What floats your boat when it comes to the four main clear spirits, gin, vodka, rum and tequila, folks?

Personally, I've always considered the latter a younger persons' choice of drink and, as I never got the bug before my hair receded, I just don't go there.

Rum (yes, folks, its clear unless coloured or aged forever and a day in oak) or should we use a popular brand name, Bacardi - which is my relaxant of choice when flying long haul, but I rarely drink it otherwise.

Vodka has become my holiday fave, mixed with copious amounts of coke (cola, you naughty people) and lashings of ice. We always end up buying a bottle at duty free on but the darn thing sits in the fridge for months. Go figure.

Gin, however, is this old man's ruin.

Believe it or not, I hated it until four years ago when I fell in love with its refreshing abilities.

Where vodka and Bacardi are laid-back on the palate, gin tingles every tastebud. It's the perfect aperitif. Here's two to try...

Glaswegin

A beautiful-crafted gin with hints of lime cutting through the juniper. Refreshing and so, so smooth at the same time. An excellent gin.

www.glaswegin.com £39

Badachro Dancing Puffin Vodka

It's all about the smoothness with vodka and this one was distilled no few than five times. Gorgeous, but then I've never been disappointed with anything from Badachro.

www.badachrodistillery.com

If you want to make the simplest of all cocktails, add the new pineapple and grapefruit juice from Cawston Press and take your tastebuds to the Caribbean. Available from Amazon or cawstonpress.com £20 for 12