🤫 Shhh Can you Keep a Secret? 🤫

 

New York City sure does love a good speakeasy. So we decided to see how many of them we could work into our schedule during a recent “working remotely” trip to the Big Apple. We tried one in a former massage parlor under a subway, one in the basement of the hotel where Nikola Tesla worked and invented things, lots of them behind secret doors, and some that are on the latest list of World’s Top Bars!  They all had one thing in common … fantastic cocktails! 🍸

We’ll start with some of the places we visited that are the real reason we do this. They are indeed #offthetipsypath … small businesses with stories and character. That Witch Ales You is a small brewery in Chinatown owned by a husband and wife with some great beer. Our favorite pour was a coconut porter! And two wine bars … the Immigrant and Jadis. Both of them are locally owned and feel like you are stepping into a European bistro. We highly recommend them.

Now let’s set the “Wayback Machine” for a second back to 2014, when we tried our first NYC speakeasy … Beauty & Essex. We were blown away by the concept of walking into a small pawn shop, only to find a two-story spectacle behind a backroom door, complete with winding staircase and chandeliers! Yes, this Lower East Side institution is still around and going strong through the Pandemic.

In September, we checked out one of the most popular NYC speakeasies … Please Don’t Tell. It’s behind a phone booth in a hot dog shop in the East Village. The drinks were fantastic and the vibe was dark and moody - as you might expect.

Now, for the latest marathon.

First, we’ll admit that we did some research online to gather a list of the greatest speakeasies and narrowed it down to the ones we had to hit in a 7-day period. Thanks to everyone who helped pave the way 😂

Here are the highlights.

Attaboy – This small discreet speakeasy is known for their long lines and creative cocktails. Our first attempt to get “on the list” took us three hours to get a callback, and by then we had moved on. So we arrived at opening time and were able to get some standing room at the bar, which offered us the opportunity to interact with the bartender. That’s the point here – you tell the bartender what you like and he creates something for you! Worth the wait. Another one on the top 50 World’s Best Bars.

Death & Co. – As the name implies, the theme of this East Village speakeasy is dark and brooding but the staff is friendly and drinks were excellent. Consistently on the list of World’s Best Bars for a decade.

La Noxe – Relative newcomers to the scene, but definitely one of the most creative spaces on the list. They are located in a small space basically inside a subway station. The bartender told us it used to be an illegal massage parlor. Entrance was a discreet door at street level, and the exit was on the stairway to the train.

Patent Pending – Out front, it’s a coffee shop. Behind the barista table … it’s a dark subterranean bar below the hotel where Nikola Tesla worked and created. So, it’s no surprise most of the menu has an “electricity” theme.  Excellent cocktails and vibe!

Basement – This one was just fun all around. The entrance is down some stairs and behind a vintage Coke machine along a very festive street in Chinatown. Inside, there’s more of a “carnival” atmosphere complete with beer pong tables. Only a hint of pretention and the drinks were solid!

Bathtub Gin – Take a step back to the roaring 20s here where the copper bathtub is the centerpiece of the room. We went for cabaret night and were seated next to the tub in the “splash zone.” Let’s just say we were warned ... and we got splashed. Excellent atmosphere, fabulous drinks, and phenomenal food!

Little Branch – Not entirely a “speakeasy,” but you have to know where to look for this door on the corner in the West Village that leads to an underground bar with great drinks and live jazz on most nights. We keep coming back here for good reason!

Dante – Not a speakeasy, but it was the World’s Best Bar in 2019, so it had to be on the list! The negronis are creative and legendary and the other cocktails did not disappoint!

Dead Rabbit – One of the World’s Best Bars in 2016 – it’s not a speakeasy – but it should be! It is an Irish bar institution in the financial district with some of our favorite cocktails and an extensive food menu. Worth a mention since we visit every time we’re in the city!

Granted, there are so many that we didn’t have time to visit, and we had to pick and choose a bit based on our personal taste, so you may not see some of the “best” on this list. Maybe next time!

