Candy Is Dandy but Liquor Is Quicker
Written on Apr 6, 2026
The title of this post is the entire poem titled "Reflections on Ice-Breaking" by Ogden Nash from 1931. It's also a quote from the Willy Wonka movie of 1971. Some people use liquor (or any form of alcohol) as a tool for persuasion.
In my opinion, the best thing about consuming alcoholic drinks is that it allows you to relax. Too little isn't enough, and too much is simply too much. The trick is to find the balance between the two extremes. I have found that balance.
Liquor vs. Beer and Wine
Many people like beer, and many people like wine. I can drink either one, but I prefer liquor. It takes a large amount of beer or wine to get me to the level of intoxication I want to reach. Drinking that much of anything can make me feel worse than not drinking at all.
My wife, Josie, likes light beer, sweet red wine, and tequila. She's more picky than I am when it comes to specific brands. Other than San Miguel Light Beer, she doesn't like local brands of anything in the Philippines. She avoids beer because it causes her to gain weight.
I drink beer occasionally when I'm in the United States. I prefer the stronger and darker beer brands. In the past, I've enjoyed Dos Equis Ambar, Yuengling, Sam Adams Boston Lager, and even Michelob Classic Dark. I never drink beer to become intoxicated.
Whisky Is My Drink of Choice
Regardless of the American or British spelling, it's the form of liquor I prefer these days. I spent several years with rum and cola drinks until I started avoiding sugar as much as possible. Now I drink whiskey on ice. There are various brands I enjoy, and I prefer bourbon.
I like honey whiskey (bourbon infused with honey liqueur), but I don't want to drink it. It's sweet and way too easy to drink. I can only sip on bourbon, and that's the way I like it. Two drinks is usually sufficient to put me where I want to be, in a total state of relaxation.
Josie doesn't like it when I drink too much, and most of the time I don't. If I slip up and have more than two drinks, I'll fall asleep and snore more than usual. She can't sleep when I'm like that unless she falls asleep first.
The Risk of Alcoholism
In the past and in certain situations, I've been called an alcoholic--usually by people who are recovering from alcoholism. I assume that term would apply to just about anyone who drinks alcohol, depending on the perspective of the person making the accusation.
When I was young, before the age of 25, I did a substantial amount of social drinking. There were a few single-occasion drinking events before I turned 50. I started drinking more often while living at my house in the Philippines. Most of the men living around me drink way more than I do.
Although I enjoy drinking, I can go for days, weeks, and even months without imbibing. I'm over 60, and I've already outlived many of my peers after surviving a 20-year active duty stint in the military. At this point, I really don't care what anyone thinks of me.
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay