Ordering this type of alcoholic drink before dinner will ruin your meal: experts

Think before you drink.

An expert claims that drinking strong drinks before sitting down to enjoy a meal can ruin the dinner.

“The more you drink, the more you dull your senses,” Alex Ring, a 2023 Michelin Guide Chicago Sommelier Award winner and wine director at Chicago restaurants Sepia and Proxi, told HuffPost.

Hard alcohol – including vodka, whiskey, rum, bourbon and scotch that have a high alcohol content of around 40% to 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) – can dull the senses even faster than other alcoholic beverages.

“Because it blocks the proteins needed to create saliva in your mouth, hard liquor can dehydrate the cell walls of your palate,” explained Cody Bridges, a restaurant operations manager and sommelier at Massanutten Resort in Virginia.

This can change the way your taste buds taste each flavor.

Experts also noted that high-ABV drinks can reduce your appetite, while low-alcohol ones can increase it, allowing you to add a few extra items to enjoy on your plate.

But drinking a high-ABV cocktail like a Martini or Manhattan while perusing the menu can also influence what you order from the wine list.

“This temporary numbing effect can reduce your ability to distinguish complex flavors and aromas in the wine you have later at dinner,” warned Sam Favata, a beverage director for Olamaie in Austin, Texas. “Strong spirits can change your perception of the wine’s acidity and sweetness, leading to a less balanced tasting experience.”

Cocktail connoisseurs also warned against starting your meal with sugary swallows.

“Strongly flavored cocktails, or those made with sweet cocktail mixers, can overwhelm your palate and make it difficult to appreciate the flavor of your meal later,” Mari Coyle, vice president of winemaking at Foley Family Wines and a winemaker at Chateau St. Jean in California, said.

If all this information is making you feel overwhelmed, just tell your sommelier or server what you’ve been drinking before you order to help them make better recommendations.

Favata’s recommendation: “For diners new to cocktails, I recommend enjoying the wine with something light and refreshing. A crisp white wine like a sauvignon blanc, or a light red like a pinot noir, can be mild on the palate. Sparkling wines or rosés are also great options to transition from cocktails to dinner.”