Since we’ve been to the city enough to have done most of the tourist things like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Broadway shows, etc. it was fun to dig deeper into some of the neighborhoods and do some “alcohol tourism.” Is that a thing? Maybe it should be! #alcoholtourism #offthetipsypath

We may have to give our livers a rest, but as always, your comments and thoughts are appreciated and welcomed! We love NYC!

Off the Tipsy Path, but on the Bourbon Trail

 

It is no secret that we like bourbon. So, what could be better than a weekend on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?  Perhaps throw in a stay at a castle and let someone else do some of the driving … We did just that with a group of friends and here’s how it went!

First, if you have ever considered hitting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail … do it!  There are so many distilleries with such a variety of experiences, it’s hard to go wrong! If you love good food along with bourbon and a tour, Bardstown Bourbon Company is one we definitely recommend. Their bourbon is still aging so they do blends right now. But their visitor’s facility is world class.

 

Now, back to the weekend. Our first stop was for a tasty lunch and brews (yes, beer was on the agenda) at the Versailles Brewing Company – pronounced Ver-sales. It was a great way to start the weekend! More importantly, it was very close to our first stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and one that has been on Christy’s list for a while – Woodford Reserve. We drove ourselves and arrived on Friday afternoon. The visitor’s center is recently remodeled and very welcoming. Our version of the tour took us down the hill and into the distillery, where we learned about the distilling process, including the importance of the cypress wood fermentation vats (no steel containers here - just good old copper). They also took us inside one of the barrel houses! As every good tour should, it ended with a tasting of “the product.”  Woodford’s recent remodel also includes the addition of a tasting bar across the road, where we had a very good Woodford old fashioned before we hit the road again.

On to the castle! The Kentucky Castle was built by a husband for his wife in 1969. But like some fairy tales, this one ended in divorce. A couple of owners, a fire, and a major renovation later… the castle is now a fancy way to spend some time on the bourbon trail.  Our room included a sitting area in the turret, if that tells you anything. They have a restaurant and more importantly, a bar with a solid bourbon selection. Knowing his audience, the bartender made us some excellent Manhattans!

One benefit of the castle location in Versailles is that it’s about 15 minutes from downtown Lexington, which is where we chose to spend our Friday evening. We had some great food at Oscar Diggs and some fantastic cocktails at Bourbon on Rye, a classic downtown bar.

For the main activity on Saturday, the girls chose to spend some time at the castle spa while the boys hit the trail.

After a tasty breakfast at the castle, our day on the trail started with our driver from Pegasus who met us out front. Nothing better than NOT having to drive yourself around the Kentucky countryside to drink bourbon! We did our own trail weekends before, but this one included two stops that were #offthetipsypath to say the least.

First, Bulleit. This brand has seen a dramatic increase in popularity in recent months because of a certain TV show based in Montana on which the characters are said to enjoy Bulleit bourbon. We agree that Bulleit is particularly good in a Manhattan. The Bulleit facility is relatively new, especially compared to the historic distilleries. The tour included a short walk and a ride on the tour bus to the distillery itself, but not a visit to the barrel houses. The tasting afterward was unique in that it included tins of various items like nuts, cinnamon etc. designed to enhance your palate as we tasted the varieties of Bulleit. They also had a bar just off from the gift shop where we purchased a very tasty Manhattan. 

On our way to the next stop, our driver suggested we stop for lunch at Heavens to Betsy, a cafe in historic Lawrenceburg. We certainly never would have stumbled onto this on our own, but we’re glad we did!

The town is also home to Four Roses Distillery, which was our destination. Four Roses definitely has that historic look and feel, but with a new visitors’ center and tasting area. One bonus – they provided headsets for each of us so we could hear the tour guide, even around the loud machinery.

So for the day, Bulleit wins for the actual bourbon, but Four Roses had the better overall experience.

Saturday night we went back into Lexington to Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, where we had the best meal of the trip for sure! The food, drinks and service were all excellent.

One more note about the castle itself – it’s definitely a unique way to spend a weekend! There were a few hiccups, like the heating and cooling, but customer service made up for it.

