Seventy-Five

Day Seventy-Five:  European Memories Series #7

The Beers, Wines, Coffee’s, Whiskey’s, Bourbon’s, and the Other Drinks That Were Consumed.

From drinking a bottle of wine (courteously opened by some random bartender in Paris) on the River Sein to our last beer in London at the Eusten, it is true what they say when the alcohol culture in Europe is drastically different from that in Canada.  Water is not free, so beer was the natural option when going out for dinner, or just a casual drink in the afternoon (in what seemed like every country, it didn’t matter where you were drinking in the afternoon). 

Leaving to go I was not convinced that I would come home loving beer, but here I am planning on buying some for Paddy’s this afternoon.  It took a little bit and a whole bunch of different tastes (I have a few favourites, but we tried everything from what we knew was good to what sounded the funniest on the menu) and obviously when in London it is only fair to drink every kin of different locally brewed beer to find a favourite.  Mine was Nicholson by the end, perfect for me.

But beer wasn’t the only thing I’ve returned to Canada loving, as per usual I tried all kinds of whiskeys while away, and as I am a seasoned Canadian Whiskey girl it was no joke to me to find the best, smoothest one in London.  My favourite was found in Islington at a Whiskey bar called the Lexington, the whiskey was Wild Turkey, and it was so inexpensive and smooth.  Of course, whilst in Dublin we tried Jameson which will forever be my favourite foreign one, and then in Scotland we tried so many Single Malts I couldn’t tell you a favourite.  Whiskey seemed to be over all less expensive and better tasting (in my opinion) while away, which was good news for me.

While in Italy I fell in a desperate love for wine.  If you have spoken to me recently you’ll know I’m stuck on an Italian red from MontePulciano, which is where we actually took a wine tour mid-trip.  Wine has never been my favourite drink, but it has grown on me, and now I could not imagine Italy without it.  On the Italian note I also had my first actually good cup of coffee, which sparked a not-so-super taste for a coffee every couple of days or so.  London could not get coffee right anywhere we went (except for Notes they knew what was up) but Paris and Italy knew their coffee.  I miss coffee a lot.

Other beverages tried included Pim’s, carbonated water, random bourbon, Iron Brew (Scottish hangover cure and lovely soda that tastes like a mix of orange pop and cream soda), any and every kind of tea available, and other assorted bev’s along the way.  Although not explicitly drinking was the centre of most of the social mornings, afternoons, and evenings whilst away.  With all of these incredible choices I cannot complain a bit.

This comes to the end of my Europe memories for this week, but I’ll probably dig up some more later on this year.  I enjoy talking about Europe but it gets repetitive when I just say “I did it!” because really, I did it, you all know that, so maybe the next one will have even more of a theme, I don’t know, this is all so new to me (except not really, this is my second time ‘round isn’t it?).  I hope everyone has a safe pre-Paddy’s evening and a bright and early start to a big day tomorrow!  I’m spending it with my beautiful sister, so I couldn’t be more excited!

xox