SuperBowl thoughts

Wow!

Also, I saved this since my trip to the US of A this summer. Cracked it open on the kickoff.

But man [or humans as I call them] cannot live on watery beer alone – at least in the winter.

So I went into the whiskey cellar to choose between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey – wait, this is sounding like a George Thorogood and the Destroyers song. Wait again – that couldn’t really have been the name of that band. Wait – Tom Brady did what ?

So in a very real way Bourbon won the SuperBowl.  But good season Yeungling.

3 Things I Learned in America

I visited the United States of ‘Merica this weekend.  Also, i avoided talking politics with everyone! Weeeeeeee.

I learned three important things in my casual quest for knowledge. I think I learned more than that but I don’t focus very well in the summer and i wasn’t really searching for more knowledge.

1. BBQ peaches and bourbon are brilliant – i macerated this perfectly ripe fruit with bourbon [america’s vodka], brown sugar, and vanilla then grilled them and served them with ice-cream.
2. You can’t get a pint of high alcohol beer!   Anything around 7% ABV and you get a stemmed “snifter” with less ounces than a pint. As i pointed out to the owner of the bar, “We don’t put up with stuff like that in Canada”.  However, as i get older and more understanding i think i know why they do this –  but you’d lose an election in Canada  with laws like that.
3. Mars, PA – where my wife is from [no really, that’s not a joke], population 1,699, has a fantastic tavern/gastropub. Breakneck Tavern has exceptional food and an extensive craft beer list. It’s worth the detour off I-79 and i’ve no doubt that Guy Fieri will appear there soon, so you should get there before he does.
4. There’s a really good winery halfway between Cleveland and Youngstown Ohio. No that’s not a typo and i haven’t been drinking – today – yet. Uncle “Jim” [that’s his real name minus the quotation marks] had a party and his friend Rich showed up with 4 very good wines from his winery, Laleure Vineyards, in Parkman, Ohio  – a white blend, two vintages of Chardonnay, and a Cabernet Franc that made me especially happy.  One impromptu wine tasting later and i became a believer that at least one talented winemaker lives in “Merica’s Midwest. Good party Uncle “Jim” – well played.  Great food and beautiful house Aunt “B”.

Elvis and Me

Memphis TN

August 2015

Elvis Week

Yes – Elvis week

When it’s 100 degrees in the south in ‘Merica your typical wine blogger drinks two things.  Beer and Bourbon. Together.  Cheap cold beer [Yuengling Lager] and Tennessee whisky to be accurate on the balcony overlooking WC Handy Park, 10 feet off of Beale. I can hear several of you saying “Ah, that’s what Marc Cohn was singing”.  The sweet harmonica sounds of Mr. Vince Johnson and the Plantation Allstars filled the air.

Also, I might have dressed up as Elvis with my daughter M and literally walked Beale St.

Thank you very much

Irish or Scottish?

“Here’s to your health” is a good traditional toast while raising a glass amongst friends and family. Recently i have been drawn to such a toast with either a whiskey or a whisky. “What’s the difference” you say? “Did you misspell that?”.  People new to partaking in a “dram” of the spirit made from mashed grains may not even know that the Irish version is called Whiskey [with an e] and the Scottish version, more commonly known as Scotch, is Whisky [no e].

More importantly to the point.  A friend of mine, Professor R we can call him [University prof] recently found this article.  10 Health Benefits of Whiskey.

I have at home  the very good BushMills Black Bush [$37 LCBO#: 61374] and the delightfully smooth Auchentoshan Three Wood Scotch Whisky [$80 LCBO#: 720532] – which is only opened when my daughter M is in town. Maybe it’s the DNA speaking, or maybe it’s just a freakin’ good scotch, but we both love it.  I think I like it because it’s aged initially in bourbon casks and then finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks. Bourbon and then Spanish Sherry – I like both those things.

Back to Professor R. Now I call him “Professor R, the Enabler”. Thanks for the encouragement. Here’s to my health.