The rule
Spend what you'd have spent on four ordinary drinks on one or two excellent ones, and take your time over them. A good whisky or a properly made cocktail is meant to be noticed, and you can't notice much after the third.
Why it matters
Knowing about drink has nothing to do with how much of it you can hold. The appreciation is in the attention, and that's precisely the thing that goes first.
How to do it well
- Order the better bottle and make it last.
- Drink water alongside, and eat something.
- Learn what you actually like. It's more useful than knowing what's expensive.