It’s at this time of year that I find myself wishing I’d followed the path of my Methodist grandparents, for the last month has been a boozy one. Work functions, seeing old friends, catching up with relatives, no matter the occasion, alcohol has always appeared, even in role of corporate gifts.

According to ASIC, Australians spend $14.1 billion* on booze a year and you can bet a large chunk of that happens between December and January. I certainly played my part, but while beer is the nation’s major tipple accounting for 39%** of this bar tab, most of mine went on wine and a lot of it was over $20. All of this got me wondering – did I spend it wisely? My Methodist forebears would argue that I hadn’t, but if Christmas is all about joy I’d have to disagree.

Looking back at all these drinks, which delivered the most Christmas joy?

Before I go on, I read a good article in The Age by economist Ross Gittens about happiness. He pointed out that research shows it was the little things, which deliver the most noticeable increases in happiness – an example being a cold beer on a hot day. Proof that joy can come in a bottle.

Here are my top three moments of alcohol-delivered Christmas joy, as I recall them:

 VB, 23^rd December

We (my wife and I) were driving from Sydney to Melbourne and decided to stop in Albury for the night. As well as having a lovely botanical gardens (you have to hand it to the Victorians, they were creating something that they would never see – joy for future generations) Albury has a great curry house called Indian Chimney. After a long drive on a hot day we had a hard-earned thirst and the VB was just the thing. Absolute heaven for under $10.

Bollinger Special Cuvee NV, Christmas Day

It was a stinking hot day in Melbourne and perhaps VB would have been a better call, but we were hitting the champagne – Mumm, Piper Heidseick and Bollinger. There was plenty of joy from a family reunited and the bubbly was adding to it. The Bolly was the best with a level of complexity and toasty intensity way above the others. That said, it costs almost double the Piper at Dan Murphy’s.

 Curly Flat Pinot 2012 (I think) December 22^nd

This was a work lunch. I was jet-lagged and suffering a cold and had decided not to drink. But then I noticed the Curly Flat on the wine list I thought I’d better have a taste – given I was ordering for colleagues. I ended up having more than a taste. It cut through my cold far better than the food (and it was a good restaurant) – strawberries and cherries but with more substance than something from across the Tasman. You could almost chew it. Yum. James Halliday gave it 96 points.

There were many other drinks but these ones stand out the most. Different occasions, different drinks and different people, but which drink delivered the most happiness per buck? This blog is ostensibly about value for money after all.

I’d have to say the VB

*https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-your-money/budgeting/spending/australian-spending-habits

**http://nadk.flinders.edu.au/kb/alcohol/consumption-patterns/drinking-habits-of-australians/