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It
seems safe to say that beer was the first of the many distilled beverages we
enjoy today. After all, grains were the first crops cultivated in Mesopotamia,
the birthplace of civilization, and references to beer date back over 6,000
years. Even Gilgamesh’s epic, the earliest example of writing we have,
describes beer as a main factor in moving man from a primitive to civilized
state.
“Eat the bread now, O Enkidu, as it
belongs to life. Drink also beer, as it is the custom of the land.” Enkidu
drank seven cups of beer and his heart soared. In this condition he washed
himself and became a human being.
Over
the centuries, man has come to distill other local products and today many
countries have some type of intoxicating beverage that defines their culture.
The Scots have the “water of life,” whisky. Rum originated after Columbus
introduced sugar cane to the Caribbean Islands, and even a U.S. president-to-be
distilled bourbon and ran saloons.
Most
of the hosts highlighted this month are not dedicated solely to distillery
pursuits, but do incorporate a featured spirit or two into their tours of a
particular country. This month’s articles reflect the history of many of the
world’s most common spirits and describe their cultural significance. So take
a moment to pour your favorite beverage and enjoy this month’s issue. Cheers!
This
month's tour hosts review:
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Distillery Destinations
Pick of
the Month |
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Location: Scotland |
| Specialty:
Whisky Tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Both Caroline
Dewar and Helen Arthur have both been in the whisky business
for more than 15 years and share their love of the beverage
with people from around the world. The company creates
custom trips to the area’s many distilleries; those
generally open to the public as well as others by
arrangement only. The company has a couple of set departure
dates. Pre-arranged self-drive itineraries and personally
planned itineraries with the help and guidance of the team
are available. For more information on this distilling duo,
review this Month’s Host Pick.
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Arblaster & Clarke |
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Location: France |
| Specialty:
Champagne weekends and wine tours
|
| Why
We Like Them:
Arblaster & Clarke began with
these champagne weekend trips, and after 15 years, they still are a significant
part the company’s offerings. Frequent scheduled departures, including deluxe
and special event weekends, and privately arranged self-drive trips are
available. These trips visit a wide selection of the region’s great winemaking
houses – both familiar names and the small private chateaus only locally known
– and include tastings of more than 25 different releases. This tour is sure
to satisfy the most ardent Champagne enthusiast. |
|
Article:
Champagne Notes |
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Vintage Spain |
|
Location: Spain |
| Specialty:
Food and wine tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Trips designed
to give you a taste of each specialized region allow Vintage
Spain to focus on what it knows best, the area surrounding
Madrid. Customized one-day private journeys or weekend
self-drives are available to La Ribera de Duero, as well as weekend trips to La Rioja. A
great selection of multi-night group departures allows the traveler to enjoy a
sampling of various destinations and beverages, including the cavas
(Spain’s sparkling wines) in Penedes. |
|
Article: Chinchón, anisette in a portico square |
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Cellar Tours |
|
Location: Spain
and Portugal |
| Specialty: Deluxe wine and culture tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Cellar Tours
offers a wide array of wine tours, including one focused on
port and another on sherry, two of the region’s best known
fortified wines. Tours feature off-the-beaten path
destinations like the Balearic Islands and a delightful trip
in Don Quixote’s footsteps. The tours combine great wines
with art, food, local culture and fantastic accommodations.
The company’s web site provides a great array of information
and links to dozens of wine and Spanish tourism sites. |
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Olde Ipswich Tours |
|
Location: Portugal and other European destinations |
| Specialty:
Culinary tours combined
with the art and culture of the destination |
| Why
We Like Them: These folks have port tasting
trips. Well to be honest, port is just one aspect of this
journey, though there is a great selection of tastings on a visit to Porto, this month’s World Heritage Site.
Of course, Ipswich also has a number of other European tours, so that no matter
your tastes, this company can help you satisfy it. |
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Czech Beer Tours |
|
Location: Czech Republic |
| Specialty:
Beer tours of Prague
and the surrounding countryside |
| Why
We Like Them: Offering Prague pub-crawls,
single-day and multi-night journeys to breweries throughout
the region, this company promises a great time for those
people passionate about beer. It has scheduled trips,
planned independent itineraries and can arrange specialized
tours for any group. |
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