Love of My Life (An Ode to Libations)

I remember my mum giving me little sips of wine (technically my first “tasting”) when I was younger. She’d buy these huge bottles of Lambrusco (Riunite to be exact) and I became a fan. I felt “sophisticated” as a teen because, while others my age were exploring the hard stuff, I was drinking wine. Like a real grown-up. Mind you, this was nothing new to the Europeans, so... Ah, the thought processes of the young & dumb (Disclaimer: EvilUni does NOT condone or promote underage drinking). It took years (and a lot of growing up) before I began to branch out and expand my palate. Not only just with food (I was the first ever Foodie, I just know it!) and wines, but with beers and distillates as well.

As a young adult, I drank beer socially. My go-tos were usually Corona or Heineken. It was just something easy to drink. The lesser of the evils, so to speak. I was never much of a beer fan. Not until my time stationed in Germany… with ALL of the beers (and wines). And there was nothing “lesser” about any of the beers I experienced there. Hell, the ABV on those were like double anything I’d ever seen or tried in the U.S. I tried Kolsch, German Pilsner, Berliner Weisse, and Dunkel to name a few. Then I’d occasionally travel to Belgium and explore Witbiers, Saisons, and especially Lambics. My palate was opening and expanding. EEEeee!!!!! Yes, beer excites me. Sorry. When I came back to the States, my whole world changed. One glass of wine or beer at a time. Craft beers were becoming a thing and it was ok to be a girl that likes beer. I was still “sophisticated” dang it. 😁

Now it’s definitely hard to pin down when my love affair with distillates began. The occasional Bay/Sea Breeze or Malibu & Pineapple at social functions was the extent of my “hard liquor” drinking. At home, I’d make this Italian drink I fell in love with called Sgroppino (lemon sobet and vodka minus the prosecco). Or I'd search far and wide for Red Bull for my vodka (it wasn't in the States yet, I think). That was it. Then

maybe 8 or so years ago, I “discovered” Whiskey. Started with Jameson and moved on from there. As I’ve aged (like fine wine😉), I’ve come to appreciate Gin. There are so many Gin options now compared to when I was growing up. It’s all just… amazing.

Today, I am the proud (and new) owner of an up-and-coming tastings & tours business that truly excites me. EvilUni Tours is about exploring new things using all of your senses; What do you see, feel, smell, taste, and hear? The legs of the wine as you swirl the glass. The way the beer feels in your mouth as you move it around to hit all sections of your taste buds. The several different things you smell as you bring bourbon to your nose. How the wine tastes of different spices, leather, stone fruit, or berries. The sound of the cork as you’re poppin’ bottles️. It’s all relative and magical. Like Unicorns. 🦄

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