I’m sitting in front of my computer, looking at flights to San Jose in October in preparation of my annual “Guys” trip to the WhiskeyFest in San Francisco, and I thought I would share a couple of my passions: Whiskey and Cigars.
Moving back to Coronado after being gone for almost 18 years, I had to re-acclimate myself with the local bar and restaurant scene. I have always been a fan of Danny’s Pub and Island Sports, but my wife likes a little more variety when we go out so I have been expanding my horizons. One of the key factors for me is the whiskey selection at the bar, primarily the Bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys. Pretty much every bar you go into has Jack Daniels, a Tennessee Whiskey, and Maker’s Mark, a classic Bourbon. However, after many years of intense research my liver and I have come to the conclusion that we prefer Bourbons with a higher Rye content such as Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s which are a part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. As easy as they are to find in the local grocery store, finding them in a bar in Coronado is just a little bit tougher.
One place that does carry Knob Creek is the Coronado Firehouse. Yes I know that there have been some issues with the quality of the food, the speed of the service, etc., but it is a very nice bar and is a great place to get a drink. The owner Steve even stepped up to sponsor my Coronado Rec League softball team, giving us free T-Shirts. Their heart is in the right place, and since Knob Creek is one of my favorites and they have a patio on which I can smoke, they get a Gold Star from me. Give me a Knob Creek on the rocks with a good cigar, and I’m pretty much a happy camper.
Which leads me to me second passion, cigars. For some reason, cigars (and their smokers) are given a hard time in Coronado with the exception of the Firehouse, McP’s and the Hotel Del. People can sit on a patio next to Orange Ave and breath exhaust fumes all night, but one whiff of a cigar or cigarette gets them all up in arms. At McP’s, I feel as though I have kindred spirits. I strike up conversations with strangers asking them what kind of cigar they are smoking, and what kind of drink they are pairing it with. The Del is a little more strange because even though they allow smoking, all the families and tourists give you dirty looks as you enjoy a smoke. I tend to ignore it, getting lost in the view of the ocean and conversation with friends, but every so often I have a family sit down next to me I feel bad about blowing smoke next to them. Of course, they chose to sit next to me and could have easily of found a less hazy spot, but I don’t smoke at home with my kids around so I still feel a little bad. Though, after a couple drinks the anxiety seems to fade away.
For anyone interested in the WhiskeyFest, I added the link: http://www.maltadvocate.com/whiskyfest_san_francisco_faq.asp
As soon as my cheap babysitters (read: my parents) return from their three month vacation, I have a feeling that my wife and I will be back on the Coronado Happy Hour Trail, and I will update my blog with more cigar friendly spots with a good Bourbon selection.
Cheers,
Bill
