The cheeky clink of an ice cube, the climactic gasp of a beer cap, the slow, dry squeak of a twisting cork….

Anyone who has spent the day with unreasonable colleagues or truculent children knows that such gentle sounds can soothe the most savage of beasts. In my case, it only takes the pop of a cork to elicit an instant Pavlovian response. I don't mean that I start salivating like a dog, but that my mood brightens and the world seems a friendlier, more convivial place. Whether I am trying to unravel a small child from my leg, or having the worst of bad hair days at the office, that sound makes me want to join the party – I can always wear a hat.

Unfortunately, it is becoming impossible to read a news page without being lectured about the evils of alcohol and the negative effects of over-consumption on both health and livelihood. While this is undoubtedly true, the same applies to food, and even exercise - everyone knows at least one 40+ neophyte triathlete with a dodgy knee. When it comes to indulging in life's small pleasures, the emphasis is shifting to quality, not quantity.

Not so long ago, a large slab of Dairy Milk (with its trace element cocoa content) represented the pinnacle of chocolate sophistication. All that was known about the ingredients was that each bar contained 'a glass and a half' of milk. At the time, that seemed rather impressive. Now there is a vast array of artisan chocolates, incorporating flavours which are so exotic (Moroccan saffron, Hungarian paprika) that an in-depth knowledge of biogeography is needed to appreciate them. The merest sliver is all you need for a complete sensory treat. If you want to be really indulgent, you can have a whole chunk.

With alcohol, the story is more complicated. No-one wants to return to the days when good wine was the preserve of those who could decipher the arcane labelling systems, or were prepared to put themselves at the mercy of supercilious sommeliers. But there is now such an overwhelming range of wines and spirits available to buy, it can be hard to discover which ones have been crafted with passion and finesse. If you are restricting your intake for reasons of health, guilt, or a misplaced sense of morality, then it is even more important that you choose your indulgence wisely.

In this column, I will be taking a look at, and a few sips of, some top quality drinks. The sort that will deliver a smooth and sophisticated experience, rather than stripping the lining from your throat.

It will be fun, and I hope you will join me. I can almost hear the sound of corks popping.