After a walk tonite I was really in the mood for a tall, cold drink. I’ve always liked vodka tonics, so at the risk of offending any martini purist who may stumble upon this site, I decided to see if top shelf vodka (Level) can really make a difference in a mixed drink. The first thing I’ve noticed is that the vodka really stands out, as opposed to cheap vodka that gets buried in the tonic water and lime. And as always with V-&-T’s, I could see where it would be very easy to overindulge, as it makes a really tasty thirst quencher.

I decided to take the weekend off and revert to an old favorite, Yellow Tail Merlot. I’ve tried pricier wines, but I always come back to Yellow Tail. I just like it best. After being a German white wine snob for decades, I stumbled upon Merlot, and specifically, Yellow Tail Merlot, and have never looked back. I still enjoy a good spätlese from time to time, but Merlot is my preferred drink when I opt for the grape.