I never did understand the percentages on the side of the bottle - is it important? What does it tell you?

I can't help feeling its a pity to confine this thread to whisky - there are so many wonderful experiences to be had with wine, and brandy and other stuff that I don't know about I suppose.

When you're in in Spain and you uncork a rioja, and that fabulous tarry smell...that promises a wonderful robust taste of Spain itself. Theakstons Old peculiar - quaffing a glass, freezing your nuts off, overlooking a fabulous view like Monsall Head - perhaps with a few Kettles crisps, and some wonderful friends for company.

Booze....you wrote my life.