Bourbon, Beer and Bubbly
Sip and savor these cities that offer the most unique experiences for bourbon, beer and bubbly.
You don’t have to be an expert on fine bourbons, beers and bubblies to appreciate the best of the best. In fact, experiencing how your favorite libations are created and perfected can make for an incredible getaway with like-minded family and friends.
Bourbon Lovers Unite!
Whether you’re a hardcore Pappy Van Winkle fan or prefer something much more budget-friendly, it’s hard to pass up a visit to Kentucky to see where it’s all made.
There are nine distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail which includes Bulleit, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Town Branch, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve. While you could certainly visit all nine, it is suggested you plan for at least three days to go from distillery to distillery. Those not on the official trail include Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Van Winkle and many others which offer custom tours to suit your every bourbon need.
The Craft Beer Explosion
No matter where you live, you’ve likely seen more and more craft beers pop up in your local restaurants and pubs. But we were curious to find out where most craft beers are born. According to the Brewers Association, in 2014 California had the most craft breweries with 431 followed by Washington with 256, Colorado with 235, and Oregon with 216 and New York with 181. Visiting one of these states will surely give you plenty of options from which to choose. Consult the BeerAdvocate for a list of craft breweries in each state.
Not All Sparkling Wine is Champagne
There is only one place Champagne lovers can go to experience the true bubbly, and that’s the Champagne region of France. But, of course!
Everything else — and we mean everything — is sparkling wine.
Fodor’s has an incredibly informative Champagne Country Travel Guide that will take you through top experiences and places, things to do and where to stay. While The Guardian takes you on a tour of its top ten champagne vineyards in the Champagne region including a detour to the idyllic village of Hautvillers, known as the birthplace of Champagne.
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