Top Ten Tuesday - Salt Spring Island Life

~ Sadie spent a week on the enchanting Island of Salt Spring off the coast of Vancouver, and Jason kept it local with old friends and pours from the home bar. ~

The magic that is Salt Spring Island can be described in one phrase - nothing is ordinary there. A glass of rosé in a the wine fields at Salt Spring Vineyards was just the beginning - a rosebush at the end of each grape vine row, bountiful blackberry bushes and a view of Mt. Maxwell sealed the deal. - Sadie 

Mt. Maxwell Coffee at The Coffee Can - a tiny coffee bar in a blue storage container - was a morning routine, and a delightful one at that. - Sadie 

After a flight in the tasting room at Salt Spring Island Ales and bottles of Snug IPA & Heather Ale on the patio, finding a limited release Earl Grey IPA on tap at Moby's Pub was the icing on the cake (and everything you could hope it would be). - Sadie 

Hastings House is a Old English hideaway tucked between Ganges Marina and rolling fields, and the shire-esque ambiance is only a backdrop to the excellent food, beverages and hospitality. Several cocktail hours were whiled away on the garden patio, and refreshments included Tanqueray Gin, Wolf Brewing, Glendronach Scotch, Russell Brewing, and Bombay Sapphire Gin. - Sadie 

The view from our deck was incredible, and most afternoons involved sipping something local while soaking it in - Bowen Island Brewing & Okanagan Spring Brewery were among the options. - Sadie 

Just a ferry ride away, a day spent in Victoria yielded wonderful things, and ended at Cafe Brio for a bottle of Domaine Brusset 2012 Gigondas paired with a delicious dinner. - Sadie 

Meanwhile, back in KC...

It happens about two times a year where I run out of beans. I headed to Kaldi’s and worked with a brew of Bolivia, and took a bag of Ethiopia Sidamo home to get through the week. - Jason

A friend and former client was passing through from Seattle. She asked for whiskey and bbq, so we headed over to the Char Bar. I had to take part in St. Louis brews from Perennial and The Civil Life with it being St. Louis Craft Beer Week. Anastasia had old fashioneds with KC whiskeys Darkhorse and J. Rieger. Did I take sips? Of course - Jason

The Chinese food was ready, and all I needed was to get a bottle of wine. When looking through bottles I found the Nebraska Brewing Co. Blanc is the New White, and decision made. That pairing did the job.
 - Jason

I need to restock my Scotch options, but I was happy to have several pours left of the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Always a winner, and I like breaking out the vintage glassware. - Jason

Stay tuned for Caffeine Crawl Colorado, Part 1 - Fort Collins & Boulder - happening this weekend! 

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