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Do you enjoy drinking? What's your favorite alcoholic drink?

Recently, I found myself thinking about how my taste in alcohol has changed over the years. And somehow, each drink reminds me of a different chapter of my life.

When I first entered university, lemon soju was incredibly popular among college students in Korea.

It was basically soju mixed with lemon juice and sugar, making it sweeter and easier to drink. Back then, even beer felt a little expensive for students like us. We didn't have much money, and mixing soju with beer, which is now commonly known as somaek, wasn't really something we did very often.

So lemon soju was our favorite choice. We would sit around with friends, talking, laughing, and drinking for hours. Sometimes we stayed out until sunrise, even though we barely had enough money in our pockets.

As time went by, I started drinking regular beer and soju too.

Then, after graduating from university and starting my first job, Baekseju and Bokbunja wine became popular.

Baekseju is a traditional Korean rice wine made with various herbs, while Bokbunja wine is a sweet Korean wine made from black raspberries.

Baekseju was more expensive than regular soju, so people came up with a clever way to enjoy it without spending too much money. They mixed Baekseju and soju in equal amounts and called it "Oshipseju" (50-year wine).

Since "Baekseju" means "100-year wine," and the mixture contained only half Baekseju, people jokingly called it "50-year wine." It was a funny and practical way to save money while still enjoying a more expensive drink!

Looking back, it's funny how certain drinks remind me of particular times in my life.

Now that I'm older and have a little more financial freedom, I enjoy wine and whiskey as well. I like discovering different flavors and enjoying a nice glass with good food.

But here's the funny part. I can afford better drinks now, yet I can't drink nearly as much as I used to! 

These days, a few glasses are usually enough for me. I enjoy drinking more slowly, appreciating the taste and the conversation rather than simply drinking a lot.

Of course, I also have plenty of embarrassing memories involving alcohol. Some of them are probably better left untold!

But when I think back to those university days, I can't help smiling.

We didn't have much money, but we had so much energy. We could spend the whole night drinking, laughing, and talking about everything and nothing.

Sometimes I miss those carefree nights. Not necessarily the alcohol or the terrible hangovers, but the friendships, the laughter, and the feeling that we had all the time in the world.

Maybe that's what makes those memories so special.

As we get older, our taste in alcohol changes, but the memories connected to those drinks stay with us.

What about you?

Has your taste in alcohol changed as you've gotten older?

And is there a particular drink that reminds you of your younger days?

I'd love to hear your stories!