On Sunday, we had time for one more distillery, and we lucked into a tour at our favorite, Buffalo Trace. These tours book up months ahead, but we got on the wait list and the bourbon gods were smiling. Buffalo Trace is a must-do in our opinion – not only because most of our favorite bourbons are made there, but they have the visitor experience down to an art. The tour was an excellent walk around the grounds and through the buildings, including a visit to one of the barrel houses, and of course the tasting at the end. On the day we visited, the shop had a stock of Weller Special Reserve on the shelf (one of Scott’s favorites). Knowing they would sell out during the tour, they had put aside enough bottles for every one of us on the tour to purchase.  Now THAT’s customer service!

As we mentioned before, we’ve been to other distilleries including Maker’s Mark, which we also highly recommend for the grounds, tour and overall experience – especially if you get the chance to dip your own bottles in the signature red wax! We enjoy the small towns like Frankfort and Bardstown and will definitely be back on the trail again!

As always, let us know what you think and if you have any questions or suggestions!

 

🍻 Beer Central (on Central) 🍻

 

There was a time when “going out for a beer” meant heading to the neighborhood watering hole for a PBR or a Stroh’s, complete with sports on TV and all the smoke you could handle. Fast forward to 2022 … and the “neighborhood bar” in Knoxville is very likely to be a microbrewery, complete with the sports on TV and no smoking!

At current count, Knoxville has 22 operating microbreweries, most with taprooms where you can sit for a spell and have anything from a good pilsner to something dark, fruity, or both, and sometimes with enough hops to choke a horse (think double, triple, quad IPA). NOTE: This post was A LOT longer in the beginning – we were going to try to cover them all. Thankfully, you’ll have to watch for more later!

The best thing about the explosion of microbreweries is that most of them also have good stories – either about their buildings - many of which are in renovated historic properties - or about the owners and brewers or both.

Knoxville seems to have its own “Beer Alley” on North Central, just north of downtown … maybe we should call it “Beer Central” street.  It’s entirely possible to start at the top of the corridor at Fanatic Brewing Company and stay on Central all the way down to 5^th, where a slight turn will finish at Xul / Geezers combined facility … and hit 9 of the breweries in town along the way. For safety reasons, we would recommend trying this with a designated drive or jump on one of the two brew busses now operating in town.

Our favorite strategy is to park in one place near the corner of Broadway and Central then walk to 4 or 5 breweries and see what they have that day.

Luckily, we enjoy beer! So here are some of our thoughts on these “Central” breweries and how to find what you really enjoy.  These are in no particular order because it’s hard to choose a favorite.

Hexagon – This one is in the Dutch Valley area. White Chocolate Buddha. Need I say more?  They also have food and an outdoor patio area. Not a historic property, but a good fit for the surrounding area.

Fanatic – Marty Velas is a beer fanatic and award-winning brewer. Lots of solid offerings. Their space is compact but cool. They grill some great burgers, which are on special most days.

Elst – Talk about a cool story. Four neighbors decide to open a brewery. They have a large variety on tap with some creative flavors like Vanilla Milkshake Ale (a favorite) in a historic space. They recently added their own food truck!

Schulz Brau – Probably one of the coolest breweries around! They took an old warehouse and turned it into a German castle, complete with a biergarten that is furnished from actual German biergartens! And the beer is solid (how can you go wrong with serving traditional German beer in 1-liter steins just like Oktoberfest?) Their kitchen serves authentic German fare. We are certain we could dress in our lederhosen and dirndl and be accepted here year-round!

Next Level – They have an ideal location at Central and Broadway, and some crazy good beers!

Barrelhouse – Cider anyone? If you can’t find something to your taste here, just go to a winery. (But they also have their own wine here too!) And they have some great food options too.

Crafty Bastard – Crafty indeed. This small space on Emory Place is putting out some big ideas in beer! They made one recently that tastes exactly like a rye Manhattan (complete with a coupe glass). You never know what you’ll find here, but it’s always crafty, and tasty!

Xul  – Dark beers that are 100% amazing, and one of the biggest selections of IPAs in town. They also do some awesome sour beers (Peach Betty is one of Christy’s favorites).  And they are in the show room of an old VW dealership! How cool is that?

