So, it's been forever since a post. Uncle Roadtripper and the Shotgun Navigator had a parting of the ways over some personal issues we will not go into here. It's been 5 years since the Shotgun Navigator has been co-pilot for Uncle Roadtripper. There have been a couple family outings, one to Milwaukee to do a boys weekend with the dad and brothers, and another to Door County for a family vacation.
The Milwaukee trip was all about breweries, distilleries, and the Cubs. Did Great Lakes Distillery, Sprecher's Brewery, Milwaukee Brewing Company, and Lakefront Brewery. Great Lakes Distillery makes and sells many different liquors, from whiskey to vodka as well as absinthe. I've not been to many distilleries,but not many that I have heard of make absinthe. Granted, if you've done one distillery, you've done them all (and that includes for my brother's bachelor party doing Maker's Mark, Willet Distillery, and Jim Beam. Breweries are the same.), but they are all good for the tasting and the story behind it. They are all worth the trip. The breweries in Milwaukee were basically like $7 a head to get in for the tour and some beer. Sprecher's, you get a band with 4 tabs on it. If multiples in your party, everyone grabs a different beer and you taste a little from the other glasses. Milwaukee Brewing Co. is a full pint and then half-pints for the rest of the tour, so you end up with like 4 pints worth of beer if you want. Lakefront seems like it was 4 pints, or at least 4 beers, as well.
The bourbon distilleries, well KY has this thing called a law where they can serve no more than 3 half shots to you. The distilleries are worth it for being able to try different types of liquor, Absinthe was good, Great Lakes Kinnickinnick (not positive is correct spelling) Whiskey is good, all their products were good. They have a bar onsite and part of their agreement with the city is that any liquor they serve must be made onsite. Also, it was the first place I walked into and asked for a Caucasian and didn't get a questioning look. Best White Russian, well White Russians as I had two, I have ever had. Their coffee liquor is out of this world.
Door County has a lot of wineries. I don't remember off-hand the name of the one we went to, but it had a distillery as well.They make a gin that is reminiscent of Bombay Sapphire. Their vodka is real interesting. It goes down smooth, no burn. Then you get this, I can only describe it as a backdraft, of a peppery sensation back up your esophagus. It is an interesting and not bad thing. It opens your sinuses. It is just a weird feeling. You don't get it when you mix it with anything, but you do get a light peppery taste. And to clarify "peppery," we're talking the pepper from salt and pepper. But it is not a strong pepper taste. Even did a brewery there. called Shipwrecked. No tour, but you can mix and match six packs. They have a restaurant as well. The food was pretty good.
I did a daytrip last fall with a friend. It was just to get out of town and go back through some places I have been previously, that my partner in crime had not been to. She enjoyed it as well as I did. We both saw some new stuff. I had been through many of the cities we went through, but it was just long enough ago that they had changed a little. Gave me a few "I don't remember this..." moments. LOL
