A drink around midnight

My friend Ray would always say nothing good happens after midnight. Working as a bartender I'm quite positive he's witnessed expert level inebriation. In my heyday there were a few times I ventured dangerously close to that line. But as I matured and learned to drink like a proper gentleman, I've become better equipped to face the witching hour. In my opinion, part of being a man is learning how to drink and having a drink of choice, for me that would be tequila. When I tell people they tend to cringe in horror and proceed to explain why they can't drink tequila. My response to them is you're doing it wrong. I drink my tequila the traditional way, I sip it in a lowball glass. I keep my bottle chilled so not to dilute it with ice. My tequila of choice is Don Julio Añejo. I've come to appreciate the complexity of agave aged in French oak barrels. Accompanied with a fine cigar and in the company of good friends. 

Like most guys I was introduced to tequila via a scantily clad shot girl, who playfully eluded the direct correlation between your ability to do as many shots as possible and your virility, which is an excellent marketing plan on their part. But for the consumer it leads to poor decision making and the consequences of said poor decision making is why tequila has such a bad reputation. But anything you do in excess is not going to end well. Tequila is not the monster everyone makes it out to be. The real monster is our insatiable appetites. Learning to control that is the key. Now I don't know the secret to reaching said nirvana. Everyone is different and must blaze their own trail. All I can do is light the way.  Now anyone who has had a conversation about drinking has heard the term, the line. The line refers to your limit, meaning how much can you drink before you get sloppy and sloppy is when you get looks from strangers hinting you should go home. So the search for this elusive line could very well lead you down the road to sloppy. Instead try thinking about the reason you drink and if the answer is anything else other than enjoyment maybe you shouldn't be drinking. If enjoying your drink is your top priority then remember these few suggestions. Find something you like and stick to it. Pace yourself and drink plenty of water. Stay as far away from sugary drinks and well liquor as possible. Above all remember you're too old to be doing shots.