At some point on January 3rd I realised that I had had alcoholic drinks on two successive days. Most people would say, “Oh right, that’s funny/cool/strange/odd/nothing to be remotely interested with,” delete as applicable and carry about their business.
For someone who was pretty much teetotal as an adolescent and who had only just started developing a taste for liquor in the past few years, this was something big and the start of a silly plan. I quite like to go against the grain and seeing everyone start their health kick made me want to rebel. Dry January, Dry Schmanuary. Wet January was declared!
I’m not a huge drinker – I usually never go over three proper drinks on a night out and have never, ever been the paralytic type of drunk, only tipsy or merry. Once I was very merry. But I was 33. Measures for January were always small, no more than 50ml or so unless I was out or had a cocktail and usually neat, just because I prefer it that way! Always drink responsibly!!
Here’s what I drank in January:
Day 1 – 56% vodka (for midnight toast) & amaretto prosecco.
Day 2 – Amaretto sour – homemade cocktail – recipe here.
Day 3 – Zubrowka vodka.
Day 4 – Silent pool gin – blogged here.
Day 5 – Belgian whisky Golden Carolus single malt.
Day 6 – Jim Beam single barrel – I love a good bourbon!
Day 7 – dregs of Jack Daniels Fire.
Day 8 – Dark and Stormy cocktail – ginger beer & rum.
Day 9 – Amaretto Sour
Day 10 – Biniarbolla – a Camomile liqueur from Menorca. Best served very cold. 
Day 11 – Jim Beam Single Barrel
Day 12 – Zubrowka vodka
Day 13 – Macieira brandy – a Portuguese classic.
Day 14 – Red wine – Shiraz cabernet – forgot the bottle name!
Day 15 – Merrydown cider
Day 16 – 56% vodka
Day 17 – Merrydown cider
Day 18 – Zubrowka vodka
Day 19 – Havana Club 7 year old rum
Day 20 – Dark and Stormy 
Day 21 – Zubrowka vodka
Day 22 – Cognac VS Hennessy – as I was in Paris, a cognac seemed right!
Day 23 – Sweet Home Alabama cocktail – Southern Comfort, Amaretto, Solychinaya vodka. A very happy lunchtime at Cafe St Regis in Paris.
Day 24 – 56% vodka
Day 25 – Havana 7 yr old rum
Day 26 – Blueberry Amaretto sour, red wine Macia Batle from Majorca – out for a meal with friends.
Day 27 – Silent Pool gin
Day 28 – Dark and Stormy
Day 29 – 56% vodka
Day 30 – Amaretto sour
Day 31 -Macieira brandy
What, if anything, did I learn by doing this? Not a lot really! Apart from being really glad I don’t have to drink anything alcoholic for a long while; it became a chore and took the fun out of it. Plus I’m sure my skin will enjoy the break. If anything, I think it’s cemented in me that I am not a hard drinker and hopefully never will be! 
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