied at in Cardiff. I was thrilled for them, and partly green too, since I have always wanted to go. There were highly plausible plans in the making too, but something significant happened to me at work which prevented my UK trip. I was bummed out to say the least, but I was just as thrilled for the two of them, D and B,  for not missing the opportunity to explore Scotland.

Their week long stay was filled with awesome exploration, including checking out the playschool B studied in when she was 3. That was before B and her family returned to India. But to have gone there, 22 years later and still be capable of recollecting sights is a very cherishable experience. While I could not get a blow-by-blow account of the entire visit, I was treated to a Facebook album, each of the 89 pictures tantalizing and breath-taking! (Except goofy pictures taken mid-jump, if you are not familiar with that new photo-phenomenon, don’t fret, you are not alone).

 

How the water beckons to me!

Love the mist! And the lovely gal called P in the photo!

Picture Perfect!

 

New Town, Edinburgh

 

HOGWARTS!

Now the above picture is fantastic!!!! This is approximately where the castle was, in the Harry Potter movies.

Hogwarts

 

Too picture perfect!

That would be my retirement home, for sure!

Commando Memorial

 

The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forcesraised during World War II. Situated around a mile from Spean Bridge village, it overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle. Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Mother, it has become one of Scotland’s best-known monuments, both as a war memorial and as a tourist attraction offering views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr. <source – Wikipedia>

 

 

Hey Nessie!!! All my love to you, girl!

 

The lovely gals 🙂 D is in blue in the first photo. B is in grey in the second.

 

They’d been to a Scotch Whisky distillery too!!! The envy is now multifold!! Hehehe.

Interesting fact 😉

My tour of Scotland through my eyes (via a computer screen, **sob, sob** 😦 ) but thankfully, there is another gateway to all things Scot.
A scotch whisky!

While I take a languid sip of my Black Dog Scotch Whisky, I resolve, that I would leave my mark on the Highlands at least once in my life!

An awesome foursome

http://www.liveinstyle.com/black-dog

PS: Permission was sought from the girls on the trip before using their photos for this blog. Thanks girls!

 

 

 

Glass!! Where? – Part 2

I wasn’t done with the brilliant list, I just needed a breather 😀 And my, my, it sure was a flirtatious fanfare. There’s something about the 21 YO Black Dog Scotch Whisky  that has a distinctive charm and finesse. Think about it, for twenty one year’s these aged single malts and grain whiskies remained dormant in the cold dark warehouses before were blended together masterfully.

 

Black Dog looks picture perfect, always!

 

 

Red wine glass
A clear, thin, stemmed glass with a round bowl tapering inward at the rim.
Typical Size: 8 oz. / 240 ml

Sherry glass
The preferred glass for aperitifs, ports, and sherry. The copita, with it’s aroma enhancing narrow taper, is a type of sherry glass.
Typical Size: 2 oz. / 60 ml

Sherry glass

Shot glass
A small glass suitable for vodka, whiskey and other liquors. Many “shot” mixed drinks also call for shot glasses.
Typical Size: 1.5 oz. / 40 ml

Whiskey sour glass
Also known as a delmonico glass, this is a stemmed, wide opening glass, alike to a small version of a champagne flute.
Typical Size: 5 oz. / 150 ml

White wine glass
A clear, thin, stemmed glass with an elongated oval bowl tapering inward at the rim.
Typical Size: 12.5 oz. / 370 ml

White wine glass

I must send any reader of this blog over to boredpanda.com because they list 22 really cool and creative drinking glasses. What I wouldn’t do to own a few!!!

 

http://www.boredpanda.com/cool-and-creative-drinking-glasses/

 

BOULES Tumblers

 

“BOULES’ curved and heavy bottoms allow the tumblers to rock, while the lens guarantees a stable position at a playful angle.”

And many other whacky glasses.

 

My prized possession at home are the 6 shot glasses my friend got me from Down Under.  I went a little click crazy with them, do bear with me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links to enjoy:

 

http://www.boredpanda.com/cool-and-creative-drinking-glasses/

http://www.facebook.com/blackdogeasyevenings

http://www.liveinstyle.com/black-dog

Glass!! Where? – Part 1

“Is the glass half full, or half empty?
It depends on whether you’re pouring, or drinking.”
-Bill Cosby

Would your drink be less enjoyable if served in a plastic glass? Or in a steel tumbler? I certainly reckon so. Drinking is more of an experience, a phenomenon that is incomplete without the right kind of companions, the right kind of glasses and of course, the right kind of drink. I wanted to explore the kinds of drinking glasses available. And some day, when I have a mini bar of my own, I am going to own a set of each of these for sure!

