by Julia Chen Alcohols are favored all over the world. They are like spices, adding to the pleasure and taste of life. Like the alterations in nature, different kinds of alcohol may be more suitable for certain temperatures and certain weather. So, you may start to wonder: What should I drink with the changing seasons? Here are the four representative types of alcoholic beverages to accompany you through the seasons. Spring: Red Wine
Flowers budding, birds chirping outside your window, a gentle breeze brushing over your skin, a scent mixed with spring rain and earth is gliding into your nose—you feel poetic—but, what seems to be missing? A glass of red wine of course! By crushing whole grapes without peeling, using yeast to convert sugar into alcohol, and storing it inside a wooden barrel for 10-20 years, a ruby-colored bottle of wine is produced. The aroma of fruit and the taste of sourness, arising chiefly from tannins, convey a refreshing feeling of spring. Before drinking, remove the cork and expose the wine to the air for 15-30 minutes, so as to “wake it up.” Remember not to shake but pour it directly into the glass, or the sediment might come out and pour it directly into the glass, or the sediment might come out and offend your delicate taste buds. What an expert would do is to observe, smell, and rinse his or her mouth with the wine before swallowing it. Feel like having a sip in a romantic season like spring? Get a bottle of French red wine and give it a try! Summer: Beer In the season when you’re desperate to jump into a swimming pool full of ice, a cool beer can work wonders. Cereal grain is the most commonly used starch to brew beer. Hops, which strengthen the bitterness, are also added. And thanks to fermentation, which produces carbon dioxide, a considerable amount of bubbles are thrown into the mix. In the brewing process, the quality of water plays a key role and must be removed of any impurities. Usually ice is added to beer, so drink it when it’s as fresh as possible to have the liquid remain cool. Imagine cool beer as it slips over your tongue and down your throat. Perhaps this is the reason why the consumption of beer surpasses that of other alcoholic beverages and ranks as the world’s No. 1. Take 1985 for example, the world’s beer consumption was 150 billion liters, enough to float two ships! So, in the season when cooling yourself becomes a must, drink beer to your fullest, and don’t feel shy about burping! Autumn: Whisky When leaves begin to turn yellow and fall from trees, it is time for the mature flavor of whisky to stand out. Whisky is the most popular type of distilled liquor, and its standard production includes mixture, fermentation, distillation, and storage. Time plays the key factor in the quality of whisky. The longer it stays in the oak barrel, the stronger and more fragrant it becomes. The tip for whisky-tasting is to imagine you are pursuing a girl— never rush. First, add big pieces of ice to a tumbler of whisky. Appreciate its color and bouquet before slowly sipping it. Do not swallow it at once, but hold it in your mouth for a few seconds. Spicy enough to choke you sometimes, rich, smooth, or even dignified may be some of the words you will end up choosing to describe whisky. Try to enjoy the multiple impacts it gives you, not only when it’s inside your mouth but after it glides down into your stomach. Fallen in love with your girl already? Don’t be too hasty in deciding which one’s your favorite for there are still many kinds of whisky waiting to flirt with you! Winter: Vodka Wrapping yourself in layers of thick blanket, but still feeling the chill creeping into your body? How about some vodka? Originating from Russia and originally used only to cure illnesses, the White Spirit has now become one of the most beloved drinks in the northern countries. Vodka is renowned for its transparency, and its purity lies not only in the color but also in the smell. One of the special features of vodka, as it undergoes multiple distillations, is its strength, which can range from 40% to 50% abv. (alcohol by volume). However, seldom is vodka drunk directly; instead, people enjoy blending it with lime juice or Pepsi. No matter which way you drink it, you can always feel the warmth spreading from your mouth, throat, stomach, and finally to your entire body. But beware of its effects! One small glass of vodka is sufficient to drive your chill away, and a whole bottle can help you through the whole winter! a
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May 2024
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