Libations for Life: Playoff pressure edition

Much like cuts of meat, every life experience has a drink that enhances the experience. Here is a guide to matching the right libation with the situation. Here’s a glass of happiness to go well with sports playoffs.

 

The Situation: It’s one intense week for professional sports. Tonight is game six of the NBA Finals, with the Miami Heat’s historic season one loss away from disappointment. Tomorrow is game four of the Stanley Cup Finals, which already have produced an insane amount of tension. Even if you’re not a fan of any of the teams involved, you’ll need a drink or 20 during these scenarios. Fortunately, the answer is simple.

The Solution: Gin and tonic with lime juice.

The Suggestion: About a half-and-half mix over a lot of ice, with splashes of some high-quality lime juice.

The Explanation: For hockey, this crisp, clear drink is an ideal match for the iciest sport on Earth. It’s also light for a mixed drink. Lighter drinks mean a little more clarity of vision and acumen, which you’ll need to follow the fastest, craziest sport known to mankind. 

For the NBA Finals, it’s just good fashion sense. When the glass frosts over from the ice, it’ll get a white-ish/silver look which works well either with San Antonio’s traditional silver (surfboard not included) or with the Miami crowd’s all-white motif. Of course, no drink goes with this.

But here’s the main reason why you want this drink above all others for the playoffs: The nature of these games means you’ll be exalting at a moment’s notice, and the last thing you want to do is send red wine or brown liquor flying onto someone else’s clothes or furniture. That’s just a waste of good spirits.