As any whiskey lover knows, Taiwan’s Kavalan whiskey has a special reputation for its bold flavors and unique distillation process. During a trip to Taiwan, I couldn’t resist stopping by a Kavalan bar in Taipei 101, that famous landmark towering over the city. I was ready to taste and experience all it had to offer, sampling different grades of Kavalan with each glass. While the flavors got a bit blurry (as did my memory of them after a few rounds!), the experience was unforgettable, and I brought home a few bottles as souvenirs. But here’s the twist: back home, sipping Kavalan on its own felt, well, a bit intense. Without the lively bar atmosphere, each sip packed more of a punch than I’d remembered. So, like many travel mementos that find a cozy corner in the kitchen, my Kavalan sat unopened for quite a while. That all changed recently when I picked up some canned highballs—ready-to-drink, perfectly convenient, but admittedly a little on the light side in terms of whiskey flavor. Ins
In the past, beer was my drink of choice. Recently, however, I've found myself indulging more in wine rather than beer. Several factors may have influenced this shift, such as emotional changes, aging, and shifts in societal preferences. About four years ago, I began finding solace in sipping wines. It was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the everyday grind, so I decided to take a spontaneous solo trip to a hotel. I sought to overcome burnout and recharge. One night, feeling a bit adventurous, I grabbed a half bottle of wine from a nearby store and savored it while looking down the urban night view from my hotel room. That experience proved to be a soothing remedy for my burnout. Even after I returned home, I found myself craving that feeling of relaxation. Subsequently, whenever I needed a mental getaway but lacked the time, I turned to wine. Just a few glasses served as a reminder of my rejuvenating vacation. While I still appreciate beers, they are mostly for quenching my thi