As part of a balanced lifestyle, my husband and I celebrate the end of each day with a glass of something with dinner — usually wine. Like many people, we have traditionally thought of champagne as something that is reserved for major celebrations.
On New Year’s Eve, we each had a glass of champagne and decided that we don’t enjoy a glass often enough! Champagne can be affordable (not all champagne is priced at the higher end), and it is a nice element in a mixed drink.
Personally, given the state of the world, I think that Winston Churchill’s quote on champagne is apt:
“A single glass of champagne imparts a feeling of exhilaration. The nerves are braced, the imagination is agreeably stirred; the wits become more nimble. A bottle produces the contrary effect. Excess causes a comatose insensibility. So it is with war: and the quality of both is best discovered by sipping.”
In the future, we plan to enjoy more frequently a glass of something bubbly.
According to thebar.com’s “Toasts and Tastes” survey that came out on December 6, a lot of people - 60 percent of respondents — would be happy to receive wine, spirits or beer as a corporate gift this holiday season. Add me to the list.
Like many people who participate in the gift-giving tradition in December, I’m not done with my gift shopping. I don’t have a lot of anxiety about gifts for the adults on my list, though, since I am purchasing a wine or spirits for many of them.
The recipients of my gifts of wine or spirits always seem appreciative. And if you think it’s repetitive to give the same type of gift every year, I would say that I think it is better than the vast multitude of decorative scented gift candles that are “on deck” in my basement waiting to be called into use. (It’s safe to bet I’m not the only one out their with an extensive candle collection.)
And, as a host, I do like to see a bottle of wine coming in the door as a gift. If I don’t particularly like the selection, I can always cook with it and use the cork for the bulletin board I’m making. I’m don’t usually re-gift, buy you can do that easily with wine and spirits. A new gift bag, and presto
So, there is still time to get that bottle. I recommend Bailey’s — always a perfect gift, and now there are new flavors - mint chocolate and caramel - to make your gift even more interesting.
Happy holidays.
The holiday season is upon us and it occurred to me that the season - with gatherings of friends and families and celebrations with all the trappings — creates a natural [not forced] opportunity to have a conversation about responsible drinking with teens. With that thought in mind, it’s useful to have a tool that prepares you for common comebacks used by teens and general misconceptions about alcohol use.
I found that a website hosted by The Century Council was a great resource on this topic, providing information that helps adult cover what could be considered unstable ground on some thought provoking statements such as:
It is hypocritical of me to forbid my children to drink alcohol when he/she sees me enjoy a drink or two when I am socializing, eating or celebrating.
Since teens are going to drink no matter what we say, we might as well have them drink in our homes where we can keep an eye on them and take the car keys away.
Teens need to practice drinking in high school so they learn their limits early and don’t go wild in college.
Diageo’s zero tolerance stance on underage drinking clearly disagrees with these statements, and so does the author of the website’s Ask, Listen, Learn “The Parent Trap”, Brenda Conlan, a health educator who developed the information as a public service in conjunction with Century Council and Nickelodeon. Check out the website — before your next family gathering.
