In THE BATTLE OF THE BEERS, stout won with 'other', lager, pale ale and pilsner beers coming next in the poll. I didn't expect stout to win but there must be a lot of Guinness drinkers here.
With a nod to Halloween, it's now the turn of the spirits to do battle! And when I say spirits, I mean both liquors and liqueurs. Unlike brewed beers, spirits are distilled. Though both distilled, liqueurs tend to be flavoured, sweetened, spiced and even mixed liquors.
Some liqueurs, because of their mix of ingredients, are difficult to categorise. For example, both Drambuie and Yukon Jack contain honey as an ingredient but I've placed them as a whisky liqueur rather than as a honey liqueur.
There are no wines made from the grape nor fortified wines made from the grape, like port, sherry and vermouth, in the poll but brandy counts as it's a distilled wine. There are no coffee liqueurs, like carajillo, Irish and Tia Maria coffee, in the poll as they're just coffee with a liqueur thrown in. And there are no cocktails because they, like wines, are for another poll.
And for those who like tequila, I've included that agave plant-based spirit as part of the mezcal family of spirits.
This poll is only concerned with different types and not different brands of spirits, whether liquors or liqueurs.
I've tried most spirits, though I've not tried baijiu and soju popular in China and South Korea respectively. My favourite spirits are amaretto, brandy (especially Cognac), Frangelico (an Italian hazelnut-flavoured liqueur), Irish cream (particularly a Bailey's with ice), jenever (especially when it's cold in Amsterdam), limoncello (an Italian lemon liqueur), sambuca (best when set alight), Scotch malt whisky and tequila (only the high-end stuff but without the worm). But my favourite spirit is gin, always mixed with tonic water and always on the rocks. Gordon's gin with Schweppes tonic water is the perfect summertime drink.
My least favourite spirits are absinthe, anis (aka anisette), blended whisky, rum and vodka (tasteless in my book). But palm wine (aka coconut wine) is by far the worst spirit I've drunk. I was given palm wine on a tour of a Gambian village; it was knockout but disgusting.
What are your most and least favourite spirits, including both liquors and liqueurs?
What are your favourite apéritifs (before-meal drinks) and digestifs (after-meal drinks)?
Have you ever drunk moonshine or hooch, a home-distilled and even a prison-distilled spirit?
My favourite apéritif is a gin and tonic; it sets the palate up well for the meal to come. And my favourite digestif is a neat brandy (especially a Cognac), the perfect nightcap after a meal and coffee. Much as I like the moon, I don't want to drink any moonshine (or poitín for that matter). Drinking Gambian palm wine was enough of a bad imbibing experience for me.
Below is a poll where you can anonymously select your most favourite spirit. Unfortunately only one pick is allowed in the poll.
But a poll on this site can only have 20 answer options. There was no room for absinthe, aguardient (aka guaro), akvavit, aloja de chaucha, anis (aka anisette), arrack, awamori, cachaça, catuaba, chile liqueur, chocolate liqueur, feni (aka fenny), flower liqueur (eg elderflower liqueur), gentian liqueur (aka genziana), honey liqueur, horilka, marc (including fruit and grape marc), moonshine (aka hooch, prison wine or pruno), nalewka, oshikundu (aka ontaku), padlamanggan, pálinka, palm wine (aka coconut wine), pisco, poitín (aka potcheen or poteen), rakia, rượu đế (aka rượu quốc lủi), Vana Tallinn, viche and waragi. Hopefully I've covered all the popular spirits as poll options. If 'other' ever wins, then that means I've designed a badly flawed poll!
I think whisky will comfortably win this poll, but brandy, gin, rum and vodka may feature in the race with whisky.
Please see the first comment below to see what has won each battle of the food and drinks so far.
