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A couple weeks ago I was in Northern Virginia for a friend’s birthday party. Now, of course, if I’m making a road trip in the middle of September than I’m making a stop at a local distiller. There was one particular distillery that I’ve been trying to get to for years and for whatever reason every time I would plan the trip it would get derailed. So, on my way to Dumfries I made a short stop in Fredericksburg. The distillery I’m talking about (in case the heading didn’t give it away) was A. Smith Bowman. If you live in Northern Virginia or DC and you haven’t taken the train down to Virginia’s largest distillery yet. You’re doing yourself a disservice. In fact if you’re in the DC area it’s a very simple train ride to get to the Bowman distillery. Founded in 1934 on the day prohibition ended this distillery has been in it’s current location, I nice sleepy spot right on the river, since 1988. The cavernous tasting room has got to be one of the largest ones I’ve ever been to. The staff were very nice and their bourbon is great. I took home their John J Bowman bourbon as well as the Carmel Bourbon Cream Liqueur. Even if you can’t make it out to the distillery the John J Bowman is worth picking up at your local liquor store. But if you don’t believe us. Checkout what Paste had to say. One thing I’ll note for those, like me, that sometimes travel with a furry companion. Unlike many tasting rooms. There’s not any outdoor seating and you cannot take your little buddy in with you. Leave the doggo at home if you decide to visit the Bowman distillery. https://whiskeytramp.com/blog/2019/9/22/virginia-spirits-month

Ghost Coast Distillery – Menu with Prices – 641 Indian St, Savannah

My husband is a big whiskey & bourbon lover, so this distillery was a “must see” on his list while in Savannah. We stopped in for some drinks and it lived up to the hype! Great atmosphere -relaxed, good music, board games and such to play; great service -friendly, attentive staff who seemed to really enjoy their job; and awesome liquor! My husband loved the straight bourbon so much that we made a special trip across town to procure bottles of it to take home, after finding out that the ones on hand for sale at the distillery from that small-batch had already sold out! We brought them back to Florida and he’s already been giving tastings to friends -who agree that it is super smooth and very tasty! Definitely recommend taking the tour, which they give at the top of every hour. It’s informative, interesting, and the tour guide is crazy entertaining!

Ragged Branch Distillery – Menu with Prices – 1015 Taylors Gap Rd, Charlottesville

I was able to make my way up the road to Ragged Branch. Located just outside of Charlottesville, off US-29, Ragged Branch is on a working cattle farm as well. In case you wanted to leave your tasting with a big ol’ cut of steak. And no I’m not kidding you really can do that. I mean really. How can you go wrong with a place that tells you right on their sign when you drive up that they have beef and bourbon 7 days a week?  The approach to their tasting room is a long winding driveway with the beautiful house you can see at the top of the hill looking down on you the whole time. A pilgrimage of sorts you could say. My initial reaction on walking through the door was that I had just walked into someone’s house. Now granted the giant bar in their living room and the, you know, signs that said “tasting room” should tip you off that it’s not someone’s living room but it feels like your friend decided to make some whiskey and wanted to have a place for people to come hang out with them while they drink. The tastings are behind the bar in the gift shop area. This is also where the fridge is with the steaks by the way. As part of your tasting you get three of their whiskeys and you can still go back to the bar and get a cocktail (which of course I did). The tasting is of their wheated bourbon, the double oaked wheated bourbon (this one I took home with me along with some steak), and their signature bourbon. The two wheated bourbons are aged between 3-4 years with the double oaked being aged an extra year in an additional 53 gallon barrel. The cocktail I got was the shotgun shell. I took it out to their back deck to sit and sip with the blue ridge mountains staring down on me. The perfect complement to the day.  Overall the tasting was fun. You could compare their whiskey to some other wheaters like Makersish and the cocktail shined. The room would be a great stop over on your way to or from Charlottesville with some friends. https://whiskeytramp.com/blog/2019/9/22/virginia-spirits-month

All Points West Distillery – Menu with Prices – 73 Tichenor St, Newark

Amazing experience at this distillery located in the cut in Newark NJ! This distillery was a little strange to find but the cool thing is the area has good street parking and it’s nice and quiet so the distillery is super low-key and let’s be honest, who doesn’t like that when hanging out on a Saturday? My girlfriend purchased a groupon for us to try and I must say I couldn’t have been happier with the experience! Although there isn’t much space to tour, the owner was incredibly informative! He broke down historical techniques and explained how they are relevant in the distillery practices at All Points West! He even gave some history on the amount distilleries available now in newark as opposed to years ago! In addition to actual learning happening, which I truly appreciated, there was sipping and smelling happening all throughout the tour! My girlfriend and I ended up getting 3 drinks each and a bottle of gin to go! We would have stayed longer but had reservations for dinner. All of the liquor was smooth and tasty but if you’re into gin, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE GIN AND THE LARGEST BOTTLE AT THAT! It was our favorite! It is so flavorful and has a hint of something special. I’ll leave the flavor profile out so you may experience it on your own! This place is not to be missed! We will be back!

