Detox so you can retox

New year, new liver: A guide to surviving detox

Don't broadcast your sobriety, lest you become perma-D.D. Instead, order aPerrier with a lime.
If you find yourself faltering, watch an episode of "Celebrity Rehab" with Dr.Drew. They're sure to keep you on track.
Might be a good idea to invest in a shower radio. Sing and dance in the tub,since you won't be doing it in the club.

Looking to feel better and maybe drop a few pounds? How about trying a detox program? That's exactly what several friends are doing post-holiday binging.

What's "detox" mean, exactly? It means following a regimen that includes clean eating and NO DRINKING . . . for at least 21 days (seven days short of the 28 days rehab requires). As someone who attends quite a few events and various liquor/cocktail tastings (research!), I am perplexed as to how someone can go that long without a single sip of alcohol (or Whataburger).

Together with my friend and detox guinea pig, Rob Rutherford, (a fan of the healthy benefits detox offers) we compiled a list of tips — the secrets to success, if you will — should you decide to take on the detox challenge.

So, without further ado, our top 10 detox tips for nightlife enthusiasts:

Before you begin, go through your phone and block (or be ready to screen) anyone who may be trouble (you know who they are!)
If a party invite is unavoidable, order a Perrier in a short glass with a lime. It’s THE clever vodka/soda … minus the vodka.
Remember all of those art exhibits you heard and read about? Go. Now's the time to catch up with the Houston arts scene (while you're lucid enough to pay attention). It’s a great conversation starter over cocktails, once you return to the herd.
Here’s your chance to get in touch with all of the people you forgot to call back over the busy holiday season, because you were either too drunk . . . or too hungover.
Word to the wise: Be careful not to broadcast your sobriety unless you want to be the official "on-call designated driver."
Watch a Celebrity Rehab marathon for moral support. If that doesn’t work, upgrade to Intervention. It's sure to keep you in check.
You can finally agree to meet a friend for a morning workout, now that you’ll actually be awake and have the energy.
Pull out those clothes that were so uncomfortably snug over the holidays — and use them as motivation!
Be ready to sing and dance in the tub, because you won’t be doing it in the clubs.
And the final survival tip (drum roll, please) …make sure you have plenty of Ambien on-hand. Is it just us, or is it a bit harder to sleep sober than it is with the help of our favorite depressant?!

Tell us your detox tricks. What would you do to help pass the time? We want your input!

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cheers to that

Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook

Now if only we could snag a bottle...as a Christmas gift, of course.

Three cheers for Still Austin Whiskey Co.! The distillery's Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey was recognized as one of Whisky Advocate'sTop 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024.

Every year, Whisky Advocate's expert panelists rank hundreds of whiskies based on their quality, availability, value for the price, and "X-factor," meaning an excitement-inducing component like a unique flavor or an innovative idea. An international panel also reviews contenders through several blind taste tests without knowing each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price.

The magazine ranked Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon No. 7 on the list with a prestigious score of 94 points. The Red Corn whiskey, which was released in June 2024, has mash bill consisting of 36 percent Jimmy Red corn, 34 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent barley.

According to panelist Shane English, tasting notes start big and bold with cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries, before moving on to a palate of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread.

"Each sip is electric — the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts," English said. "Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish."

Still Austin had the only Texas product on the list, which was fitting given the brand's recent boasting that it could match any Kentucky Bourbon. As a game day stunt when the Texas Longhorns played the Kentucky Wildcats in November, Still Austin refilled empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles with its own Cask Strength Bourbon for just $1.

When the brand isn't playfully antagonizing Kentucky fans, its Red Corn Bourbon sells for a retail price of $85 per 750-milliliter bottle, falling nearly in the middle of the price category out of all 20 bourbons on the list, with eight others priced for less.

For additional context, none of the top five bourbons fall under a $100 price tag. In fact, the most expensive bottle on the 2024 list is the Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon, which ranked No. 12 and retails for $230 per bottle.

"Our top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your attention. Each whisky on the list stands out for its superb taste, representing the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings," said executive editor David Fleming in a release. "This list features whiskies offering exceptional value, leaders in their respective styles, and superbly made expressions that are well worth seeking out."

Whiskey Advocate's 2024 Whiskey of the Year is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt, which earned 95 points and retails for $165 a bottle.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists