When I cruise around the grocery aisle and find myself confronted with the choice between a bottle or wine or a handle of hard alcohol, the choice is clear: in all categories, the harder stuff wins out.

Be it vodka, tequila, rum, or gin, the possibilities are endless. Over ice, mixed into a drink, or just shots in preparation for a great night, hard alcohol is whatever you want it to be. Take for rum example: one day, you’ve got mojitos. The next day, you’ve got pina coladas. The day after, a rum and coke. That’s three completely different drinks with same central ingredient. You can even get creative and make something new and unique. Moreover, when you mix your own drink, you’re in charge of its punch. It’s up to you whether it’ll be a light cooler or a total knockout.

After a huge test or project, it’s perfect to get home, grab the Tanqueray gin out of the freezer, and mix up an ice cold gin and tonic over ice and lime. Just try putting your favorite bottle of wine in the freezer, but only if you like slushies.

Also, a bottle of hard alcohol is a wiser economic investment. If you’re broke like me, you know Costco is the place to go for your favorite booze, where prices for a handle of Bacardi or Skyy can drop under $20, and that’s 1.5 liters (roughly 50 shots) of potent ambrosia. Prices for a middle-shelf 750 ml bottle of wine can be around $10 or $15, and you’ll need 4 or 5 of them if you’re throwing any sort of reputable party.

It’s not to say that good wine doesn’t have a place in my alcohol closet. A glass of red with a fine Italian dinner is a requirement, and I’ve done more than my fair share of sampling in Napa wine country. But when I down a bottle of syrupy sweet two-buck chuck and I’m only rewarded with a light buzz, it’s time to stop kidding around.

This is more than a case of sour grapes. For me, it’s Hard A, all the way.