Geezers – Located in the former service garage of the VW shop, they share the building with Xul. Just a cool hangout space with a growing selection of great beer! When you’re ready to hydrate (which you should do) grab a tallboy can of Liquid Death – don’t be scared, it’s just really good water! The owners are pretty fantastic too.

Oak Room by Abridged – Taste some of the best barrel sours in town in a room surrounded by the barrels! They also have one of the best charcuterie boards around, and you can pair it with a flight of 8 of the sours for a very reasonable price #datenight. They also now have liquor!

Ebony & Ivory – They are brewing some great beer and collabs and promise that a tasting room is in the works on North Central very soon!

Last Days of Autumn – If we had to pick a brewery that also has fantastic food, this one would be at or near the top! Slightly #offthetipsypath on Magnolia near Hall of Fame, their ribs, shrimp boils, and pierogies (yes, those filled pockets from up north) are incredible. The beers are fantastic as well! They have a great patio hangout space with live music too.

We realize there are other great breweries around Knoxville, but we’ll save those for another time. Did we miss any of your favorites?  If so, let us know in the Comments section below.

One great way to get introduced to some of the varieties and breweries without having to work too hard is to try one of the cool beer bars. Pour Taproom in particular offers “fill your own” options where you can try an ounce at a time at more than 30 taps from around the world … including a rotating menu of locals.

And three cheers to the return of beer festivals, which is absolutely the best way to taste your way around the city and region and figure out what you like and where you want to visit once you sober up.

 

You Can Find Us in the (Wine) Club

Did you ever belong to a club as a kid?  4H, the “No Boys Allowed” club, “He Man Woman Haters?”… Regardless, did you know that there are clubs for adults who like to drink wine? Wine clubs have become a popular way for wine drinkers to take their favorite vino home or take their chances on whatever the wineries choose for you!

Since we like to support local businesses, we belong to a couple of the clubs at local wineries in East Tennessee. In these cases, you sign up and pay a fee to become part of the club. Then you pick the wines you want in your “box,” which are ready for pick up at regular intervals. You also get discounts for tastings and bottles all year long.

And like a good wine, we like a good party. That’s where the club at the Winery at Seven Springs Farm excels!  Once a quarter they have a “Pickup Party” at their winery near Maynardville with live music, food, and of course all the wine you care to pay for.  They also have a supply of local Sweetwater Valley Farm cheese and meats from local vendors for sale or to take home … And you get to retrieve your box of wine. Seven Springs wines feature a great variety, from the dark but fruity Rooster Red to the Rosé Bubbly affectionately called Pink Bubbly, along with the muscadine varieties we’ve come to expect from this region. Their fruit varieties are also quite good! The location is certainly #offthetipsypath but totally worth it.

The widest variety we have found is by joining a club that has access to not one, but six different wineries.  Rocky Top Wineries actually has their own “wine trail” between their properties – Hillside Winery, Apple Barn, Apple Barn Cider House, Mountain Valley Winery, Sugarland Cellars, and Mill Bridge Winery. We’re proud to say we made it to each one during a July 4^th weekend visit to Gatlinburg. They’re all located a short drive from each other in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville. And of course, they talked/tasted us into joining the club. They have pickups ready every six months, four of your choice and two of the “Winemakers Select” bottles. We actually don’t mind fighting the tourist traffic twice a year for a visit.

After several years of success, they seem to have hit a slight hiccup in a new state law that apparently limits the number of wineries you can choose from to just one at a time. No worries, we plan to continue to share the love, but it’s forcing us to think harder about the half dozen bottles we want from one particular winery each time.  We will adapt and overcome like all good drinkers do.

There’s no shortage of wineries in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Most of them have their own version of a wine club. We have enjoyed wine tastings at most of them, including Gatlinburg Wine Cellar, Little Bear Winery, Bootleggers Homemade Wine, Cades Cove Cellars, and Tennessee Homemade Wines.

Of course, if you prefer to have wines delivered directly to your home … there are lots of options online to have wines shipped to your home from wineries around the country. We’ll leave it up to you to research the various regulations around that – but one of our faves is Quigley Fine Wines.

Bottom line, wine clubs are a great way to ensure a steady supply of the good stuff – either to get more of what you like or try your luck with new varieties!