By Timothy Long

One of the great things about living in this area is that there is a plethora of locations for fun one day getaways. When I first moved here after college in the late 1980s, I was fortunate enough to have several friends living in the area. One of which was my former college roommate and fraternity brother, Andy. He had grown up here and was a proficient sailor. When he graduated, he bought a thirty-foot Catalina sailboat and it docked in St. Mary’s, Maryland. We would go on great weekend sailing trips all over the bay. I’ll never forget my first time sailing under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It was amazing.

To this day, I love visiting the Eastern Shore. My wife, Leigh, and I go there a couple of times a year. We love St. Michaels. But we always stay in the adorable town of Easton. Trips there never disappoint. It’s a great place for strolling, shopping, dining, and of course, imbibing.

We decided it was time for an Easton trip. We met our friends, Bonnie and Art, at the Tidewater Inn in downtown Easton around noon on Saturday. Located in the heart of Easton, this beautiful boutique hotel is a must see. The architecture and design capture the look and feel of the inn’s waterfront home. A classic inn lobby with working woodburning fireplaces greets you as you enter. It has spa services and wonderful banquet facilities.  Plus, Hunter’s Tavern, their fun and delightful bar.

It’s lunchtime, so we headed down the street to Rude Burger. They’re not actually rude to you at Rude Burger, which I found a tad disappointing.  But that was my only disappointment. It’s a cute, small, and very busy place. The first thing that jumped out at me was the great craft beer and bourbon selection.  As I examined the beer list, my choice was obvious, Maine Lunch IPA from Maine Brewing Company. It’s rare to find this beer on tap. This IPA doesn’t have the usual bitter and hoppy characteristics. It’s fairly light, with caramel, orange, papaya and grapefruit flavors. A perfect lunch beer, no pun intended. Leigh chose the Ten Eyck TMave Pivo Czech Lager. A dark and malty lager that is as big a mouthful as its name. Although it’s dark, the taste is very light. Our burgers were fantastic, as were the accompanying tater tots. I refrained from diving into Rude Burger’s great bourbon list. After all, the afternoon had just begun.

Our next stop, The Easton Academy Art Museum for the Bugatti Exhibit. Bugatti is a famous luxury French Sports car manufacturer. The modern-day Bugatti Chiron starts at $3 Million. The exhibit had 4 cars from the early 1900s, two race cars and two sports cars, plus other memorabilia.  We were in awe of these beautiful vehicles. There’s no room for a full history lesson here. But Bugatti is definitely worth an internet search.

It was Masters weekend. So, it was time to stop for a beer and to watch some golf. Leigh suggested a cute little pub, Legal Assets. It had a great atmosphere and very friendly staff.  We had already eaten, but the food looked delicious. I spotted my beer tap, Nanticoke Nectar IPA from RAR Brewing, a great local brewery. This is an excellent West Coast IPA without the dank bitter hops or the piney taste. It’s refreshingly citrusy featuring mango and grapefruit flavors.

After the beers it was time to go shopping. The wives led the way as Art and I pulled up the rear. After a couple of stops, Art turned to me.

“What are we doing? “

“I don’t know.” I confusingly replied. “Following blindly?”

“Exactly.” Art answered. “Hey Bonnie, do you need us to be with you?”

Both ladies replied that they didn’t need us. And that we should go to a pub and watch The Masters if we want to. There was no need to tell us twice.

We headed to Doc’s Downtown Grille, and old Easton favorite. It’s a classic pub. The perfect atmosphere to watch golf. Art gets another Nanticoke Nectar IPA. It’s a little later in the afternoon now, so it’s now bourbon time for me.  I chose an old favorite, Woodford Reserve. Not much beats sipping a good bourbon and watching the Masters in a great pub with a buddy.

After a while, we headed back to the hotel to relax. That evening, we went out for an amazing dinner at Scossa, a wonderful Northern Italian restaurant just a couple of blocks from the Tidewater Inn. The chef’s name is Giancarlo Tondin, who began his career at the world-famous Harry’s Bar Restaurant in Venice. Needless to say, everything was delicious. Especially when accompanied by a bottle of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, California. I do love wine. But I rarely make it part of this column. This low tannin cabernet has blueberry, cranberry, clove, and French oak on the palate and finishes as clean and smooth as it starts. It was a perfect wine for a perfect meal.

It’s time to head back to the hotel for a nightcap. Hunter’s Tavern was rocking, so we joined in. This great little hotel bar is frequented by the locals, a true sign of quality. I spotted an old favorite on the top shelf behind the bar, Little Book Chapter 8. It’s one of Booker’s higher end bourbons, and rather hard to find.

I asked the bartender how much it was for one on the rocks. He checked, smiled at me, and said sixty dollars. He was fortunate that I was too buzzed to care and ordered one. Leigh asked what I was drinking, so I ended up ordering two. That lucky bartender doubled down and won without even trying. The bourbons and then some more wine topped off what had been a wonderful day.

Places like Easton make this area great. Whether it’s the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Maryland Eastern Shore, or the District, there are tons of great places to visit. All offer unique, fun, and often educational experiences. Just be careful when you order a nightcap at the hotel bar after a fun day of activities. Your bar bill shouldn’t be more than the bill for your hotel room. Oh well, live and learn. Cheers!!

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Little Book Chapter 8: Path Not Taken

This series of bourbons from Bookers has a new chapter each a little different than the last. Little Book is always a masterful blend of whiskeys ranging from 4 to 18 years in age. Chapter 8 is bold and spicy on the nose with hints of cinnamon and baking spices. The first sip is a delight with rye bread, butterscotch, caramel, and charred oak coming through. The rye in this whiskey gives it a delightful spice that is prominent until the last sip where it is joined by a bit of apricot and citrus notes. Yes, it’s a unicorn. But it’s a unicorn worth hunting. Enjoy.

Ferio Tego Timeless Panamericana Cigar

What a great smoke. This cigar kicks off with an intense peppery and earthy taste with hints of nuts and oak, typical for a Nicaraguan cigar. The smoke tastes almost velvety on the palate. It slowly becomes a very well-balanced medium smoke as you continue. Some sweetness comes out further in, but the pepper, nuts, and earth tones remain. The cigar finishes wonderfully becoming a tad fuller bodied during the last few inches. The spice and earthiness will match perfectly with that Little Book you are drinking. Cheers!

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