You may be younger, but I'd rather jump Jack Nicholson. Hell, when I was your age, I'd have rather jumped Jack Nicholson. Or Al Pacino, a really short old man who still does better with chicks than you do.
You're not in the same age group. You're almost 27. She may be 18 or she may be 15. The generation doesn't matter; most people take exception to pervs trying to pick up young girls on their way home from school.
I don't know about wiser, but once you've gotten through something, there's no need to be afraid of it (even if you'd rather not repeat it). The older you get, the more stuff you've gone through - and survived.
Spiritus? We had a bottle of that when I was a kid - I used to use it in the alcohol lamp that went with my chemistry set.
On topic - when I used to get seriously drunk, I always enjoyed the phase where I loved everybody. Unfortunately, it's difficult to titrate to stay at that point.