Contrary to what most people would believe, I do enjoy drinking alcohol. This vice, if you could call it one, interestingly helps me write. As they say, in vino veritas (in wine there is truth).
However, I have a built-in alcohol limiter – in the sense that I easily turn red after a bottle of beer or two. Even my younger brother suffers from this predicament, which we both inherited from Dad’s side of the family. This comes with a trade-off: We get sober sooner. That serves as a signal for both of us to stop drinking.
I’m not really much of a fan of beers, preferring craft spirits and liqueurs. In fact, I’m still looking for a bar here in Manila that serves a near-accurate version of the Singapore Sling cocktail! Despite that, today’s triptych features three alcoholic drinks I’ve previously tried out.
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: X proof means that the drink has an alcohol by volume, ABV for shorthand in percentage that’s half the value of X. Say, 24-proof means 12% ABV while 36-proof is 18% ABV.)
The Smirnoff Mule is based on the iconic Moscow Mule cocktail, which is vodka mixed with lime and ginger. I last tried this 12-proof alcoholic drink in 2019 during a visit to a local watering hole. While the lime and ginger in the drink cuts through the taste of fish and seafood, I found that it cleansed my palate after eating a rather savory cut of meat with garlic rice and scrambled eggs.
The Suntory Horoyoi White Sour is based on the Japanese chuhai alcoholic beverage. While traditional versions use shochu (distilled liquor) from barley, more modern ones use vodka as base. I personally liked this 6-proof beverage as it tastes similar to carbonated milk (often sold under the brand Calpis in Japan and Milkis in South Korea).
Lastly, this Lemon-Dou Honey Lemon Chu-Hi alcoholic drink made by The Coca-Cola Company uses real lemons as a base. While this one is 6-proof, the Signature Lemon variant is 10-proof while the Devil Lemon variant is 18-proof. The Honey Lemon variant has been a favorite of mine since it has a less pronounced citrus flavor and a mild sweetness, thanks to the honey.
Well, that’s it for this triptych – I’ll stop now before I get tempted to grab another beverage. Until the next post, cheers!
The Monching's Guide 
How interesting that your family has that same thing where your faces turns red. Bet you guys where easily busted as youths..? 😆
Dad has a higher tolerance for alcohol though, mainly due to his years of social drinking as a lawyer 😅 As for me and my younger brother, we started drinking rather late — so we easily turn red.
Also, I’m trying to minimize my alcohol consumption as it triggers my eczema most of the time. 😣 After one or two bottles, my extremities often itch!
That’s smart of you! Why drink something that your body obviously doesn’t like.. I am not that much of a drinker myself, but that’s because I am not such a huge fan of losing control. I need to be clear enough in my head to know if my bloodsugar is getting low😅 And alcohol also leaves me with up to 3 times of severely low bloodsugar the following day, so even though I can drink until I fall asleep without getting a hangover the next day, my bloodsugar acts up instead..😆
Oh my… :O I didn’t know alcohol had serious effects on you! As for me, I wouldn’t want to lose control either — especially when I’m behind the wheel. The last thing I want to have is a drunk driving record to settle at the bureau of motor vehicles and land transportation! 💥🚗
In Norway we can’t even drive after only one glass of wine. The limit is super low..
Wow, so many drinks I’ve never heard of… not that I am an expert in alcoholic beverages ahah 😂 I do like the occasional cocktail on a night out with friends but that’s about it, and I don’t like beer either ahah! Also, what is carbonated milk?
It’s fine, to each their own. 😁
Hmm…well, I could compare it to Actimel or Yakult mixed with Perrier for that extra fizz. It’s mildly sweet compared to the undiluted milk drink.
I don’t know if Asian grocers at your part of the world stock carbonated milk, but it’s often sold under the brand names Calpis (JP) or Milkis (KR). You should try it! 🙂
Wow, I can’t imagien what it tasts like at all but I’m really curious about it now so I’ll see if I can find some ahah!
Thanks for following the blog, by the way! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your insight on these drinks. 🙏
I have to admit that we usually don‘t drink any premixed drinks. We buy the ingredients and mix the drinks at home. That way, we know that there aren‘t any additives and such in the drinks we consume.
It‘s interesting to read that you tried vodka based drinks. We usually drink wine or beer when we‘re having a barbecue, topped sometimes by a Caipiroshka or two. 😉
Welcome! I guess it’s the fact that these alcoholic drinks are available here in the Philippines. More often than not, these are the types of drinks you grab from the shelf, check out at the till, pop in an ice-loaded cooler and drink when you get home. 🍻
I also love the Lemon Dou – Honey Lemon flavor!!
Great to hear! It’s not as intense as the other higher-alcohol variants! 🍻
I also turn red while drinking, hah! I don’t drink a lot, but there is a quirky little bar in our town that makes a variety of Moscow Mules and they’re pretty tasty.
Interesting; I thought I was alone with that predicament! 😅 It’s great to have those kinds of bars near you; unfortunately, there’s none here in my side of Manila — and the nearest ones are driving distance. 😦
Making me thirsty. I do like beer; Guinness as a winter drink, lager (Carlsberg) for summer. Red wine at home or with a meal. Liquor is a bit quick, I prefer the slow, and mellowing effect.
Thank you for stopping by, Shane! You’d be kindred spirits with my Dad, though; he’s more of a beer person. While his favorite is San Miguel Beer — unofficially the Philippine national brew — he’s also taken a liking to Heineken and Foster’s.
have been very curious about that lemon drink! Masubukan na nga!^^
Di masyadong malakas tama niyan, Doc! (Though for someone na mababa ang alcohol tolerance, one or two cans can turn me red!) 😂
I’ll have to track down the drinks you feature. They all sound very tasty. Your built-in red-faced alcohol limiter sounds a good idea but maybe not so good when you want to go crazy and party all night on your birthday!
And also a bad idea when I go behind the wheel! Now that you mentioned it, my birthday is in a fortnight’s time — I ought to buy booze soon. 🍻
Happy birthday in two week’s time! Make sure you party hard and get a taxi home
Thank you for the advanced greeting!
It’s always better to be early than late 🙂
I have the same predicament: Contrary to how I look, I enjoy drinking alcohol. Fortunately/unfortunately, I do not turn red (asian flush). Nor do I have low alcohol tolerance.
Alocholic drinks are a joy, especially if taken in/with good company. 🙂
Definitely! But sometimes, I do prefer drinking alone after a long day while people-watching. Cubao Expo is a good place for that kind of practice. 🍺
I’m a drinker too, but just allow myself two. Nowadays it’s just for special occasions, but you are correct, it does help you write. My second book, “Love Cats” was written while I sipped on organic red wine in the afternoons.
Wow, now that’s an achievement! Interestingly, I was drinking last night — and had already been nursing a headache after three rounds. The built-in limiter is working effectively!
A lot of Asians have low tolerance to alcohol, which is probably why you turn red? I used to get rashes on the back after a drink but after a while my body got used to drinking ahaha.
Point taken! But I guess it boils down to tolerance built up when you drink on a regular basis haha 😅 For some odd reason, my allergy flared up after drinking recently — na-trigger yung eczema ko plus nag-flakes yung anit ko 😣
Pingback: 360 – On A 2022 Q4 Update (Part 1) | The Monching's Guide
Pingback: 364 – On Recapping 2022, Part 1: Posts | The Monching's Guide