Rather than posting a photo of a gin and tonic below, I'm posting two celebrated prints drawn by the English artist Thomas Hogarth. Both prints were drawn in support of the 1751 Gin Act which was passed to discourage gin-drinking especially gin-drinking by women. Since gin was introduced to England from the Netherlands, gin became a very popular drink. Gin joints allowed women to drink with women and men. Gin was often nicknamed 'mother's ruin' because people, especially men, thought that drinking cheap gin meant women neglected their children and turned to prostitution. Hogarth's prints suggest that beer-drinking men are happy and healthy unlike gin-drinking women!
Thomas Hogarth's Beer Street and Gin Lane, 1751:
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34 comments
Seeing this at 10:10 am EST
Without a doubt, my favourite is Vodka for martinis 🍸 and cocktails 🍹
When I drank spirits years ago, my preference was whiskey/ginger ale
@spunkycumfun that's my choice of drink now besides water
@spunkycumfun I haven't had ginger beer since I was a kid....my parents used to make it on the farm
Irish Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon for me!
@spunkycumfun giggles...not a chance!! Jameson and Buffalo Trace for me... separately!
@spunkycumfun not even an ice cube!!
@spunkycumfun z...e...r ..o...
Because I'm no longer much of a drinker of alcohol (of any kind), Bailey's over ice is perfect for me. I can sip on one of those for quite a while. Bourbon, then rum, round out my top three. I have a candy recipe that uses rum but I always make it with Southern Comfort instead. I went through a sloe gin phase in my young days.
I don't have enough variety experience to truly pick a least favorite but I'll confess that the first time I had regular gin ... it was my last.
Pappy vanwinkle , made to sip , not guzzle ,
@spunkycumfun very smooth , but very expensive ,
@spunkycumfun not sure , try 4 roses , also ,
@spunkycumfun best wishes ,
Hi there, Looking for a man to love.
I went through several phases throughout my life. My liquor changed as I matured. When I was younger I loved a good nutty Amaretto every now and again, Kahlua coffee to mellow my mood and vibed with Bacardi and spiced it up with Captain Morgan rum when dancing. Whiskey isn't my favorite but I'll drink it with a beer chaser (boiler-maker). No vodka please, it makes me violent. I've had many fights after drinking it. Also wine is best for setting the mood for romance and to relax. So many choices, how can I choose just one? Lol, I'm a true boozer.
@spunkycumfun That's why you drink a full glass of water chasing aspirin before bed to get that out of your system
it works great.
I voted for the Amaretto Nut Liquor as that's what I really enjoy
drinking as it doesn't give me a headache or hangover.
What are your most and least favourites spirits, including both liquors and liqueurs?
I would have to say Amaretto DiSaranno, Bacardi, and Tequilla once in a great while.
I really enjoy Mikes Strawberry Lemonade, and Jack Daniels Down Home Punch.
What are your favourite apéritifs (before-meal drinks) and digestifs (after-meal drinks)?
Not sure I really have one.
Have you ever drunk moonshine or hooch, a home-distilled and even a prison-distilled spirit? No it's not my thing but my ex son in law sure enjoyed the moonshine that
they used to buy.
My favorites, not in any order are: 1. Fireball cinnamon flavored Canadian Whiskey. 2. Captain Morgan coconut rum 3.Nemiroff Ukranian honey pepper Vodka. 4. Kailua Mexican Coffee and rum liqueur 5. Fifth not available in US Polish Bison Grass Vodka.. Number 1 and 2 can sip straight or mix with coke. 1 drink mostly in the Fall and Winter. 2 mostly in Spring and summer.Alsoassists to make a fantastic strawberry dacari.Often use 1 to flavor things cooking like steaks and baked beans. 3 all the time mix in giant cup with mostly apple juice and smaller part lemon lime soda. Unfortunately very limited distribution in the US. Did find place in Dallas that carries . Probably not issue in: Chicago, NYC, Boston. Might be elsewhere.Kailua mixed with milk, ice eream, chocolate syrup mostly in summer. On last of some Moldovan Tnpac B randy that use to cook with.. Have couple others fond of.. Of course have dabbled with sipping Southern comfort and tequila. Mostly use tequila to make strawberry margaritas. All being said only drink about 2 or 3 large drinks per week. Previously described my cherry or strawberry trash can punch with ever clear and tequila that would have at college parties getting 3,000 people very happy per night.Found out over last 20 years that alcohol better at pain management than the stuff the Doctor drug dealers push upon patients. What was once bad when taking 20 medications and 200 pills a day, found when pills stopped working washing down with alcohol pumped back up. Not recommended. Fortunately weaned self off the prescription medication. Since incident last March haven't been drinking at all, except recent glass of wine with dinner. Had/have tried local hooch fresh out of still in : Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania and Laos as well as some of backwoods locals in US. Last not really my thing yet need for politeness for hosts.
