New Year - No Booze, your thoughts?

@mohler - Nah, you haven't lost it. Now days my drinking is tasting. So, I'm not drinking too much, yeah right. The controller of my drinking is the fact that my wife has the key to the whisky cabinet. I've tried telling her, if we don't drink it we can't buy anymore. She doesn't fall for that either. No seriously, for me it's a constant self check thing. I know where I've had too much and the key time is to stop before I get there. Plus, I would hate to lose my privileges if I don't apply these checks. I enjoy the pleasure of a two shot glass of a siingle malt scotch whisky, of my choice or a snifter of cognac or brandy. I don't want lose these. Good topic at the start of a new year or anytime.

@mohler Sorry all for the "you're thoughts" I'm home alone on house husband & child carer today so I was rushing to type while doing something else at the same time.

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@mohler If it isn't getting in the way of your life, whether it be personal or professional, I think there's no reason to cut back. There's no use for paranoia. Living in fear that it may "go to far."

If it hasn't gotten in the way of anything, keep enjoying your Scotch. If we deprive ourselves of the things we enjoy, it only turns us into bitter old men. Continue to find joy in your life. Don't go off the deep end because you drink more than your friends. The drink affects everybody differently.

@OCeallaigh - Nicely said. Thoughts I can definitely use.

@OCeallaigh Well said.

Don't get me wrong I have always been able to handle my drink & I certainly don't think I'm having too much. I sometimes find that I've lost my ability to really enjoy it by having it too often.

The old phrase 'absence make the heart grow fonder' sums it up. Its a great feeling to have a little break & get back to something you enjoy & relish it even more.

I guess that is more what I'm pushing for.

I did pour myself a tiny bit last night to sniff & write some notes. It was lovely just to sniff & sniff!

@mohler - @OCeallaigh - I think you have touched on something with sniffing thing, I'll explain. Stay with me if you will. Why not have a "sniffer" like the "tasting". Yes, the tasting has the nose, while the "sniffer" only have the "sniff". And, unlike the tasting NO whisky is poured. Only the bottle will be used for the sniffer. Just pull the cork and begin your sniffing, make the notes and possibly repeat for that whisky. For multiple bottles when you're finished with one take a wiff of some coffee beans to reset your sniffer and after resetting continue on to the next whisky.

Ok, what do you Gents? Crazy or what?

@WPT Intrestingly I did smell a few bottles before pouring one as I'm too used to smelling from a glencairn glass. So I don't think it's crazy at all.