Old Glory Distilling Co. – Menu with Prices – 451 Alfred Thun Rd, Clarksville

So, I am not one to really write a review about my experiences, but I had to for this particular occasion. Just a little background, if you’re in the area (Clarksville/Hopkinsville) some of the local distilleries have partnered up to provide a “Whiskey Tour” between Old Glory, MB Roland, and Casey Jones where if you visit all three at the end of the last destination they give you this really neat stave for all of the tours that you go on to display their shot glasses. Well, Old Glory was the last distillery we went to on our “Whiskey Tour,” and compared to the previously mentioned (Mb Roland & Casey Jones)…the atmosphere and the customer service were severely lacking, which of course was such a shame and let down because we had nothing but praise for the first two we went to. The main reason why I knocked off two stars was because of two lackluster/lazy employees (two younger girls probably in their early 20s). I did not get their names, but they were…not hospitable at all. They were rigid and unwelcoming. The distillery was not busy when we came so I do not understand why I was not greeted warmly or met with any customer service when purchasing merchandise while I waited for the tour. Which brings me to my next point…thank God for Diane because if she was not there we would have left in a heartbeat. Diane was the sweetest employee and was extremely forthcoming and knowledgeable. PLEASE REQUEST HER FOR YOUR TOUR/TASTING. She alone did a PHENOMENAL job. Lastly, the flavored moonshine was delightful (Blueberry Lemonade and Apple), but unfortunately they had run out of their bourbon when we were there. Overall, I left Old Glory with high spirits because of Diane. The facility was new and clean (they have a cute cat Martin who roams in the production portion of the distillery) and the design of the building was really nice. Do go if you get the chance, but beware of the youngins who may give you poor customer service. Cheers friends.

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery – Menu with Prices – 801 W Main St, Louisville

While visiting Louisville we did the legacy tour which is held once a month at Fort Nielsen Michter’s distillery, it was $100 and you taste everything from their regular rye, 10yr also, small batch bourbon, 10 and 20yr bourbons, and Bombergers whiskey. During the tour they Explain the distilling process along with the water quality of Louisville and the toasting of their barrels it is more information then I was able to retain. Highlights of the tour was of course the tasting and I really liked the smelling process, let me explain. They had a chart with flavor notes and in little glass jars had cotton balls to smell, like toasted almonds, vanilla, ect. and the jelly bean trick was awesome. So you plug your nose and pop a vanilla jelly bean in your mouth and chew, but you don’t taste anything until you unplug your nose. Party trick.. Afterward we went upstairs to the bar and had a craft cocktail, which was nice and swanky. On the way out I bought some Fort Nelson bourbon which they personalize the bottle, a bottle of Shenks bourbon which they recieve a case a day they said, tshirt and I got a swag bag for attendanting the tour which had a nice etched michter whiskey glass. I know 100 sounds like a lot, but if you consider you’re trying aged bourbon and getting a quality whiskey glass, I think it is well worth the price.

Yogis Grill – Menu with Prices – 2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy #1146, Tempe

Living in CA most my life so I really didn’t think sushi in AZ would be any good. To my surprise, this place has a lot of really tasty snacks! I had the lion king roll which was BOMB! The tempura was really crispy and the tempura sauce is their own special concoction. I also got to meet the owners Teresa and John. Teresa was at the table next to us and I overheard her training one of her people. I was really impressed with how well they train their staff by creating an employee friendly atmosphere by incentivizing their work ethic. John brought out our food and he was an absolute delight. A total gentleman and you can totally tell he had so much pride in his shop. This is going to definitely be my stop every time I go to Phoenix. It’s not just good for the price, but good just because it’s good!!!

john conti Coffee Company – Menu with Prices – 4406 Ole Brickyard Cir, Louisville

John Conti coffee IS the best- period. What I have learned is that when you go to a restraunt and they serve John Conti, the food will be great too, because they also value quality! Thank you John Conti for over 30 years of great tasting coffee for me!

Gallagher & Graham Fine Spirits – Menu with Prices – 1939 12th St NW, Washington

THE BEST. If you’re looking for a liquor store in DC (or to drive in), look no further. Really. Rarely do I have an experience where I review, tweet, and post on social media about how outstanding it is. I was looking for a bottle of bourbon and wanted to try something different. I perused the shelves for a bit until the owner asked if I needed help. I explained my brand of choice and others I like and asked if there was anything similar he would recommend. He asked I wanted to taste one and told me a little about the distillery. It’s actually a local one that I had heard of and he told me about his interaction with them. It was good, love supporting local #madeindc and supporting women-owned and operated businesses, decided to buy a bottle. Other customers came and went with him offering recommendations to them while I finished my “taste (more like a pour). We talked about other spirits and alcoholic beverages I like and he took note of ones I mentioned that he didn’t carry to ask his distributors. Another bottle caught my eye and he offered me a taste. I don’t know if it was the bourbon hitting but this tasted like the smoothest rum I’ve ever had. I asked the price of the bottle and he said he needed to order more but to take the tasting bottle as a gift. What?!?! For free. I left after thanking him a few times and before he could change his mind. The shop isn’t huge but has a broad selection and I really believe if there is something you are looking for, he will look at how to procure it. They carry all spirits, cold alcoholic seltzers, cold beer and champagne, and wines. Also make sure to have a good variety of local spirits. And they carry organic wines and can easily point you to them. I’m only angry at myself for not coming here sooner. Thank you Gallagher & Graham and Surender for a great first experience!

