Sunday, October 20, 2019

Export-Only American Whiskies

I always like to find unique bourbons (and other american whiskeys) when I'm outside of the US.  There are always a few varieties that for a number of reasons aren't sold at home.  A few of the export-onlys are very very good.  Most probably aren't.

Things change quickly.

This list will be out of date as soon as I post it.

Let me know about updates in the comments and I'll try to maintain.


"Export Only" American Whiskeys

1. Blanton's Gold (gold label)
2. Blanton's Straight From the Barrel 
3. Blanton's Special Reserve (green label)
4. Blanton's Japan (black label)
5. Blanton's Silver Edition
6. Blanton's Paris by Day (Le Maison Du Whiskey Paris exclusive) 
7. Blanton's Paris by Night (Le Maison Du Whiskey Paris exclusive)
8. Four Roses Super Premium Platinum 86° (Japan)
9. Four Roses Black Label 80° (Japan)
10. Jack Daniel's Silver Select
11. Jack Daniel's No 27 (Asia and South Pacific, Australia)
12. Very Olde St Nick (Japan?)
13. John Lee Bourbon








Baseball Road Trips

When I left college I decided I'd get around to see all of the big league ballparks with a buddy.  We did what we could afford those first few years.  Kids and marriage changed priorities (for everyone else) and I only managed 11 by my 40th birthday.  Even though I was shopping the idea around to both family and friends. 

I picked up the pace and have now visited all 30 of the MLB Parks.  It only took 19 seasons.

I learned a little along the way and thought I might try and share some of that.

__________________________________________________________________________
Keys:
  1. Seats out of the sun (out of the rain too if possible)
  2. Parking passes are strongly recommended, ParkingPanda or SpotHero or Parkwhiz or whatever
  3. Time of the game matters, you can drive some hours after if a long trip
  4. Remember the domes might not be closed
  5. LaQuinta Inn often has laundry (letting you travel light)
  6. take sunscreen, good sunscreen
___________________________________________________________________________
Non-park destinations
  1. Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY
  2. Negro Leagues Museum KC, MO
  3. Former location of Ebbet’s field, Brooklyn NY
  4. Field of Dreams field, Dyersville IA
  5. Louisville Slugger Museum, Louisville KY
  6. Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, Greenville SC
  7. Bobblehead Museum, Miami FL
  8. Babe Ruth grave, Hawthorne NY
  9. Jackie Robinson Ballpark (museum) in Daytona, FL
  10. Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL (oldest ballpark in US)
  11. Williamsport, Little League World Series - Little League museum
  12. Ty Cobb Museum, Royston, GA
  13. Yogi Berra Museum, Little Falls, NJ 
  14. http://www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/2010/04/baseball-history-in-america.aspx
  15. Lefty O’douls, Union Square SF
  16. Forbes Field Wall in Pittsburgh, PA
  17. Jackie Robinson Sites, Pasadena, CA
  18. Former location (and centerfield tree) Ponce De Leon Park (Atlanta Crackers) 
  19. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/site-of-sportsmans-park
  20. Roberto Clemente museum Pittsburgh 
  21. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-last-remnants-of-the-polo-grounds 
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilltop_Park#Hilltop_Park_site_now
  23. Childhood home of babe ruth in Baltimore
  24. Elysian Fields site of first modern ball game New Jersey?
  25. Forbes Field wall Pittsburgh
Although the stadium is gone, the site of the greatest World Series home run is recognized on the University of Pittsburgh campus, where the Pirates once played at Forbes Field. It was in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of the 1960 series when Bill Mazeroski homered over the left field wall, defeating the New York Yankees. The wall's preserved, and every year on Oct. 13, the anniversary of the game, a crowd gathers to listen to the game broadcast. pitt.edu



Baseball Tourism in the Atlanta area



I thought I might try and put a post together about baseball tourism and history sites within driving distance of Atlanta.

I'll come back and clean this up over time.  Leave me a comment with additions/corrections.


Drivable (from Atlanta) minor leagues (add extra time for rush hour)
  1. Gwinnett Stripers (triple A) (travel time 30) https://www.milb.com/gwinnett/schedule
  2. Rome Braves (A ball) (travel time 1:25) https://www.milb.com/rome/schedule 
  3. Macon Bacon (coastal plain league) (travel time 1:37) https://www.maconbaconbaseball.com/schedule/home-game-schedule/
  4. Chattanooga Lookouts (double A) (travel time 1:50) https://www.milb.com/chattanooga/schedule
  5. Greenville Drive (A ball) (travel time 2 hours) https://www.milb.com/greenville/schedule
  6. Augusta GreenJackets (A ball) (travel time 2:10) https://www.milb.com/augusta/schedule/2019-05
  7. Birmingham Barons (triple A) (travel time 2:20) https://www.milb.com/birmingham/schedule/2019-05
  8. Montgomery Biscuits (triple A)  (travel time 2:20) https://www.milb.com/montgomery/schedule 
  9. Charlotte Knights (triple A) (travel time 3:30) https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights/schedule/2019-05
  10. Savannah Sand Gnats (A ball) (travel time 3:50) 
  11. Charleston Riverdogs (A ball) (travel time 4:30) https://www.milb.com/charleston/schedule
Drivable baseball attractions from Atlanta
  1. Ponce de Leon park magnolia tree
  2. Fulton county base paths and partial out field wall
  3. Ty Cobb museum
  4. Shoeless Joe jackson museum/Shoeless Joe Jackson park (and statue)
  5. The Rickwood, oldest operating baseball park in america