Can you guess the answer?

My plans for yesterday were rained out. I’d been hoping to start the day with a sunrise and finish it with a night walk with my friend Mel.

The torrential weather meant I didn’t get to do either. Sad face.

DD and I grabbed strong flat whites and breakfast burritos from the van on the Avalon headland, took a quick snap of the wild surf and retreated to the car.

I headed off in the arvo to collect the youngest from school, leaving DD to get drenched at Muscle Beach during a very soggy workout with The Warrior.

I’m glad I missed that one.

The wild weather got me thinking. Geez a lot has happened in the first half of 2020 … and yet, ironically, not much at all.

Back in January it felt like it would never rain again, as bushfires raged throughout the country. Now everything is lush and green – at least in my neck of the woods.

The world has been turned upside down by COVID-19, which is probably the biggest thing to have happened in my adult life, and yet my daily routine has contracted to be the smallest it has ever been.

My co-workers meet every Tuesday morning for a video chat to catch-up on how we’re all faring in isolation. At the end of each meeting, a different staff member is charged with sending around a quiz or challenge for everyone to complete during the week ahead.

Most recently, it was my turn and I created a quiz about alcohol, with the caveat that no researching of the answers was allowed.

I was wondering if you’d like to give it a try?

1. The most popular cocktail in the world (according to Drinks International) is:

a. Old Fashioned
b Espresso Martini
c. Cosmopolitan

2. What are the three main ingredients in an Aperol Spritz?

3. What’s the difference between whisky and whiskey?

4. What grain is beer usually made from?

5. Taylor Swift’s favourite drink is:

a. Champagne
b. Whiskey Sour
c. Mojito

6. Is it an urban myth that Coca-Cola once contained cocaine?

7. What is the biggest selling red wine varietal in Australia?

8. How many grapes does it take to make a bottle of red wine?

a. 200
b. 450
c. 600

9. What is the biggest selling white wine varietal in Australia?

10. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke set the Guinness World Record in 1954 for the fastest skolling of a yard class (1.4 litres of beer). How long did it take him?

a. 11 seconds
b. 32 seconds
c. 57 seconds

11. What – in the alcohol industry – is a Nebuchadnezzar?

12. Which country is the biggest market for Jim Beam outside of the US?

13. How many people die each year in the world from being hit by a champagne cork?

a. 13
b. 24
c. 60

14. Which celebrity DOESN’T have his own wine brand (choose one from below)

a. Jon Bon Jovi
b. Ricky Ponting
c. Snoop Dogg
d. Colin Firth
e. Brad Pitt

15. Which alcoholic beverage inspired the phrase “Dutch courage” Bonus point if you know why

a. Gin
b. Brandy
c. Beer

I’ll share the answers tomorrow.

Oh, and in other boozy news, pop over to The Thirsty Travellers to read about our latest whisky tasting. It’s probably my favourite ever whisky that I’ve tried neat. I’m usually not the biggest fan, but this one was quite delish.

Song of the day: Wet, Wet, Wet “Love is all around”