Spirits of Travel

Many are the countries that offer their very own fascinating & tasty distillations -- Scottish single malts, Mexico's tequila, Kentucky bourbon, habushu in Japan -- you name it. An intoxicating way of exploring the world! And of course most countries also have their own beers - often very distinctive indeed. We raise a glass to all of it here!

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The rum distilleries of Guadeloupe

Habitation BellevueProduction of this spirit here goes back to the 17th century, when sugar plantations were founded under French colonial rule, and over time rum evolved from a plantation byproduct into one of Guadeloupe’s defining cultural traditions. Today there are nine active distilleries, most of them open to visitors for tours, tastings, and what the French now enthusiastically call spiritourisme. What makes Guadeloupe especially distinctive is its strong tradition of rhum…

Started by Jordan Simon

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A visit to Mount Gay Distillery on Barbados, where it´s said rum was invented

Most travelers know that most Caribbean islands are soaked in rum, but Barbados goes the rest one better because here, locals say, is where rum was discovered. In capital Bridgetown one early-17th-century day, the story goes, a tavern owner was searching for an empty shipping barrel when he inadvertently stumbled across one filled with a concoction worth selling -- a barrel of sugar cane fermented over time. Well, Mr. Rumball -- the tavern owner -- knew a good thing when he tasted it and…

Started by Tripatini

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The rum deals of Martinique

Martinique.orgThis island is known for its rhum agricole (accounting about 80 percent of its production of rum), made directly from sugarcane juice. You can enjoy tours, tastings and a look at rum paraphernalia/lore at three of the island´s top distilleries, Habitation Clément, La Favorite (one of the oldest on the island, dating back to 1842 and still operating partly via steam engines), and Distillerie J.M. read post

Started by David Paul Appell

0 Replies · Reply by Tripatini Dec 15, 2024

What is a single-malt whisky? Plus some prime examples

Dylan de Jonge Few spirits have captured the hearts and palates of spirits enthusiasts quite like whisky, a sophisticated elixir born from the perfect blend of time-honored tradition, premium ingredients, and meticulous craftsmanship. Distilled in Scotland and Ireland since at least the 15th century, single malt is now also produced in more than two dozen other countries, even including the likes of Brazil, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, and Taiwan. Whisky is also widely available…

Started by Tripatini

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Terence Baker January 23, 2010 at 11:33pm

On my Superlatives Guide to Our Planet group thread, recently, I mentioned a new whisky to be produced in England, of all places and my native country. An article on this St. George Whisky mentioned that it was ready for bottling after three years. Three years? I wrote to them, but they were inundated and could not write back, but I always thought a single malt needed at least 10 years to mature. As you know, whiskies that are 15, 18, 20, 25, etc., years old are more expensive, and that even 7-year old whiskies should be avoided, so how comes this one--and experts said that it held its own--is ready after three. Am I missing something. My favourite single-malt whiskies, by the way, are Ardbeg, Balvenie and Scapa Flow.
Darryl Musick January 17, 2010 at 7:03pm

This week's cocktail is the daiquiri...Hemingway's drink made the way he would have had it (in other words, not a rum smoothie). Join us, and the birds, on the patio with your own daiquiri. http://tinyurl.com/yam5d8n

The World on Wheels

An ongoing adventure of travel and living while using a wheelchair. Tim has been disabled from birth. Darryl is his father and caregiver who travel…
Darryl Musick December 20, 2009 at 10:00pm

How about a great margarita recipe? Start off with a quality tequila, 100% puro de agave. http://tinyurl.com/yczs8b4
David Paul Appell December 20, 2009 at 5:08pm

Sounds inteteresting, Adina -- like slivovice, no? Do you know if it's exported, or just for domestic consumption?
Adina Nutu - Explore Romania December 20, 2009 at 4:50pm

Have you heard of Horinca or Palinca? It's the local spirit in Romania. It leaves a strong memory to everybody who tastes it. Normally it's made of plums, but it can be done of apples and pears too, and the real one, coming from the region of Maramures, is about 50 degrees. The best one is the home made one of course, and if you want you can visit the places where the locals make it. All foreigners who have tried it declared themselves in love with it :)
David Paul Appell December 15, 2009 at 10:42pm

Get the latest news on enjoying tequila in Tequila, in this week's blog post, Tequila, Mexico -- Not Just a Day Trip Any More

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Mark Gillespie December 13, 2009 at 6:54pm

Sheri, I haven't been there yet, but the Malt Whisky Trail website would be a good place to start. http://www.maltwhiskytrail.com
Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave December 13, 2009 at 6:08pm

Tell me more about Speyside. Is there a whisky route? How do you plan this trip?
Mark Gillespie December 11, 2009 at 7:23pm

Sheri, Ardbeg Supernova is outstanding...I scored it a 94 when I tasted it earlier this year. Islay's unique in that all of the distilleries offer tours of some sort, and it's possible to taste a wide variety of Scotches there. I'd also suggest spending a week or so in the area around Dufftown in Speyside, where there are several dozen distilleries within driving range to visit.
Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave December 11, 2009 at 5:49pm

Mark, can you suggest any good trips to whisky country? I once went to Islay in Scotland and visited the Ardbeg distillery. Ardbeg has always been known to be one of the peatiest single malts. I heard they just released the peatiest, smokiest single malt in the world, called Super Nova.