I remember those days as well. I can remember hearing the buzz of conversation and laughter from our bedrooms. It seemed to be a pleasant and reassuring sound. My folks, and most of their friends were upper middle class. This was not hoity toity, this was just plain folks enjoying each other's company. Also Cold Duck and Riunite Lambrusco ("On ice, that's nice"). You can still get the Riunite Lambrusco. It is awful and the only thing that makes it worse is putting it on ice. Actual good dry Lambrusco is a wonderful bubbly wine with pizza and burgers but it is hard to find here.
I still enjoy a Tom Collins from time to time. Also very refreshing.
As for gin, my tastes run cheap. Gordon's or Gilby's suit me just fin. Preferred in fact. My wife likes Tanquery. If I were to splurge Botonist gin from Islay, Scotland is my favorite but it is pricey for gin. Which is ironic that Scotsman are making expensive gin.
Also, for those who don't know, gin is just neutral spirits that flavored after distillation with a combination of botanicals. It is not aged like whiskey. No oak or wood of any sort. No real 'art' to it. There is not any reason for it to be expensive.....unless folks are willing to pay for whatever flavor combo they like. The folks who make Botonist claim that all the botanicals are grown on the island including wild foraged stuff. That might make it more expensive or it might just be a gimmick. I don't know but I do like whatever they put in it.
