THE NEXT TASTE ON TOUR

The Next Taste on Tour Written By: Randy Weckerly

Everyone has that “close to one’s heart - out of the way place” we call our own. A coffee nook in our hometown, a favorite off road up north hamburger/beer joint or even a place our Grampa took us as a kid, where we now contemplate memories of our cherished time together. We even defer our time today to many Starbucks, many locations where we claim our own private table throughout each day with our iPad or iPhone in hand and find instant isolation.

Admittedly, in my life, I remember having great cups of French Onion soup in Washington D.C. on a rainy day with my wife. I could never recreate that time in feel or context in any other place, even at home or at the many places we enjoyed together traveling across the United States.

I remember sharing my first true Cuban Coffee in Key West, Florida located in the wharf at the end of Route 1, but on the east side of the road, where none other than locals who guided us would know about this culture and tradition. It was a coffee shop not recommended by appearance or location. One would not venture to arrive alone on most days. It was rugged and surly from the outside; and even more so once passing the threshold of the so-called front door. A dry rotted door that could fall off its hinges at any time if encouraged to do so.

As the publisher of this magazine we decided to create a virtual spot where we could have fun while we all wait out the pandemic. You will find a new Facebook Group – “Craft Beverage & Culinary Tour Lovers”, which supports the outreach of identifying a community of such eclectic places. You can become a member, contributor and enjoyer of this community.

Experiencing life fully in travel, both worldwide and domestically, was my past for several decades. “The Distillery Channel” was inaugurated in 2014 to visit and enjoy destinations of the small craft world in all fifty states.

I never thought I would be spending a pandemic shut down year like 2020. I remember my childhood when polio was the pandemic and we received our sugar cubes infused with vaccine in 1960. We all gladly lined up in the local Masonic Temple. We had no option of taking it or not. However, we did comply, and we never worried about polio again. It was over.

We didn’t want this year to escape from us in any form of our experience in the world. However, being in my “senior years”, my family requested that I remain in the “bubble”. I have complied. But it did not shut down “The Distillery Channel’s” creative juices. We initiated a new show found on most major podcast platforms, “The Next Taste on Tour”, which features and follows the world of sports; and in particular professional golf. As our staff travels from city to city, we interview the world’s elite professional golfers while researching breweries, coffee shops, diners, distilleries and wineries on those that are out of the way often become our favorites. Sometimes we rely on local advice pertaining to those we don’t visit in person, as we also want to include local destinations week to week.

To support this activity, we created “Craft Beverage & Culinary Tour Lovers” which supports the virtual delivery very well. To date, we have had over 1400 join the group to celebrate their ideas of favorite places while becoming a member. This group is marked private, but please join. “The Distillery Channel” team marked it private so that we can see who is joining and welcome each aboard as they join.

“The Distillery Channel’s” Miss Kira, host on “The Next Taste on Tour” podcast travels to most destination’s live or virtually that the PGA Tour follows week to week. While in Las Vegas, Nevada for two weeks this year covering two back to back tournaments, Miss Kira’s Instagram account grew substantially in numbers and likes. Everybody loves Miss Kira, who brings her grace and incredible positive personality to the tour interviews. You can follow her on Instagram handle is @miss_kirap as she goes to some pretty cool places. Guarantee you will find her outreach and any inspirational and fascinating. She even had a major golf professional contact her to see if he could become a partner in “The Distillery Channel Coffee, LLC”. Now wouldn’t that be a great partner for Miss Kira to bring to a quiet out of the way coffee shop while covering the tour?

Let’s take a look at a couple of the group members posts to see if they would pique your interest in visiting. Miss Kira and I did a feature on “Code Rum” with owner Johnny Ringo. We refer to him as our own featured real Pirate. He sent us some of his “Code Rum- Rum Cakes” which we enjoyed opening and tasting during our unboxing on our Facebook Page. If I could only directly convey the heavy rich taste of these rum cakes across the technology I would do so. However, you can order them

online as a great Christmas present.

We also have visited both “Tall Pines Distillery” locations in Pennsylvania and Missouri. Situated in the mountains in Pennsylvania or among rolling hills of Missouri, you will find passionate and kind owners. Through hard work and expertise, Keith Welch and Tara Cook and their spouses produce multiple flavors of moonshine, like “Pine Sap” and “Café Mocha”, which today is presented in their “Tall Pines Distillery” infused coffees.

My personal favorite coffee shop that I have learned about is “Café de Foy” located in Troyes, France. Many friends have visited this location and expressed a multitude of attributes including specialty treats, great coffee and a full working adult beverage bar. Included is its rich history is a claim to the location where the French Revolution began in 1789. My mother’s maiden name is Foy and Café de Foy is a destination I would like to visit.

Hopefully, in 2021 we can again go to our nooks and crannies, enjoy friendship, conversation or even old school, read a book or local newspaper. I yearn for that one spectacular coffee and friend or my son and family sitting across from to enjoy the simple things in life we took for granted in 2019. I am ready to travel and enjoy life once again, while taking notes for our journal.

“The World Best Coffees” The Distillery Channel Coffee, LLC www.thedistillerychannelcoffee.com

Mike has been associated with and in the business of golf since the late 60’s. He has traveled extensively in golf and has been seen in over 50 countries around the world as a renowned Golf Trick Shot Artist, professional golf instructor, master clinician and public speaker.

In his travels Mike has come into contact with nearly every type of golf operation conceivable which has allowed him to be one of the more knowledgeable individuals in the world in the business of golf instruction. He has successfully operated as an entrepreneur and independent contractor in the golf business since 1978. Prior to 1978, Mike was head professional for a private club for 6 years and assistant professional at several other country clubs earlier in his professional career in the late 60’s including the famed Marco Island C.C which was home to the late Gene Sarazen.

Mike has an instructional TV Series entitled “The Golf Doctor” which has been seen on Wink-News a CBS affiliate for 35 years and is viewed by millions of people annually. In addition, Mike is the author of a golf instructional video “Learning Golf” (produced in 1978), published writer (Golf Tips and Golf articles). Mike can be seen and heard weekly on the Radio/TV weekly show thedistillerychannel.com which he gives golf advice and tips to its listeners.

Mike Calbot as golf instructor, swing analyst and golf trick shot expert, travels the world giving performances, schools, clinics and corporate outings, which allow him continuous exposure. His Golf Studio boasted a healthy clientele in the thousands and has personally given over 85,000 lessons.

“Building Confidence Through Better Understanding”The Mike Calbot Golf Academy

Through progressive practice programs quickly elevating the skills of beginner, intermediate and advanced golfers.

https://golfdoctorusa.com Call: (239) 482-0900 Email: mikecalbot@golfdoctorusa.com