If a little is good, a lot be more better…this is our Eddie’s mantra. Kinda of his version of “everything in moderation”. We are headed down the Kentucky highways and byways, looking for unicorns and mermaids at all the local liquor stores. Unicorns are the rare bottles of Blanton’s (which after discussing with numerous local bourbon retailers, the allocation from the distributor is dispensed the last week of each month). Fact-distillers can sell their product, but once it is bottled in the bottling plant, it goes to the distributor and then back to the “gift shop”. To protect the employees-no one at the distillery knows which limited bottles of what will be delivered each day/week…Mermaids are those bottles of bourbon that are only available in Kentucky-like the Heaven Hills Green Label. To be a unicorn and mermaid hunter, one must know his quarry, as not all of these bootleggers-oops I mean liquor purveyors, are honest about what is on the shelf or the price. I visited a local owner in Bardstown, “Toddy”, who use to sell Blanton’s at the regular price when he got it in. He now proudly displays his 4 stylings of Blanton’s “behind the counter, on the top shelf” with handmade price tags of $152.00, $300.00, $450.00, $500.00. He said he even had Pappy’s in his safe. If you ask him to look at the bottle, he smiles, looks both ways (in case this old fat lady makes a break for the door with said bottle) and allows you to examine the bottle. Said bottle has its seal broken and the color is a little off for bourbon. Nope, nope, nope…my Momma did not raise a fool. Thanks, but no thanks. And, then there is Eddie…he has drunk bourbon his entire life…in all price ranges…it is his go to Fall and Winter drink. Typically, he drinks gin after Derby Day/mint juleps, then resumes Bourbon related drinks after Labor Day. Kinda like not wearing white before Easter or after Labor Day-old school. So, with his seasoned palate to go by, and nothing else, we are off looking for mermaids…I am quite sure we have gotten a few narwhals in the mix. When at the distilleries, the tastings provide the necessary research for purchase. Our Eddie is not impressed with “Bottled in Bond” and “Cask strength”, he goes by taste, smell, the “hug-ability” (the warmth that you feel when you take a sip is called a Kentucky hug). I trust his palette…lots of original equipment may have been replaced or is not functioning, but his nose and tastebud grow stronger as he ages. However, once you leave the tasting bubble and go into a local liquor store, all bets are off. Ohh, shiny! Eddie has bitten on every piece of bait that was thrown out. These old boys just set the hook and reeled him in. I hope he checked the seals.
Along with are Bourbon chasing, we decided to get our National Park passport stamped going to Mammoth Caves. Growing up North Alabama which is part of the Limestone shelf in these parts, we frequently went to Cathedral Caverns and other area tourist traps…heck, there were even the caves that were in our neighborhood that we were forbidden to go to-but you know what they say about forbidden fruit. Eddie and I have visited (and gotten our NP Passport stamp) at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. So,if Eddie knows Bourbon-I can claim cave knowledge. The Park, itself, is pristine. Those shovel ready projects we hear so much about have recently completed a lovely large visitor center. The roads and campsite have few cars or campers. The network of known caves within the park is over 400 miles. There are dueling caves fighting for your tourist dollars surrounding the park…but as caves go it was a dud, I saw more interesting caves growing up. But if you are looking to be in a National Park Camp during covid without the rest of the US, Mammoth is your destination…average temp below is 55 degrees, no crowds, at all, clean restrooms.
Our stopping point for the day is Bowling Green. Home to the GM Corvette Assembly plant and the National Corvette Museum….conveniently located aside Interstate 65 South. Unbeknownst to us, George is a closet gear head…Cousin Vince said it was a must see…more liquor stores or the Corvette Museum? We will take 2 Senior Ticket and one regular admission, please. Just our luck, Labor Day weekend is the quarterly meeting of Corvette groupies and the Museum committee…can I tell you how many men where there with their Corvettes? Want to guess their average age? Depending on your Memory chip for old worthless news, you might remember that a portion of this very circus like building collapsed into a sink hole In 2014. Remember the stuff about caves all over these parts…yup, cave, weight on top, water, global warming, climate change..sinkholes. Half the floor of the “big top arena area” gobbled up 7 or 8 rare, one of a kind corvettes. Oops, hope that they had good insurance. The entire story along with the mangled carcasses of the cars are on display. Actually, this cave story was better than the Mammoth Cave story..cause everyone rubber necks at a car wreck. The two boys looked pretty please with themselves as we exited through the gift shop. We all know that is the tour’s last stop-Kinda like Cracker Barrel’s gift shop…this is where they make their money. Had to stop Eddie from purchasing a red embroidered Corvette shirt. I have seen that twinkle in his eye before. Fishing gear, shop equipment, books, bourbon—-it is all about the toys. Funny, in all the old guys out front with their ‘vettes’, none looked Eddie. This should be interesting,
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