How To Get Out of a Beverage Rut

Ruts are not good. In fact they are boring, tiresome and completely uninteresting.

Okay, so you have found a beverage of choice; something you like. You are satisfied with your selection and maybe even a bit smug. So why rock the boat? You keep going back to the default position.

Yet, here’s the real deal: you are better and deserve to live a more interesting existence. There are discoveries out there waiting for you. Yes, you. This is especially true at this time of year and during the upcoming Carnival season.

We are all finding ourselves right now at parties, bars and fun destinations. And instead of looking around and seeing what our fellow celebrants are enjoying, sometimes we simply head to the easy and “safe” beverage. “Oh, I’ll have the Chardonnay,” or “What kind of red wine is that?” or “Sorry, I did not mean to put my hand there.” Whoops, forget that last one. That has nothing to do with our column today. Sorry.

Anyway, let’s try something new. Let’s be a bit adventurous. Let’s not turn up our nose when someone offers us a beverage with which we are not familiar. First open your mind, and then open your mouth.

Pinot Noir
Yes, you are very cool. You have tried the “hot” grape, pinot noir. And you’ve seen Sideways, the movie. Whoa, you’re in with the in-crowd. Pinots from Sonoma Coast, Russian River, Willamette (Oregon) are a part of your repertoire.

But have you tried pinot noir from Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, all in California? How about Central Otago in New Zealand? South Africa?

Pinot Noir is such a sensitive grape that each one is different from its cousins in other places. Just because you are enamored with Russian River Pinot Noir does not mean you won’t like the same grape with different characteristics from other places. Even from other continents.

Rosé
Oh come now, you still don’t cringe when your host/hostess offers you a glass of pink wine? You can’t still be threatened by the color and worried that the wine is too sweet, even though you have no problem sitting down to lunch with a glass of sweet tea?

Rosé wines come in a wide variety of grape types: merlot, syrah, grenache, pinot noir, malbec and even cabernet sauvignon. Hardly any of the rosé wines on the shelves are sweet, except the very inexpensive bottles. All are quite bone-dry, and many present the characteristics of their main grape ingredient, which means they are meaty and approachable young. Most possess good tannins and good acid structures. And most don’t deserve that look you give them when you see the color.

Whiskey
Okay, so you like Scotch and Bourbon. Whoopee! Now, here’s the deal: Try one that is older and enjoy it without a splash of water or even ice.

Older whiskies take on additional dimensions of depth, nuttiness, sweetness, color and smooth finishes. The additional time spent in the barrel does wonderful things to the spirit. The only danger here is that you will start to truly enjoy the older, and more expensive, liquid.

Cognac
Why don’t you like this stuff? It’s delightfully complex and quite satisfying. Here again, the older it is, the more interesting it becomes.

Afraid of the “burn?” Then you are drinking it wrong. Unlike drinking wine, Cognac is enjoyed with your mouth and teeth closed, not bringing in air to open it up. You will be amazed at how smooth and tasty fine Cognac really is.

Grappa
Okay, I’ll admit this one is a challenge. If you are ever in an airplane about to run out of fuel, and you have a few bottles of grappa, you’re good. Grappa is a truly acquired taste. It is not user-friendly. And it demands that you drink only the best.

Otherwise, you are going to be in the same fix you are in now, not understanding the stuff. Grappa is the Italian version of Cognac, only with more complications and lots of alcohol, but since it’s made from grapes, there are lots of flavors and nuances.

Torrontes
For Chardonnay drinkers, this white wine from Argentina presents a nice change of pace, and it’s pretty inexpensive. Fun spice notes on the palate and a pretty floral experience on the nose make a well-made torrontes such a pleasant experience.

Torrontes can be hurt in quality due to over-planting, leaving the fruit hanging on the vine beyond the time they are ripe, and improper vinification techniques in the winery. Of course, those statements are true of every wine on the planet. Torrontes is something you will enjoy, and you can amaze your friends with the breadth of your knowledge and wine appreciation.

Pisco
So why did this dork writer list a spirit from Peru or Chile, right after a white wine from Argentina? I’m not as crazy as I look. Thankfully.

Pisco is a grape-based spirit that is claimed by two countries, and they are willing to do battle over who did the first and where. Pisco is made from the torrontes grape (oh, that’s why he did that), and is quite versatile.

You can make something wonderful in the form of a Pisco Sour or Pisco Punch. Or you can head over to one of our excellent local watering holes and let a professional do either one, or both, for you. 

Remiss
I would be remiss if I did not suggest that you avail yourself of a few of our new locally made spirits and beers.

Over the past year we have seen distilleries open in Thibodaux (Bayou Rum) and Lacassine (Louisiana Spirits), La. We have watched as new products from the ‘hood hit the shelves, like the absinthe or the gin from Atelier Vie, located in Mid-City.

And Celebration Distillation: Old New Orleans Rum, continues on their steady way with fine efforts, perfect for both sipping and mixing.

As for the beers, the local scene is in a population explosion, both in terms of number of breweries and product. I covered this earlier in a very recent column.

Climb out of the rut and try new things. You may not find a lot of great outcomes, but there will be a pony in there somewhere.

 

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