Question for anyone familiar with Tennessee

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:49:41 +0200, the alleged boudinman, may have posted the following, to alt.drinks.scotch-whisky:

Hello.

That's the "Great Smoky Mountains National Park", and while it's "near Severville, TN" it's probably a long way from "Severville, TN" for a European.

Yeah, and you've been nearly as polite as a Canadian (Hi Bill!).

Unless it's been finished in Cuban barrels, you'd likely have little to no problems with putting it in your checked baggage, but proving that it has no Cuban provenance to the US Customs peeps is another thing.

Well, as I reside a state that shares a rather long border with Tennessee I'll take a look.

... alas I can't seem to find anything of help, but remember that is possible to drive more than 500 miles from Bristol to Memphis without leaving the state.

Why don't you add in a trip to Lynchburg, and a tour of the Jack Daniel's distillery?

Regards, Rob

I can't answer your question, but you might not like the answer when you get it. There are some dry counties in that region, as I encountered while doing whitewater training and rockclimbing in the Nantahala Gorge area.

Good luck! But I'd consider bringing that bottle along, or buying something in the US before arriving in TN.

-- Larry

Yes I understand. I have been to the USA before but that was NYC, and New Orleans and SW Louisiana ( Acadiana). This trip is our first to Tennesee. We will be staying in Wears Valley just at the entrance to the park. Not in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself. But close enough to Seveirville to drive in and out. Very nice mountain cabin with a view. Looking forward to it.

Thank you. I am Scottish, but I live in The Netherlands now for 28 years.

I dont know which barrels its finished in. It doesnt say on the label. But if things go the way they have been going, we may not be allowed to transport any fluids at all.

Yes its all very far. Especially if you are used to Dutch distances where yuo can drive the entire breadth of the country in 2 hours and the length in 3.

I know Jack Daniels ( by tasting it), but am not too familiar with Dickel and it kind of intrigues me.

I guess it doesnt look like there is much around in Tennesee referring to liquor stores.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

We are flying to Atlanta so maybe I could pick something up from the airport before driving up. Dry area's eh? Hope not. Do you mean by dry that you cannot get a drink anywhere? As in prohibition? Illegal?

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:09:49 +0200, the alleged boudinman, may have posted the following, to alt.drinks.scotch-whisky:

Sounds like a good plan, remember to have your return tickets at hand if you visit the "Duty Free" shops.

Oh yeah! Until the last ten or twenty years only six of Kentucky's

120 counties were "Wet". And as I remember the Jack Daniel's distillery is in a "Dry" county, so even though it's made there you can't get a taste of it, they do offer you some freshly prepared (US type) lemonade if you are parched.

Yeah, pretty much.

It's not (usually) that severe.

Generally only the sale of alcoholic beverages is illegal, possession (within limits) and/or consumption is usually legal.

Regards, Rob "Welcome to the buckle of the 'Bible belt'" Crowe

Have you tried here:

nick

On looking at the Tennessee ABC web site, looks like Gatlinburg is nearby and has a bunch of liquor stores.

The US domestic regulation is that fluids cannot be carried onto planes, but they may be taken in checked luggage. I do not know if this applies to international flights, nor do I know what the existing rules are for transporting alcohol into the US. Your best bet is to call customs in NL and ask them before you fly in ... unless for some reason you *want* to look to make a purchase here. Here's why.

First, the park is out in the middle of nowhere. Second, airport prices are not going to be reasonable. Third, driving around Atlanta looking for a liquor store will not be fun. Fourth, most liquor stores in the US do not carry a decent selection, because Americans typically have little appreciation for quality (stop by an all-you-can-eat buffet while you're here to see what I mean). You usually need to go to a liquor store where rich people shop, except in major cities like NYC and Chicago, and even then you have to know the exact store. In short, your chances of finding decent spirits are slim unless you do a lot of research, and if you're willing to do research, I'd start by calling customs.

But, off topic, the Great Smokey Mountains are beautiful in a unique way--certainly not the Alps, but not pretending to be, either. Welcome, and enjoy your visit!

John

Dang! Will I get a glass of wine in a restaurant? Buy beer at Walmart? You got me paranoid now. Its my vacation for heavens sakes.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

Nick thanks a bunch for this. I was worried there for a while. I will be close to Gatlinburg, Pigoen Forge and Seveirville, and I saw stores there. But I do hope there will be a bar or two with live bluegrass music. My wife and I are bringing our instruments with us. We will be doing a bit of hiking as well, so we wont be drinking all that much. But a couple of drams after a hike would be welcome. Or at least a beer at a decent bar. Thanks again Nick.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

John thank you very much. I have been watching our Amsterdam airport site and they are not sure themselves because the rules change from day to day due to the terror threat. I have carried good whisky with meto the USA before which I bought duty free in Amsterdam aiport. But by the time I get to the duty free shops I have already put my main luggage in to go in the hold. And the airport people are not sure if alcohol will be allowed on as hand luggage. Last week it was not allowed when the terror threat went up. But not sure whether the ban wil be lifted or not by end of next month when we go. Thats why I asked the question here and I am grateful for the answers I got.

