PalQ

One thing i love most about Europe is the chance to sample the local wines and beers and other alcoholic drinks like Pernod or Pastis. And i enjoy taking tours of production facilities where these things are made. Here's some of my favorite 'booze' tours:
Champagne Tours: I always enjoy trekking thru the Champagne caves in Reims or Epernay in France - the limestone caves are where the bubbly sits to be aged - you see the whole process from bottling to storage and how the bubbly must be turned in the bottles, etc. The ornate Champagne Houses above ground are also neat. The best Champagne tours are in Epernay, about an hour by train from Paris - Mumms, Veuve-Clicquot, Tattinger - all the famous names have caves and tours - some give free samples at the end, some don't so do your research! All offer the chance to buy Champagne direct from the factory.
CARLSBERG BREWERY, COPENHAGEN
Another favorite tour goes thru the Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen - though the actual bottling hall tour is redolent of any brewery tour - this brewery is also a museum with many works of art and there are several ancient buildings - the monumental Elephant Gate features mammoth sculpted stone elephants out front. Inside you'll as likely see Tuborg being bottled as Carlsberg and Carlsberg (i.e. United Breweries i think) bought out Tuborg. The Tuborg Brewery in Copenhagen is now closed - it used to offer great tours too.
TO BE CONTINUED - YOUR FAVORITE FERMENTED PEREGRINATION?

Patrick

We had great weather in Ireland until we got to the town of Bushmills in Northern Ireland. In the pouring rain there was little to do until we decided to go to the Bushmills Distillery, where I promptly volunteered as a "comparison taster". Hoursh lader i deecyded thadt Eyerish Whhhhhiskee ish my favvorutte dreenk.

nukesafe

PalQ

Just a little sidebar on the Champagne tasting. We borrowed a canal boat from friends a few years ago for a couple of weeks while they went bicycling in Provence. We picked up the boat in Epernay, and cruised down the Marne almost to Paris and then returned to Epernay.

While cruising, we drank a few nice bottles of Champagne our friends had aboard. We wanted to replace it, so we took the opportunity to tour some of the Champagne Houses, including the Cave where the wine had been produced and aged. We figured we could see how it was made and take advantage of the "factory price".

As you say, it was a great experience; especially the tasting rooms. We liked the wine so much we got carried away and bought many more bottles than we needed to replace the boat's wine rack, and lugged them aboard.

The next day we were in a supermarket, and priced the same wines we had just bought at the winery for what we thought a bargain price. You can see this coming, can't you? The supermarket price was MUCH less than at the winery.

Sigh ---

We are going to Scotland in early September, primarily to tour Scotch distilleries, and to sample single malts. I will post our experiences as soon as sobriety will allow.

Patrick

Yes, nukesafe, I could see that coming. Recently I posted a similar story about olive oil and balsamic vinegar I bought direct in Italy -- and this is even worse -- I found it back home in Florida at our local market for less than I paid in Italy. I've seen Italian and French wines the same way -- cheaper in the US than at the actual wineries. Go figure.

PalQ

THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE
Well from the time i touch down in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport begins my own Heineken Experience - but you can also visit the Heineken Experience in the center of Amsterdam and learn how the brew is crafted and end up in the tasting room for ample free samples (and a great view of Amsterdam from the terrace).
The Heineken Experience is in a building that is all that's left of the former flagship Heineken Brewery in central Amsterdam - the brewery was demolished several years ago and the site is now occupied by Heineken Plaats (or some such name) and new apartment flats. The facade facing the canal remains - this was the tasting room before demolition and is now. Though several years ago you could tour a working brewery here now it's all done by audio-visual presentations, and, most importantly, tasting! A minor charge is donated to UNESCO. Tours are popular so show up early - often at 9am and 11am but may have more extensive offerings.

nukesafe

PalQ,

Brings back memories. Once lived for a time on a barge on the canal right by the Heineken brewery.

I don't know how generous they are now, but in the '70s they passed out almost as much as one could drink in the tasting room. We used to watch every day when the tours ended to see the police block off the street by the exit. The doors would open, and out would pour this huge crowd of happy drunks. There would have been deaths if the cops had not stopped traffic as these blotto, singing, (mostly Americans and Swedes) souses blundered from side to side down the narrow street.

Great beer, fresh from the cask!

PalQ

I loved the Guinness brewery tour at St Johns (?) Gate in Dublin but it was a long time ago - decades ago - the old buildings were quaint and the tasting room was great. I wonder does anyone know if Guinness still gives tours and whether, like Amsterdam, they are a sham tour and basically just tasting?

sfowler

I drank my way through Islay's single malts a few summers ago with the able assistance of our very own Sheila