Had the whole visiting family mob here - about 10 folks or so, not counting the wife and I. They drank all my Tequila, Mescal, Scotch, vodka, beer, Bloody Mary mix, margarita mix, and probably stuff I don’t know about yet. First time I can remember tossing back tequila shooters with the grandchildren. They wobbled. I didn’t. Amateurs. I must have 75 pounds of empty bottles and cans. Everybody was pretty squinty eyed this morning. They seemed sober when they left this morning. It’s so nice and quiet now.

I bet I burned enough wrapping paper and boxes that it could be seen from the space station.

And they all brought dogs, so I have to watch where I step.

On other issues, the oldest grandson now has an official girlfriend. Pretty sure he’ll marry this one. And the wife and I totally approve. He brought her by here last weekend. Delightful. Works on Wall Street and make mucho money. This is no DA floozy, but a serious young woman. About 5’7”, slim, pretty, and an excellent pistol shot. What more could a young man want? Don’t know if she can cook, but he’s a great cook. I told him that if he doesn’t marry this one, I’ll take a stick upside his head. He laughed and told her what I said, and she laughed. Yep, this is it.

All the pigs have left the property and the deer moved back in. Now I miss the pigs. I was kicking some pig butt there for a while.

No busted pipes from all the cold weather (for once), though I did repair a break for the neighbor when he was out of town.

That’s all there is and there ain’t no more. Hope your Christmas was a good one.

As it turns out, there is more. Russian Standard vodka is, I think, no longer available, so I could use a recommendation on a good replacement vodka. Last time I ran out of Russian Standard I bought some Polish stuff and it was awful. And Tequila…I need some good tequila for mixing and sipping, so recommendations are welcome.

Tito‘a vodka

Don Julio Anejo or Platinum for sipping.

I'm no vodka man, but it looks like Russian Standard is made from 100% hard winter wheat. I would start by trying vodkas made from same.

Try this one, very smooth, almost no hangover the next morning

You have the best parties 603,

Spouse likes Hussong's tequila.

For the vodka, I’m going with Sniper John’s thinking - vodka from winter wheat. That puts Absolut and Ketel One in the hunt, and a couple of others that sound a bit more exotic. There’s a choice between Polish, French, Swedish and American winter wheat vodka.

On the Tequila, more research is in order. Some time back I bought some Patron, but it wasn’t as good as I had expected, though that’s highly subjective. The Hussong’s sounded good, but I keep the tequila in the freezer at 4 degrees, so it needs to be in a normal bottle to fit.

And I need some Gin too, and I know very little about Gin for mixing or martinis. Help me out with this.

Gin:


For top shelf - The Botanist (learned it on here).
Upper middle-class - Hendrick's
Middle of the road - Bombay Sapphire and Balfour Street

I used to sneak my dad's Bombay sapphire gin, good stuff when I was 16, haven't had any sense

Sounds like fun

That's not the gin's fault!

A lot depends on what you like in a gin. I prefer mine full flavored and juniper forward. High end, I agree with the botanist and would add Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Middle of the road, I like Aviation. My preferred cheaper stuff is Tanqueray.

I make margaritas for our RV buddies. I was using Patron silver...well the group has gotten bigger and it takes a full 1.75L or $85 dollars. Well the wife was in Walmart and found this.

When she googled it, it was reported to be just like Patron for mixing and shooting.

And it's $21 for a fifth.

Thanks, El Rojo, I’m on it. Going booze buying in Waco tomorrow. And thanks to all for the suggestions.

And I need to check and see what wines are gone. The replenishment is gonna cost me.