@spunkycumfun you know it. Given all of our conversations surprise that didn't see that coming. The specific one mentioned one of two best in world. Last heard JuS Govt doesn't allow the Bison Grass in the country.
@spunkycumfun and cheers to Z when drinking
@spunkycumfun if find specific one mentioned and mix as described won't even know that consuming Vodka. Taste like a honey infused apple juice with hint of lemon lime. Pepper not harsh and seem to taste at back of throat, good for and prevention of sore throat..
I used to be a Miller Lite and shots of whiskey Girl, but now all I drink is Tito's Vodka with water and 2 "squirts" of Mio flavoring. (This is the go-to drink for anyone on a diet. Mio has no calories, nor is it carbonated.)
It was a toss-up between cream and fruit liqueur. I like Bailey's and coffee or Bailey's over ice cream. Fried amarula and bananas makes for a great dessert
There is a form of Japanese sake called "doburoku" that can easily be made at home. There are recipes online.
Many households make Umeshu when plums come in season. They put plums, shochu that's 40% alcohol, hard sugar or honey in a big bottle, and store the bottle in a dark cool place for about 6 months to a year.
Tequila.....with lime for me plz n thank u. with or without ice....sometimes mixed with seltzer.....sometimes straight ~
Generally speaking my liquor drinking is fairly simple - rum, blended whiskey, vodka.
I've never had hooch, but some cheap vodka comes close!
What are your most and least favourites spirits, including both liquors and liqueurs?
Rum is a long time favorite, especially Captain Morgan. I dislike scotch.
What are your favourite apéritifs (before-meal drinks) and digestifs (after-meal drinks)?
Beer, actually.
Have you ever drunk moonshine or hooch, a home-distilled and even a prison-distilled spirit?
I've had moonshine. It was clear and tasty, like turpentine.
For me, I enjoy drinking gin with or without ice; as well making a gin and tonic. I drank other spirits as well but I like gin a bit more.
@spunkycumfun Indeed.
Rum 🍹 and whiskey 🥃
@spunkycumfun I
Have to try some definitely on my list 🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥
Whiskey and rum primarily but I have a taste for everything hard liquor 🥃 wise grow up with friends that play rock music and myself included you have a tendency to drink whatever availability. Plus the cooking I love doing the chefs have knowledge of good liquid Jesus.
My favorite spirit is Scotch Whisky neat or just a bit of ice if it has been sitting in a temp of over 75F, 23C. A good whisky can be served too warm as well as too cold. I prefer a Scotch that only has a hint of smokiness. The Islay types are too peaty/smoky for my taste. My favorite is OBAN 14yr but I reserve that for special occasions. For more general use I like The Famous Grouse, Smoky Black. It is a blend with a bit of but not too much smoky flavor. I can blame my taste for Single Malt Scotches on a Bagpiper friend. Before that my favorite spirit was Brandy.
I have never been a fan of Gin though my father-in-law liked it very much.
@spunkycumfun Sometimes it just feels good to kick back and sip some good Scotch.
I try to stay away from hard liquor these days because alcohol can be a trigger for my a-fib. A past answer would have been vodka. These days the thing I consume most often on this list would be a splash of irish cream in my coffee.
Tequila, I like Patron but if I don’t watch it’s usually trouble