Wine and Spirits Travel

The word “bartender” has taken on a new meaning this century. The bartenders are the ones spending their days mixing gin and tonics and serving beers in local restaurants and corner bars.  The creative ones, who go that extra step in creating drinks, are the mixologists. I’ve only been living in the Midwest for a year and a half. I wouldn’t begin to call myself an expert on bars in Chicago , having only visited the Windy City a half dozen times. I needed to call for some help and I got it from one of the city’s experts. My friend Theresa Carter (a.k.a. The Local Tourist ) took me around Chicago to check out some of the city’s most known mixologists in different neighborhoods. Our first stop was in the Bucktown-Wicker Park area. This was my first experience going to a hidden bar. Like a Speakeasy during prohibition, The Violet Hour has no fancy door or sign posted outside. It is dark, but cozy – a perfect date spot, or a place for two gals to chat and enjoy the drinks. Robert is

It was my first Vintage Indiana , but it certainly won’t be my last as I got to experience more wineries than I could possibly taste at Indianapolis' Military Park. The weather was certainly not cooperating for the 11 th Vintage Indiana.   It actually started to downpour as I made the (scenic when there isn’t showers) short walk from the Hilton Downtown Indianapolis where I was staying.   The day continued to be an odd mix of pouring rain and sun-filled humidity, but that didn’t deter thousands from checking out the wine tents filled with more choices than anyone could make. I’ve wanted to make a trip to French Lick Winery --which I hear is a quaint area full of accommodations-- before and now I’m even more sold after tasting a few of their offerings.   Though the Cayuga White was a bit too sweet for even my sweet tooth, the Norton was a tasty semi-sweet blend of black currant and cherry flavors.   Wildcat Creek Winery is fairly new, but they seem to have gotten it right wi