Posting this because the same four questions keep coming up on Facebook and elsewhere: What distilleries should I go to? (There are only 6 on the island)What bottles should I bring back?Where should I buy rum?Where should I drink? Before getting to the answers to the above, if learning about Jamaican rums is your thing,... Continue Reading →
Over Your Duty Free Limit! What Happens Next?
For spirited wonks, one of the great joys of travel is seeking out new and exotic bottled treasures and returning home with them in tow. It’s the thrill of the hunt – what will you find? Maybe it’s a bottle you never knew existed? Or perhaps it’s one you’ve stalked for years. For U.S. citizens,... Continue Reading →
Planning your Scotch Whisky Distillery Pilgrimage
If you’re a fan of Scotch single malt whisky, and really, why wouldn’t you be, a visit to the distilleries of Scotland increases your appreciation by an order of magnitude. Having recently completed a ten day trek through Speyside in the Scottish highlands, as well as the island of Islay, Mrs. Wonk and I agree... Continue Reading →
London Underground: Stepping Back Through Spirits History in the Cellars and Back Rooms of Berry Bros. & Rudd.
The framed letter on the wall reads: “Dear Sirs, TITANIC Referring to your shipment by this steamer, it is with great regret we have to inform you that the Titanic foundered at 2-20 a.m. 15th instant, after colliding with an iceberg, and is a total loss. Details of shipment are shown at foot. Yours faithfully,... Continue Reading →
Suitcase Booze: The Cocktail Wonk Guide to Buying Liquor on the Road
One of the occupational hazards of Cocktail Wonkdom is an insatiable desire to find the next great bottle, the big score, the one you've only heard rumors of. After tapping out your local liquor stores and become bored (or frustrated) by ordering online, how do you feed the desire? The simple answer: Travel. The moment Mrs.... Continue Reading →
Visiting the Barton 1792 Distillery
In October, 2014 Mrs. Wonk and I toured eight whiskey distilleries in the vicinity of Louisville, KY, and Nashville, TN. In a prior post, I described the common elements of these tours in detail, while this post focuses on the unique parts of our Barton 1792 Distillery visit. If you’re not familiar with the whiskey-making... Continue Reading →