It may still feel like summer, but college football is kicking off, signaling the arrival of fall. This past weekend, we made the first of several planned trips this season to Blacksburg, VA, for Virginia Tech football. As much as I enjoy the weekends with family and watching the Hokies play, I also greatly look forward to enjoying good drinks, food, and cigars outside of my usual environs.
Our first stop was a Friday afternoon visit to J.H. Bards in downtown Blacksburg. The cocktail menu at J.H. Bards always features some interesting drinks, along with variations on the classics. Their Rye Old Fashioned is one we enjoy regularly.
On this visit, I tried a cocktail called the Archetype. This riff on the Old Fashioned adds Averna to the mix. The amaro brings dark caramel, orange, and bitter herbal notes to the usual sweetness. It was quite enjoyable — I made a note of the ingredients and watched the bartender make several — and I’ll be experimenting with this one soon.
After enjoying a few drinks at J.H. Bards, we caught up with our son and his wife for pizza at another “every time” stop, The Beast. After filling up on food and beer, it was time to return to the hotel. While the rest of the family rested, I headed outside to enjoy a relaxing cigar on the hotel patio.
Along with a generous pour of Maker’s Mark from the hotel bar, I settled in with an Oliva Serie V Maduro Robusto.
Knowing the hotel bar’s selection was quite limited, with Maker’s Mark the usual option, I brought along the Serie V specifically to go with the bourbon’s sweet wheat, vanilla, caramel, and soft spice. Combined with the cigar’s rich coffee, dark chocolate, and earthy profile, the pairing produced a satisfying, dessert-like combination.
The parking lot was active with families arriving for the weekend and college students coming and going as they picked up food orders from nearby restaurants. Despite the activity, the atmosphere was relaxing. It was the perfect way to unwind after the long drive — and a bit of quiet time before the excitement of the game the next day.
And for those following along, the Hokies took care of business the next day, beating VMI 73–3.
Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments on posts over 30 days old are held for moderation. Legitimate discussion is welcome and will be published in short time. Please be patient.
Spam comments will be quickly deleted. Don't waste your time or mine.