Virginia ABC – Menu with Prices – 14272 Warwick Blvd, Newport News

I’ve been fairly disappointed at the selection from the local ABC stores until I stopped in here – wow! Their selection of Virginia spirits is extensive and I can honestly tell you they have the widest bourbon selection I’ve seen within a 20 mile radius. Not only plenty of inventory of the popular stuff but tons of small batch items I haven’t seen anywhere else. The staff is friendly and helpful, don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Old Forester Distilling Co. – Menu with Prices – 119 W Main St, Louisville

I very much enjoyed my time at the Old Forester Distillery. You walk into tall glass doors and welcomed by their VERY friendly staff at the front desk. I was a bit early, but they made me aware of who my guide was going to be and that the bar was available if I wanted to have a drink or two before the tour. I chose to explore the gift shop which I will discuss in a bit. My tour time arrived and there was about 18 of us that were taken downstairs and introduced to our tour guide who was previously a bourbon distiller who after 8 years needed a break and started working for Old Forester. Who better to get a tour from than a person who used to make it, right? The tour started off with a quick introduction and then a video talking about the history of Old Forester and its roots all the way back to before the Prohibition era. I won’t go too much into the history, because I feel you need to hear it and see it yourself to get the full experience. We continued on into the fermentation room, to the barrel making room, where they char it, pressure test it right to the room where the stills are and the bottling line. We ended the tour in a nice room where we go to sample 3 of the bourbons. Each with its own unique flavor and you have to test it the correct way which they will explain to you how that works. Overall, I found this to be a great start to my vacation and a great tour that you must see when in Louisville. I didn’t go into great detail on purpose, as I want you experience the tour first-hand and not through my eyes since we all see things differently. That staff is SUPER friendly and all walk around with a smile which is always nice to see. No, they have not been drinking all day, but some would question it. They just love what they do and it shows how well they are treated by their employer. So get off your couch, come to Louisville and take this Elite’s word that Old Forester Distillery is a place you need to stop by and check out.

Hook & Press Hand Crafted Donuts – Menu with Prices – 1131 State St, Santa Barbara

My Husband and I decided to stop into Hook and Press while we were on a Mini-Moon in Santa Barbara. We arrived around 10:15 on a Tuesday. John, the owner, was there and greeted us with a smile. There were plenty of each flavor of donuts left, which I was surprised as it was later in the morning and definitely after breakfast. Score! (Donut shop tip: if you want the full variety of donuts, from any donut shop, you should get there in the morning). I am normally plain Jane when it comes to donuts. I decided to go outside of my shell and ordered the Butterscotch Walnut Brittle. My husband ordered the Maple Coconut Bacon Donut (no pigs were harmed in the making of this delicious donut!). We loved every single bite. The cold brew and Cappuccino also hit the spot. My sister, a few weeks prior, had brought back some donuts from her trip to SB; the Horchata and POG, both equally as delicious as those we tried on this trip, even when a day old (pop those bad boys in the microwave for 25 seconds and they are just like freshly made donuts). We decided to sit on the State Street patio so that we could people watch and enjoy our sugary delights. The ambience of the shop and patio are definitely SB local and it is worth sticking around to enjoy your treat. Thank you Hook & Press, we will be back on our next trip!

Viking Burger – Menu with Prices – 11745 Jefferson Ave, Newport News

Based on the reviews and recommendations from locals we visited Viking Burger and the burgers are as described, AWESOME. NOT a chain, but a local business with a distinct niche making great burgers with a Viking theme. The burgers are labeled with an appropriate Norse name and yes, the fries were tasty as well. So what to order? Burgers of course – read the menu not just to get a description of the burgers, but also for the entertainment value. Burgers are truly tasty, and made to order. However, during our visit, our burgers took time (~45 minutes) to grill because they had issues with the grill. Was the wait worth it? YES…but we had to drive back to Northern Virginia (~3 hours away) so the delay was no appreciated. A converted “Weiner World” restaurant, Viking Burger is easy to find off the road, a building that is all roof, not much room is available to eat inside; picnic tables are located outside to dine. No beer is sold so you may want to take the tasty burger(s) back home. If ever in the area again, I plan on stopping by…I hope that the broken grill has been fixed! If not for the long delay, the rating would have been much higher.