Cheers to Me: Why Drinking Alone is Not So Taboo After all…
“When you work hard all day with your head and know you must work again the next day what else can change your ideas and make them run on a different plane like whisky?”
~ Ernest Hemingway
Personally, having a drink alone is the perfect opportunity to take a deep breath and decompress. Total opposite to what is commonly acceptable behavior right? When socially drinking, I am never truly able to relax and unwind as I am still – to some extend – entertaining. Who said that drinking alone was an offensive occurrence? Why is it considered taboo? Who are the ones to judge? I guess plenty of people… Let’s name a possible few:
- Your doctor/therapist (I mean if you already have a therapist, I guess the drinking solo might be of a legit concern… just might!)
- Some of your friends may look at you sideways reading between lines which don’t exist
- Your kids, who still don’t understand levels in drinking, so God forbid you happen to yell at them at the same exact time you are pouring yourself a drink, then you know you are drunker than drunk and “it” negates anything you say to them! (Insider true story)
- And let’s not forget your health coach or personal trainer who will disregard all your other infractions to just focus on THAT ONE DRINK ALONE and the possible thousands calorie you have ingurgitated from that one cocktail (Uuuughhh)
Not all drinking alone stories are about being depressed or needing Alcoholic Anonymous. In my point of view, enjoying a drink by myself is my time to selfishly be creative, pamper myself and indulge by simply appreciating the pleasurable things in life ALONE! I enjoy my own company! Believe it or not I am very interesting to myself, solitude shouldn’t be this underrated.
Like it or not, my work life dictates my ability to socialize. For the past 3 years, with no common denominator as reasons, work has stimulated and also continuously challenged every ounce of my brain for at least 12 hours in the day. So when I step away from the work environment all I can think about is going home. Going home to my comfort zone, my space and being alone…that is really it. There is no person nor place I could unwind better other than my personal space with the help of a good cocktail, glass of wine or a Martini (when it comes to alcohol I only discriminate towards beer, for everything else I am an equal opportunist with a slight preference on clear liquor). I just want to meditate and savor my thoughts without the added strain of trying to carry on a conversation. I simply want to appreciate and reconnect with life regardless of whether I have someone else to share it with.
I like to blast my good ole playlist (which everyone in my household knows by heart and is somewhat sick of), clean around the house, create cocktails and enjoy free pursuits in my own mind. I can enjoy drinking good drinks on my own. I want to experience relaxing without having to deal with other people. I drink alone when I want to and never because I have to or am obligated to. Drinking alone is drinking with someone you love, yourself! So how can this be taboo?
Now… I am humble enough to say that I don't know if I have picked up a bad habit, but so far so good! Lucky for me, it doesn't look like I have addictive characteristics. There is nothing wrong with drinking alone. Drinking alone doesn't make you an alcoholic. Abusing alcohol makes you an alcoholic and you can certainly do that in public or in private.
In fact, I don't even have to be by myself. Often times, I invite The Hubby (and those that take a chance and stop by) for the privilege of tasting one of my exclusive cocktail, with music and food if they catch me at the right time!
So if you are going to join my Zen zone
- Don’t expect deep conversation, let’s keep it light
- Enjoy the drink(s)
- Once I am done (usually about 2 drinks), YOU are done. Fend for yourself or keep it moving…
“Dear Liver and Hips, It’s going to be a wild ride for the next few weeks. Stay strong my loves, your both winners. Don’t listen to Brain, she doesn’t know you both like I do. Love, Wine”
~Unknown
With that said, I can’t just leave you all without sharing what my favorite liquor to drink is when I need to unwind, not overthink on any given weeknight.
Gin is my go to liquor. There are many gin cocktails, of course, but I definitely don’t like to experience a lot of mixers with my Gin. I find it almost disrespectful to blur great crafts of Gin with crèmes, liqueurs, and juices. So when I attempt to make a cocktail with Gin, I fairly keep it simple to not dilute its original flavor.
The best Gin cocktail for me is a simple Gin and Tonic. To describe a G&T as ”simple” is such an oxymoron as you can make it with so many different flavors, colors, scent but it requires proper measurements. it is truly an unpretentious and exquisite drink if done right.
Gin like the very popular Vodka, is a neutral grain spirit. The only difference is that it's infused with botanicals, then redistilled. The botanicals could be anything—along with the requisite juniper berries.
So on my alone, low key nights, drinking Gin straight with ice (or neat as some would say it) is definitely an option as even finding the energy to get some tonic is sometimes tewwww much. Naturally, to enjoy a spirit neat it must be of good quality – there's nothing worse than nasty, bitter, cheap gin.
These days, thankfully, there's a gin renaissance happening. My favorite Gins have been Hendricks, the Botannist, Beefeater Summer Gin, and Empress. However my friend Peter came from London a few weeks ago and introduced me to this new Gin straight from Glasgow Glaswegin.
I am officially putting you all on to this new spirit. It is amazing and neat is definitely the way to go when savoring it. It is not yet available here in the US but it is on its way!
Last night I added frozen dragon fruit ice balls and a spring of Rosemary giving it a slightly sweeter, more floral taste.
Cheers! Drink responsibly (alone or socially!) and as always, remember that I love you- 😚 Smooches
