Tim’s Whiskey and RecommendationsCigar

as Gary leads me through the section. Gary sees tastes trending toward lagers, pilsners, and helles. I have noticed this as well. He also sees West Coast and American IPAs trending up. He then starts talking about land beer being a new trend. Land beers are beers that use local ingredients from the local terroir. These ingredients are often grown and cultivated on the same farm. Terroir is a term usually reserved for the wine industry. I guess craft brewers wanted their own term, not the vintner’s term.

The other big trend Gary sees, non-alcoholic beers. “The growth is huge.” He says. I peruse the section and notice that these are not your typical mass-produced non-alcoholic beers. These are craft beers. Who would have thought? My opinion of non-alcoholic beer has always been that it’s for people who just want to smell like they’re drunk. I guess times have changed.

If you’re looking for cheese, and I often am, Unwined has a great cheese selection run by their Cheesemonger Lisa Herold. They also have a fantastic restaurant and bar attached to the store. Revel is a cozy warm place to enjoy great wine, craft beer, and food. Gary’s craft beer list in Revel differs from the store, making it a separate experience.

As we end our time together, Gary leaves me with a parting thought. “I don’t know if I emphasized this enough, but I really believe this is a Golden Age of Craft Beer. Consistent quality and variety leave only your sense of adventure to be your guide.” You made that point abundantly clear my friend. I’ll be back soon, with my growler in hand.

and flavorful with lots of oak present. This bourbon is 90.4 Proof and runs at about $45 a bottle. Not bad for a good bourbon.

CAO Amazon Basin Anejo Le Toro

This exquisite cigar has the highly flavorful Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco as a wrapper. No wonder it’s so good. You’ll get orange peel, apples, and some pepper on the first taste. As you continue to smoke it, citrus, apples, fig, coffee, and brown sugar come through. A black pepper flavor lingers throughout the smoke. This cigar finishes with a stronger coffee flavor along with figs and brown sugar. At around $15 a cigar, it’s not the cheapest. But trust me, it’s worth it.

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@ belmarinnovations.com. Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

A true favorite of mine. They make this bourbon by taking their regular Woodford Reserve Bourbon and transferring it to a second newly charred oak barrel and letting it age for about another year. The new barrel immediately begins to inject a new level of wood flavor. It adds a whole new complexity to the bourbon. You get oak on the first smell, along with marshmallows and buttered popcorn. On the palate you get the traditional oak and vanilla flavors with cherry. The cherry flavor really stands out. The finish is sweet in Old Town Alexandria.