What to eat at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

What to eat at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

Posted on by Pat
In the interest of flying stain-free, I usually try to avoid messy foods when I'm in the airport. But I couldn't pass up the chance to try the namesake specialty at Gold Star Chili at the airport serving Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. Chili—most often ladled over a big plate of spaghetti and topped with grated cheddar cheese—has been a Cincinnati specialty since Greek immigrants introduced it in 1922. A century later, Cincinnatians proudly claim chili as a signature food. As food trends come and go, it's always comforting to have a satisfying, filling meal that you can count on. The James Beard Foundation even recognized Camp Washington, which opened in 1940, as one of America's Classics. The Beard list has rarely steered me wrong, so...Read More
May your New Year bubble over with joy!

May your New Year bubble over with joy!

Posted on by Pat and David
Popping open a bottle of sparkling wine seems like an occasion in itself. But when we perused our Google Photos feed with the search term ‶champagne,″ we were reminded of occasion after occasion of good times, good food, good drink, and good company. See the photo montage for a taste of cava, crémant, Champagne, Prosecco, or just plain sparkling wine. Cheers! Prost! Salud!
Neat is nifty, but stirred into a cocktail might be neater

Neat is nifty, but stirred into a cocktail might be neater

Posted on by Pat
When I asked folks in the spirits industry in northern Kentucky how they took their Bourbon, the answer was invariably the same. “A healthy pour, neat.” Some admitted to adding an ice cube or a few drops of water to open up the taste. But nothing else. These professionals take their spirits seriously and relish the pure flavor and warm glow of unadulterated Bourbon. Nonetheless, most agreed that Bourbon's star had risen when the TV series Mad Men revived interest in classic cocktails. The spirit is still riding high as a versatile component of today's creative cocktail culture. I'm truly not much of a cocktail drinker, so I never ordered a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned and the weather wasn't cool enough for a Hot...Read More
Bourbon is not just for the glass

Bourbon is not just for the glass

Posted on by Pat
Patti and I found good company and good conversation on our trip to northern Kentucky Bourbon country. We also tasted some great Bourbon, but the spirit wasn't always confined to the glass. With its complex bouquet of flavors, it's not surprising that Bourbon complements sweet and savory dishes alike. Following are a few of my favorites. FLAVORS OF FRANKFORT In Kentucky's state capital of Frankfort, distillers used to roll barrels from their warehouses down the streets to flat-bottomed boats waiting to ferry the whiskey down the Kentucky River. A different type of commerce holds sway these days. One night before dinner, I strolled through the historic downtown and discovered a retail district full of local character. Crafts stores featured Kentucky folk artists and an independent...Read More
Bardstown proudly claims ‘World Capital of Bourbon’ title

Bardstown proudly claims ‘World Capital of Bourbon’ title

Posted on by Pat
Patti and I ended our tour of northern Kentucky's Bourbon country in Bardstown. Settled by colonists in 1780, it's the second oldest city in the state. But it doesn't play second fiddle to anyone when it comes to Bourbon. Signs throughout town proclaim Bardstown as the World Capital of Bourbon. Founded a year before the community, the former stagecoach stop of Old Talbott Tavern (Court Square, 502-348-3494, talbotttavern.com), shown above, deems itself the oldest Bourbon bar in the world. Bardstown supports its claim with Kentucky's greatest concentration of distilleries. Eleven distilleries fan out in a twenty-mile ring from the gracious former courthouse that houses Bardstown's Welcome Center. That cluster includes such pioneers as Jim Beam, which was established in 1795. But newcomers keep popping up,...Read More
Getting a clear-headed fresh start on another day of tastings

Getting a clear-headed fresh start on another day of tastings

Posted on by Pat
Even with all the temptations of great Bourbon, I managed to avoid overindulging on my tasting tour through northern Kentucky. But I still like to start the day with a brisk walk to clear my head. In Covington, there's nothing better than a jaunt over the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Popularly called the “Blue Bridge,” it connects the city to Cincinnati on the other side of the Ohio River. The bridge is a short walk from the Hotel Covington. Like the Buffalo Trace Distillery, the bridge is one of Kentucky's National Historic Landmarks—and with good reason. When it was completed in 1867, the 1,057-foot span over the river was the longest in the world. Moreover, it's one of only two bridges by noted civil...Read More
Old Bourbons never die — they just go back on the shelf

Old Bourbons never die — they just go back on the shelf

Posted on by Pat
Women, I'd been told, are the fastest growing segment of Bourbon drinkers. My friend Patti and I were doing our part for our gender as we sampled our way through northern Kentucky. But men have a special niche in the Bourbon world as collectors of rare bottles. They're often affectionately called ‶dusties″ (the bottles, not the collectors). Brad Bonds (at left above) is just such a guy. In 2020 he turned his avocation into a business by launching the Revival Vintage Bottle Shop (5 East 8th Street, 859-479-2676, revivalky.com) in Covington. ‶I think all the best stuff has already been made,″ he insisted to Patti and me when we stopped in at his storefront. Contrary to the nickname, there wasn't a speck of dust in...Read More
Newcomers enliven tradition-bound world of Bourbon

Newcomers enliven tradition-bound world of Bourbon

Posted on by Pat
Kentucky is more than prepared to meet the growing demand for its signature spirit. According to the Kentucky Distillers' Association, production has risen 250 percent since 1999. And it hasn't yet hit a plateau. The state's legacy distillers are certainly doing their share. But as Patti and I were to discover on our tour through northern Kentucky, there's plenty of room for newcomers. NEW RIFF PICKS UP THE BEAT New Riff (859-261-7433; newriffdistilling.com), a family-owned small distillery, was established in 2014 with a plan to follow time-honored practices to maximize flavor. For example, the distillery brews by adding sour mash to the grain bill. It also eschews cold filtration to preserve volatile flavors from the yeast. The operation has two facilities in Newport, just across...Read More
Back to the roots at Buffalo Trace

Back to the roots at Buffalo Trace

Posted on by Pat
My husband David and I are the authors of two books about National Historic Landmarks in New England and in Boston. It's no surprise that we've written about historic homes and grand public buildings. But we've also sung the praises of carousels, submarines, and a public beach. I'm convinced that National Historic Landmarks tell us a lot about regional identity—both what folks celebrate and what they feel defines them. That brings me to Kentucky, which counts three distilleries among its 32 National Historic Landmarks. Of the three, Buffalo Trace in Frankfort (113 Great Buffalo Trace; 800-654-8471; buffalotracedistillery.com) also claims to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. Daniel Swigert got things rolling when he started distilling on this site on the east bank of...Read More
Slaking my thirst for friendship in Kentucky’s Bourbon country

Slaking my thirst for friendship in Kentucky’s Bourbon country

Posted on by Pat
After months of pandemic lockdown, I really needed a drink. So I was all in when my Kentucky friend Patti asked me to join her on a road trip through the northern edge of Bourbon country. Kentuckians, I was to discover, take their Bourbon seriously. And no wonder. Barrels of aging Bourbon actually outnumber people. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has enough Bourbon to offer two shots to everyone in the United States. That's everyone of legal age, I'm sure. After decades of vodka inexplicably dominating the spirits market, Bourbon is enjoying a well-deserved revival. Just as foodies are embracing local products, drinkers are looking for unique and authentic spirits. Bourbon fits the bill. First distilled in Kentucky in the late eighteenth century, Bourbon was designated...Read More