Beards, Bourbon & Tasty Eats

                            To me one of the best things about bourbon is the history. It has arguably been around as long as this great country has. Bourbon has survived the good, the bad and the ugly to get to this point. Just like this country, bourbon has grown and has inspired whole new generations to be innovative. This is especially true in micro-distilling small craft bourbon to make something unique while adhering to the traditions and laws that make bourbon, bourbon. I am in no way saying all these craft distilleries are putting out good juice but many are. One of the best in my opinion is Chambers Bay Distillery out of University Place Washington.                Chambers Bay Distillery first began producing whiskey in University Place, Washington in 2014. The company was founded by Jeff Robinette and...

               With the winter months in full effect, so are the cold, wet, afternoons. Sounds like a great time to just relax in the house enjoying a nice pour next to a warm fire. Then again, it’s also a great time to go out and enjoy a nice bourbon with dinner and friends. To me the best thing about bourbon is sharing. I have come to realize that a sealed bottle on the shelf collects dust but an open bottle shared amongst friends collects memories. I am lucky enough to have some amazing friends that are always down for great conversation, amazing food and most of all fantastic bourbon!                It was one of these cold, dark, wet afternoons that I was feeling a bit claustrophobic in the house so I asked my buddy Bobby if he wanted to grab a bite to eat and a pour at this new whiskey bar at the mall. Yea I know what you are going to say but yes, the mall! Of cours...

              This amazing bourbon exploration has broadened not only my pallet and knowledge but has also brought me to some of the most amazing places in the Pacific Northwest and beyond! I have to say that the location does have an affect on the way the bourbon taste! The sights, sounds and smells build the whole experience and after all that is why we are drinking bourbon!                Imagine if you will, sitting on a porch in Bend Oregon looking out over the river watching the sun set sipping on a nice pour of Burnside Bourbon. Or relaxing in a cozy pub in Bellingham Washington on a stormy afternoon with a pour of Chuckanut Bay Bourbon on the rocks, listening to the crackle of the fire watching the waves crash. These are just a few of our adventures this past year. All of this adds to the whole ambiance and definitely has an impact on our opinion of a bourbon. Is it a ...

My kids are offended with my mustache! They get irritated with random people chatting me up over my ‘stache in the grocery store, picking them up from school, or even walking around downtown Olympia. One of the things they are always saying is why do people keep asking you if you compete? I never really thought about competing, my ‘stache was requested by my fiancé and also I had no idea about how competing works. Luckily for me a local spot, Well 80 , in Olympia decided to put on “Olympias Best Mustache Contest”, November 30, 2018.                I decided to enter! I take meticulous care of my moustache, it was looking pretty great that night. Upon arriving about an hour and half before the competition and the spot was packed. Butterflies were in full effect, good thing they have great drinks. I was handed a piece of paper to fill out with questions like, “What’s your mustaches name”, “what’s its super power”...

               Over the summer I found out that not all mustache waxes are created equally! Not even by the same manufacturer. This being my first summer with a majestic mustache, or so I am told, I was not prepared for the heat and humidity. On a lunch stroll through downtown Olympia my fiancé and I walked into Archibald Sisters . I was having a bad mustache day and was so frustrated, I was contemplating starting over. I stumbled across Fisticuffs Mustache Wax tester in their shop.                First thing I noticed was the awesome container it comes in. Besides the cool label, its compact and fits in my pocket perfectly. It comes in a variety of scents, I prefer the Bay Rum. It’s a light refreshing scent that is not over powering. The wax itself has a light, clean feeling and melts easily in your fingers for application. What I appreciate most about this wax is that i...

In addition to good bourbon, I love a great breakfast spot! Unfortunately, there are few real breakfast joints in town. Luckily for us a new spot opened in West Olympia called Hash . Hash opened up over the summer and has been packed ever since! The menu is simple and has something for everyone, including kids, and offers several vegan plates. We went in for Sunday breakfast around 10:30 am and the restaurant was packed with many names on the waiting list. We sat outside and enjoyed the summer sun until our table was ready. The staff were polite and quick. Once seated we got our drinks and looked over the menu. The smells and atmosphere was chill. As we pondered over what to order a huge piece of cornbread delivered to our table! It was interesting, almost like a cornbread cake with strawberry whipped butter. We decided on our orders; the Mojado Burrito and the Traditional Benedict. The Mojado Burrito is a wheat tortilla full of scrambled eggs, applewood smoked ham, green chi...

While down in Bend Oregon for a rugby tournament this summer we decided to check out the Oregon Spirit Distillers . Oregon Spirit Distillers formed in 2009. They pride themselves on using locally sourced grains and water from the Cascades. With one of the largest whiskey barrels inventories in Oregon, Oregon Spirit will most likely have what you want whether it’s a nice wheat or rye whiskey or a tasty bourbon. Of course, I tried the bourbon.                   The tasting room was clean and inviting. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. They host a number of concerts and such throughout the year on the property, unfortunately we were a day early and missed one. Unlike some of the other tasting rooms I have been that offer pours of their liquors, Oregon Spirit offers mini cocktail’s featuring their spirts. It works out for those who may not be into straight spirit tasting    ...

                I figured a few things out this summer. First, it’s almost impossible to sit down and put thoughts down with kids running around. Second, it becomes even harder once you add rugby to it. Finally, bourbon is the perfect summer drink. Honestly the best thing about rugby is all the travel! I had a great reason to pop in and try quite a few Pacific Northwest Distilleries.                  As the bourbon craze chugs along and everyone is out hunting down their unicorn bourbon, I have decided that I really want to explore and sample what the Northwest micro distilleries, like Chambers Bay and Oregon Spirits, have to offer. Don’t worry we will still be talking about the big names such as Four Roses, Knob Creek, and other favorites.                The search for the perfect mustache wax ...