Re: Smoky's. Yes we are both really looking forward to it. Both for the scenery ( hopefully get to photograph a bear) and the music.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

There are a few liquor stores in Gatlinburg, though I've never stopped in one to know what the selection is like. There are probably no liquor stores in TN that will be spectacular. In Knoxville, McScrooge's has a respectable collection of whisky.

If you will be going through Nashville, Frugal MacDoogal's probably has the best whisky selection of any place in TN as well as a few limited edition bourbon whiskeys you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

FWIW...As you might expect, Tennessee (and Kentucky) liquor stores have a better selection of bourbon whiskeys than most other states.

Most watering holes in Gatlinburg will be restaurant bars, not true bars/ pubs/ taverns. A real pub in Gatlinburg that's worth a stop, IMO is the Fox and Parrot.

Since you like Bluegrass music you might want to head over to Asheville, North Carolina for the Brewgrass Festival on September 23. It's all about microbrewed beer and Bluegrass music. 'nuff said.

Some of my favorite hikes in the Smokies are....

Andrews Bald: 3.6 miles round trip, mild to moderate. Starts at the Clingman's Dome parking lot. The Bald has a spectacular panoramic view.

Charlies Bunion: 8 miles round trip, moderate. Starts at Newfound Gap. Another spectacular view at the Bunion. If you go, you'll also pass a turnoff for the Sweat Heifer Creek Trail (there will be a sign). Just a few hundred feet down this trail opens up to another great view.

Chimney Tops: 4 miles round trip, strenuous. Trailhead is on the right about halfway between Gatlinburg and Newfound Gap. This one's a buttkicker as it seems like you're going straight up, but you're rewarded by bagging this peak and the awesome views from the top.

Low Gap trail to Appalachian Trail to Mt. Cammerer: Trailhead begins in the Cosby campground. 10.4 miles round trip, moderate+. Huge hemlocks along Low Gap. The trail ends at the stone firetower atop Mt. Cammerer. Very dramatic views from the top.

The drive through Cades Cove is unique and beautiful, but I highly recommend going during the week. The traffic on the weekends and during the peak season can be awful.

Happy Trails!

JR

Brevity snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Well then:-)) Its all sounding better and better. Pity about the brew fest being 23rd September. We go on the 28th. But I now have enough info to investigate before we go. Thanks a ton.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

There's a terrific brewery in Atlanta, called Sweetwater. If you come across their beers in Tenn. (very likely, since they are common in far western NC), try some. I usually drink Samuel Smith (Tadcaster's finest!), and Sweetwater can hold its own with them.

Pegleg

FYI, There is a little known entrance to the National Park in Wear Valley via Lyon Springs Road. It takes you to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic ground and Little River Road. It allows you to get into the heart of the park without going through Gatlinburg to the main entrance. Of course, you may not wish to bypass Gatlinburg.

JR

Great. We will be staying here:

In Wears Valley. I have heard about the entrance there so sounds good ta me.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

All good, all good. Will look out for it.

Peace,

Jock

The Step-We-Ceilidh Band.

Prediction: America will remain insanely paranoid and the ban will stick until enough Americans get pissed about the inconvenience that the paranoia is causing and stop buying plane tickets ... then the ban will be lifted. This could take a while. The ban, of course, doesn't make sense to any intelligent person, but "security" isn't about making things safe, it's about making stupid people believe they are safe. To demonstrate my point, an epipen (for diabetics) could be used as a lethal weapon on non-diabetics, and these cannot be banned from travel because people need them. I'm just a regular guy and I came up with this off the top of my head, so I assume someone plotting terrorism could figure something out. But kudos to the Brits for catching these guys--that was impressive. Still, it is my opinion that anyone who plans to down a fifth of whisky on the plane isn't going to conquer the world. He would, however, likely be tying up the lavatory! I'd forget the duty free and check the whisky, or, if you really want to experience the lowness of American culture, buy some Coors Light and drink that ... if you can. If you enjoy carbonated water, you'll probably like it.

Cheers, John

Fortunately, the U.S. and Canada both lifted the duty-free ban today (Friday) on liquor and perfume.

No politics to speak of in this group and I won't press the point after this post, but I was skeptical from the start, and I gather some of the claims are weakening day by day. Those guys hadn't bought plane tickets, most of them didn't have passports so couldn't have boarded the planes, and there's some question about whether they had the ability to make bombs.

My best guess, it's something similar to the arrests in Canada a few months ago. Some young Islamic hotheads were talking tough, they were infiltrated by a police agent, he talked them into plotting to blow things up, and when they said great, let's do that, they were arrested.

Since WMDs in Iraq, I've been at the point where I believe nothing until the evidence is on the table.

bill