Essentially America 109

["TravelSouthUSA.com | 73 \nAnother Southern sipping superstar is \nTennessee \n, which reaches its zenith at the \nJack Daniels Distillery sited in Lynchburg in \nthe south-central part of the state. Although \ndue to local laws you cannot get an alcoholic \ndrink in the town or surrounding county, \nyou can sample Tennessee whiskey (and \nbuy bottles of it) on tours of the distillery. \nIf lucky, you may meet JD's first female \ndistiller, Lexie Phillips, whose favourite \nJack Daniel's cocktail is a Bonded Sweet \nTea Old Fashioned, which includes English \nbreakfast tea, syrup, creme de peche and \npeach bitters. She also recommends the \npecan pie produced at the acclaimed local \nMiss Mary Bobo's Restaurant \u2013 not only is it \ninfused with Jack Daniels but the whiskey \nis also included in the whipped cream and \nsugar topping. \nNashville is known for its hot chicken, \ncoated with a red sauce spiced with cayenne \npepper and usually topped with slices of \npickle and served on white bread. It can be \nfound in such restaurants as Hattie B's and \nPrince's. And Memphis is considered by \nmany to be the go-to city for barbecue. \nHowever, Kansas City in \nMissouri \nconsiders itself 'The BBQ Capital of the \nWorld' as it has more barbecue restaurants \nper capita than any other destination. \nAmong them is the acclaimed Arthur \nBryant's, but whichever place you choose, \nask to sample burnt ends, the savoury, \nthinner end of the beef brisket. \nAccording to Rob Connoley, the owner\/ \nchef at St. Louis's Bulrush, other Missouri \nspecialties are Toasted Ravioli, Gooey Butter \nCake, which features a sweet custard centre \nand a crusty top, and Vinegar Pie, which \nincludes cornstarch, lemon juice, eggs, \nbutter and fruit vinegar. He also serves up \ntasty Route 66 fried chicken with mashed \npotatoes and gravy. \nRAISE A TOAST TO SOUTHERN DIVINE DRINKS \nWhen the European colonists first arrived in the American South, bringing with them \ntheir own special life-affirming drinks, they discovered a new ingredient to add to the \nmix \u2013 corn. They also found a way to outsmart and sometimes outrun the tax- and law- \nenforcing government agents, particularly during the Prohibition era, by producing the \nresulting 'moonshine' or 'white lightening ' in their own backyards, particularly if those \nbackyards happened to be deep in the Appalachian Mountains. \nIt is fun to learn that you can now sample the potent brew at such places as the \nShine Girl Distillery in Sevierville, Tennessee, which is owned by Dolly Parton's niece, \nDanielle, or at the Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine Distillery in mountainous Gilbert, West \nVirginia \n, its name was i \nnspired by those of two famous feuding hillbilly families. \nKentucky \n, which produces 95 per cent of the world's bourbon, tempts you (and a \ndesignated driver) to visit at least one of the 18 distilleries along its Bourbon Trail; the \nTennessee Whiskey Trail offers a choice of 30 possible stops; and \nVirginia \n, which has \nbeen producing wine since colonial times and now boasts more than 330 boutiques \nwineries, also claims it is America's Birthplace of Whiskey \u2013 you can visit the Mount \nVernon Distillery, where George Washington was producing rye in pre-American \nRevolutionary days. \nA number of other Southern states such as Missouri have thriving wine-producing \nregions as well as a vast number of breweries. Once again, Missouri comes to the forefront \nas home of St. Louis's visitor-welcoming Anheuser-Busch Brewery. \nAnd then there are those fab cocktails to sample: New Orleans' signature Sazerac, Mint \nJuleps, Old Fashioneds, Whiskey Sours and more. And if you really want to try something \ndifferent, check out the gin-based Corpse Reviver, which is served in a former coffin shop \nthat is now part of North Carolina's Durham Distillery, or sweet potato vodka produced by \nthe Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena, Arkansas. \nQ39 BBQ, KANSAS CITY, MO \nHOLY SMOKES BBQ, DUBLIN, GA \nBARDSTOWN BOURBON COMPANY, KY \nThe \nSavoury Southern Cuisine \nroad trip \n( \ntravelsouth.visittheusa.com\/trip\/ \nsavory-southern-cuisine) is the \nultimate movable feast \u2013 not only does \nit serve up sensational seafood and \ncreative Creole delights in New Orleans, \nLouisiana, and Mobile, \nAlabama, but there \nalso are added \ngourmet treats in \nBiloxi and Gulfport \nalong the Mississippi \ncoast and in big city \nAtlanta, Georgia.","GoToLouisville.com \nBOURBON \nIS A \nPLACE.","TravelSouthUSA.com | 75 \nW \nhen planning any great Southern adventure, \nKentucky is a must-add to the list. With our \namazing outdoor attractions, authentic Southern \nhospitality, and endless Kentucky bourbon \nexperiences to enjoy, you're sure to leave with \nlasting memories. The perfect way to start your \nSouthern adventure is at the gateway to the South, \nNorthern Kentucky. \nNorthern Kentucky is a unique mash-up of 36 \nKentucky cities at the top of the Bluegrass State, \nacross the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. It \nis also the home of CVG International Airport, \nservicing international direct destinations such as \nToronto via Air Canada, London via British Airways \nand Paris\u2019 Charles de Gaulle Airport via Delta\/ \nAir France, plus more than 50 direct US domestic \nconnections. The region is known for its unique \nculinary swagger in Covington and Newport as \nwell as being an official Gateway to the Kentucky \nBourbon Trail, with seven craft distilleries and a \nself-guided bourbon experience called The B-Line. \nEnjoy a leisurely steamboat cruise and sightseeing \nadventure on BB Riverboats or relive the gangster \nhistory of Newport, once the country's gambling \nhub, and see why before there was Las Vegas, \nthere was Newport, Kentucky. When it comes to \nevents, we boast the biggest Oktoberfest in America \nand so much more. \nNorthern Kentucky is a region that blends the \nenergy and excitement of big-city experiences with \nsmall-town charm. Visit \nMeetNKY.com \n to begin \nplanning your next Southern adventure. \nWISEGUY LOUNGE \nOKTOBERFEST ZINZINNATI \nLIBBY'S SOUTHERN COMFORT \nJOHN A. ROEBLING SUSPENSION BRIDGE \nNORTHERN \nKENTUCKY \nGATEWAY TO THE SOUTH \nSPECIAL FEATURE","LAZY RIVER AT \nGOLDEN NUGGET LAKE CHARLES \nUnpackYourJoy.com \nMeet Linda. shE\u2019s a pro at standup paddleboarding, \nkayaking, and swimming, infusing every moment \nwith pure joy. This is how she packs for joy in \nLake Charles louisiana\u2019s playground. \n- \nHow would you?","With miles of dazzling waterfront, authentic culture, cuisine and nightlife, \nTampa Bay has a million ways to play. All with an easy, laidback vibe. \nVisit \nTampaBay \n.com \nrelax \nboldly","Adventure in \nevery direction \nenjoyillinois.co.uk"]