The social drinker

Afriend recently asked what was the best drink for times when you are feeling a little low. It is a question I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.

The simple answer is that drinking when you are feeling out of sorts is not a good idea. Alcohol is a depressant, and every type of drink can be bad for somebody who is not feeling well — especially if they are taking anti-depressants. Anybody who likes a drink knows that alcohol sometimes robs you of your ability to sleep, leaves you feeling low the following day, and often makes us do stupid things that we later regret.

It seems to me that the best drink when you are feeling down is sparkling water or tea. Most of us are dehydrated all of the time, and this can leave one feeling bloated, tired and generally listless.

But there are times when one wants a little alcohol to combat the blues. In these cases it seems to me that the best options are a white-wine spritzer, or rum and cocoa. In both cases, the trick is to go very easy on the booze and stick to a single glass. Any more, and you really are heading for trouble.

A spritzer is easy: simply put some ice into a glass, and mix white wine with soda water or sparkling water in a ratio of roughly three to one. The best grape varieties for this are Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir or Grenache. All four grapes have lots of fruity flavour and mild tannins, but the wine itself does not have to be particularly good. The key to a good spritzer is to make sure everything is very cold.

Rum and cocoa is just as easy; mix a small measure of rum with milk and a little cream, and almost bring to the boil. Then add cocoa powder, stir and serve.

At the risk of restating the obvious; it is best to avoid alcohol if you are feeling depressed, but a low-alcohol drink such as a spritzer is sometimes a good compromise.