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I've lived in York, Pennsylvania since 1978 and I've always
enjoyed eating and drinking. As I mature (nice word for
growing old), I find that my tastes have also developed and I now prefer to savor my drink, rather than just
guzzle it down. Of course, atmosphere contributes to the experience of each drink.
I find that I enjoy fine liquors at home, wine, either at home or in
a restaurant with close friends, and exceptionally brewed beer at
a good tavern.
Home
Enjoyment
The
fine liquors that I've listed below are best
enjoyed in a comfortable chair while listening to classical
jazz music. Some of the best music to sip with is played by a public radio station in California, KCSM - The College of San Mateo. I encourage you to visit
them at www.kcsm.org.
Basil Hayden's Kentucky
Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection which includes Baker's, Booker's, and
Knob Creek brands. I've tried all four, but I prefer Basil
Hayden's.
Woodford Reserve Distiller's
Select is another excellent Bourbon, a
bottle of which I received as a gift. It is distilled
by Labrot & Graham. It purports to be the "Official Bourbon"
of the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup.
Laphroig Single Islay Malt
Scotch Whisky was an acquired taste for me.
Produced by Laphroig, I feel that it has a
distinctive taste that I can only describe as earthy, almost
like peat. It grew rapidly on me, however, and I've
purchased several bottles over the past few years.
McClelland's
Highland Scotch is another single malt.
This was the first single malt that I had tasted. It
was given to me as a gift, quite appreciated, as it sparked my
interest in finer liquors. McClelland's is actually produced
by Morrison & Bowmore. I have read that
it is actually a 5 year old version of their Glen Garioch,
but I don't know how valid that information really is.
At Home or Enjoyed in
a Restaurant
M.
Chapoutier produces wines
which I first tasted at Autographs (now Off Center Grill) in the
Hotel Yorktowne. The Belleruche Cotes-de-Rhone and their
Deschants Saint-Joseph are
excellent.
Georges Duboeuf is a brand which never seems
to disappoint. I have had bottles of at least a
half-dozen different wines and they always seem to impress
me. The simple fact that they are available at
Pennsylvania's Wine &
Spirits stores is a definite plus.
Opus One is
a pricey California wine which is the result of a joint venture of
Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. I enjoyed a
bottle of Opus One at The Trellis restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia. They properly decanted the
wine and it was paired with an excellent dinner.
Luna di Luna
specializes in wine blends with distinctive
bottles. I particularly enjoyed their Merlot/Cabernet, but I
understand that the Sangiovese/Merlot is also good.
Nissley Vineyards
is located in nearby Marietta, which is east of the
Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. They offer a
Montmorency Cherry which is my absolute favorite accompaniment to
their summer jazz lawn concerts.
Seven Valleys Vineyards & Winery
from Glen Rock, just south of York,
is another fun local vineyard. Their Late Harvest Vidal is
an exceptional dessert wine, which I once enjoyed as a complement to a
watermelon granita.
Tavern and Bar
Enjoyment
I find that beer is best enjoyed in a different environment
that is more public and friendly. I rarely drink beer at
home. Some of my favorite experiences have been at The Brickskeller in Washington, D.C.
At the times I was there, they boasted over 800 beers. A check
of their web site indicates that they've surpassed 1,100
now!
Locally, I enjoy sampling the wares
of Cobblestones Sports Emporium and Restaurant
here in York. I am not a sports fan by any measure of the
imagination. But, many of Cobblestones' 62 taps
include choices from many of the Pennsylvania
regional and microbrews I've listed below.
Appalachian Brewing Company
Troegs
Stoudt's
Flying Fish
Victory
Lancaster
The Lion Brewery
D.G. Yuengling &
Sons
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