Enjoyed: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Listed on the menu: Sort of. “Classic Old Fashioned” was on the menu, but the bar was now using a different brand of whiskey.

Ingredients: Muddled orange slices and cherries topped with Evan Williams bourbon, simple syrup, and Angostura Bitters served over ice.

The occasion: For September’s getaway, we chose to visit Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir (depends on who you ask) in south-central Virginia, right up against the North Carolina border. We hiked in two state parks, enjoyed a fun lake-side brewery, visited the impressive John H. Kerr Dam, and relaxed at a charming bed and breakfast, Cooper’s Landing Inn. We took advantage of the pool, the hot tub, and the crystal decanter of sherry in the room. Happily, the inn had its own restaurant, and the pretty patio was literally a flight of stairs from our room. No need for a Designated Driver!

My rating: *** out of 5. The bourbon was rich with brown sugar and caramel flavors, and the amount of muddled fruit was generous, so the drink was much too sweet for my tastes.

Final thoughts: Husband’s family owned a lake house for many years, and he misses “lake life”, so Clarksville is on the (very long) list of possible places to re-locate. We would have to buy a pontoon boat, I was told, and maybe even take up fishing. Maybe.