An instead of glassware, you find my exclaiming, “Glass!!! Where?!!” 😀

Beer mug
The traditional beer container.
Typical Size: 16 oz. / 475 ml

Beer Glasses

Brandy snifter
The shape of this glass concentrates the alcoholic odors to the top of the glass as your hands warm the brandy.
Typical Size: 17.5 oz.

Brandy Snifter

Champagne flute
This tulip shaped glass is designed to show off the waltzing bubbles of the wine as they brush against the side of the glass and spread out into a sparkling mousse.
Typical Size: 6 oz. / 520 ml

Champagne flute

Cocktail glass
This glass has a triangle-bowl design with a long stem, and is used for a wide range of straight-up (without ice) cocktails, including martinis, manhattans, metropolitans, and gimlets. Also known as a martini glass.
Typical Size: 4-12 oz. / 120 ml – 350 ml

Cocktail glass

Cocktail glass collection

Collins glass
Shaped similarly to a highball glass, only taller, the collins glass was originally used for the line of collins gin drinks, and is now also commonly used for soft drinks, alcoholic juice, and tropical/exotic juices such as Mai Tai’s.
Typical Size: 14 oz. / 400 ml

Collins glass

Cordial glass
Small and stemmed glasses used for serving small portions of your favourite liquors at times such as after a meal.

Typical Size: 2 oz. / 60 ml

cordial

Highball glass
A straight-sided glass, often an elegant way to serve many types of mixed drinks, like those served on the rocks, shots, and mixer combined liquor drinks (ie. gin and tonic).
Typical Size: 8-12 oz. / 230 – 350 ml

Highball glass

Hurricane glass
A tall, elegantly cut glass named after it’s hurricane-lamp-like shape, used for exotic/tropical drinks.
Typical Size: 15 oz. / 450 ml

Hurricane glass

Margarita/coupette glass
This slightly larger and rounded approach to a cocktail glass has a broad-rim for holding salt, ideal for margarita’s. It is also used in daiquiris and other fruit drinks.
Typical Size: 12 oz. / 350 ml

Margarita coupette glass

Old-fashioned glass
A short, round so called “rocks” glass, suitable for cocktails or liquor served on the rocks, or “with a splash”.
Typical Size: 8-10 oz./ 230 – 350 ml

Parfait glass
This glass has a similar inwards curve to that of a hurricane glass, with a steeper outwards rim and larger, rounded bowl. Often used for drinks containing fruit or ice cream.
Typical Size: 12 oz. / 350 ml

Parfait glass

Parfait glass

Pousse-cafe glass
A narrow glass essentially used for pousse caf�s and other layered dessert drinks. It’s shape increases the ease of layering ingredients.
Typical Size: 6 oz. / 180 ml

Pousse Cafe Glass

Phew, that’s a long list and I need a break!!! I’ll have an old fashioned glass of Scotch in the old fashioned way, please! 😀

One Black Dog, coming right up!

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http://www.liveinstyle.com/black-dog

Psychedelic, much? Arts, Distilled!

Excellent tasteful artwork always dominates a classy atmosphere in a royal albeit unassuming manner. I was looking for some  photographs of paintings for a friend who’s recently moved into a studio apartment. But what could I get that my friend could enjoy and I could afford? Something that reminds him of us, something that he would enjoy and we would enjoy together. Not a framed Honey Singh CD :P, nor a take out menu of Pizza Hut. I raked my brain. When that did not yield results, I turned to Google. And don’t ask me what my magical fingers typed out, but I stumbled across these!!!

Vodka

After having spent many a great evenings dedicated  to the spirits, be in the form of cocktails, or on the rocks, what could be more perfect than to have a representative of those great drinks adorning one’s walls? Would you believe it, these are drinks as viewed under a microscope? The images are made by crystallizing the drink on a lab slide, then passing a polarized light through the crystal. Each micrograph magnifies the drink more than 1,000 times. The work is the brainchild of Florida State research scientist Michael Davidson. He first conceived of taking micrographs of liquor as a way to fund his FSU lab.

Piña Colada

Dry Martini

Davidson eventually sold the license to the images to a businessman and fellow researcher named Lester Hutt, who now markets them as art prints through a website called Bevshots.

margarita

Sake

Cola

Davidson originally used the images as patterns for neckties.

French Pale Lager

Among the other drinks pictured on the site are a cosmopolitan, a Bloody Mary and a wide range of lagers and other beers.

Chablis

Bevshots president Hutt observes, “While some individuals select their art based on drink preference, others enjoy pieces that are aesthetically in tune with their decor.”

