This year my family and I made a Road Trip around the South West USA, we had a brilliant time driving along parts of Route 66, Route 89 and visiting many National Parks including the Grand Canyon.
You can see some of my photos here, but more importantly what whiskies did I sample?
I visited two great locations which should be on the list for any visitors to Las Vegas or Los Angeles!
Las Vegas : Oak & Ivy
The Oak & Ivy is a bar in a shipping container, yes a shipping container parked in downtown Las Vegas!
In fact it's just one of many in the Container Park.
Other containers include trendy clothes shops and artisan restaurants (the Mexican Pinches Tacos is well worth a visit too!)
 |
| Bow Tie Lessons? |
 |
| The Whiskey Menu |
I was on a flying visit, and driving, so only had time to try one dram which was Corsair's Triple Smoke. This is made from barley which has been dried using Cherrywood, Beechwood and Peat.
Los Angeles : Wades Wines & Sundowner Bar
Wades Wines is a small business near L.A. specialising in wine but has a little section which stocks nearly 1,400 whiskies from around the world!
My brother who lives in L.A. took me to visit - it was magical!
 |
| Forget Disneyland visit Wades Wines! |
Marty runs the whisky section and has an encyclopedic knowledge of whisky! He allowed us to sample a number of drams before directing us through the shop to the Sundowner Bar, which we didn't realise was there, where we would view the full menu and purchase some.
Samples we tried included Hillrock Bourbon, Hillrock Rye, Westward Single Malt, Re:Find Rye, Russell's Reserve Single Barrel and Stranahan's Diamond Peak!
As we walked into the bar - the view was amazing...
Before settling on a flight of 6 drams: a Glenrothes, Glen Scotia Victoriana, a 13yo Hazelburn, Octomore 8.3, Arran Smugglers 3 and a George T Stagg at an incredible 71.4% ABV
Whilst enjoying these a longer scan of the shelves revealed a 21yo, from the now closed Rosebank distillery, which also had to be tasted!
My brother wasn't keen on the Octomore!