White Russian

The Bevshots site offers more than 50 microscopic images of popular drinks. No two beverage images are the same.

Whisky

Undeniably, these canvases are the epitome of affordable luxury. It can never cease to amaze me that molecules can look so stunning!!!
Uncannily enough, the picture of Whisky looks like barley seeds itself. Life’s a circle!

Now I have decided to gift one to my friend, a canvas obtained from the site www.bevcolors.com , but I won’t tell which one, lest the surprise be spoiled. I know what I am going to ask him in return though, for him to open the bottled of that Reserve Black Dog he got for his birthday! It sits there in his mini bar, tempting me to no extent!!! But I am sure he can see the connection here, luxury adorning his walls and the two of us unwinding with one of the most luxurious Scotch Whisky out there, Black Dog! It will be unwinding at its best, and a celebrations of all things luxurious in life!

Black Dog 18 years reserve

www.bevcolors.com

http://www.facebook.com/blackdogeasyevenings

http://www.liveinstyle.com/black-dog

Fruitful Friday with Four Seasons Viognier Wine

It wasn’t Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t Pay Day. It wasn’t my birthday. It wasn’t any friend’s birthday either. It was my weekly off. If you work in my team, then you know that is a jubilant day as any to pamper yourself silly. The world might be slogging away in cubicles. But not you! You are on your own, unwinding and taking it easy. My style of unwinding is always associated with a good read and comfort food. Or anything that makes for a great nibble.

lindt raisins and nuts

Lindt Orange

It was a bright Friday morning last week that simply heralded all things luxurious. After a pretty fun workout at my Fitness Center (although it was not vigorous enough considering all the indulgence I was going to get into over the weekend). I had picked up Lindt chocolates on my last visit to Forum (I love that chocolate store) and a lovely bottle of Four Season Viognier lay waiting for me at home. The time to unwind begins! Of course, all senses must be involved; a long shower with aromatic shower gels, slipping into a comphy number, drawing the curtains just so that a stream of light enters the room and then settling among my pile of pillows and cushions, but first, I went on a quest for the right book to read. Finally, I settled with a good copy of PG Wodehouse to keep me company.

A perfect pairing! Sonnets by Shakespeare, Poems by Khalil Gibran

Picture Perfect 😉

And a dash of PG Wodehouse, Agatha Christine perhaps? Or chick-lit? 😉

Could a flute of the lovely Viognier be far away when such indulgence is at bay? A slightly chilled glass accompanied by a select pieces of Lindt Orange and Raisins and Nuts (lest I be too tempted) and I settled down to read. This was the first time I was trying out this combination, and can you believe it, it forced me to put my book down! (A very hard thing to do!). The wine in itself was divine, with just a hint of the subtle flavours of peaches, apricots, apples and a light spiceness too. Oh and the golden color! But what marveled me the most was the fact that this was wine made from a rather rare white grape, called the Viognier (vi-oh-knee-ay, a Frenchman would have a fit if you pronounced it in any other way!). It felt rather well-rounded too, the acidity being pleasant and ending with a lingering finish. I was hooked! The delightful match made in heaven, of wine and chocolates was another experience fit for the Gods! Or lazy weekenders, whichever works 😉

They say the darker the wine, you need to pair with a darker chocolate. But for white wines, a nutty and fruit chocolate works well, as long as the wine is sweeter than the chocolate. The Orange in the Lindt was very well set off with the slight citrus tastes in the wine. It was a perfect accompaniment to the wine considering that the recommended pairing of this young dry white wine is with  food that “suggests sweetness but are not really sweet,”. A sprouts white sauce pasta would then be ideal pairing, considering I am a vegetarian, but this wine is highly recommended with Indian cuisine. However, I’ll save that for another day when I have company whom I’d like to share the wine with! Until then its me, and this wonderful, very expressive wine and this divine chocolate. Pages of the book all but smudged with chocolate if not forgotten!

I found a wonderful book in my bookshelf, (the fact that there are so many unread titles that I yet have to explore from my father and sister’s collection, it never ceases to amaze me). A detailed exploration of the same would be in order.

A Reader’s Digest Collectible – Foods that harm, Foods that heal

A friend of mine mentioned the vast array of wines created by Four Seasons and my my, don’t they look breath taking together?

Four Seasons!

To explore any other wine while this excellent bottle lays before me, would be blasphemous. Viognier is indeed a lush, fragrant wine that has captivated my senses; that of taste, smell and sight! A bottle that I would take my own sweet time to savour!

I am taking my tastebuds on an exploration trail on the Four Seasons Wine Tour, the first chance I get!

www.fourseasonsvineyards.com
https://www.facebook.com/FourSeasonsWines