Life's not a sprint, it's a Marathon

So I did something unusual this weekend.  Haven't done it since the 24th of June, to be precise.  Didn't have much choice, but it has been a slog.

The Unusual?

Take a day off.

Yeah, Yeah, juvat, we've got pictures of you on July 13 and 14 doing something other than work.  Yes, MBD's wedding was certainly not "work", and it was a celebration filled with joy and therefore, enjoyable.  However, it was definitely not relaxing nor restful.

So, since last Tuesday was Mrs J and my 36th anniversary and Wednesday was Little Juvat and his bride's 9th anniversary and Saturday was DIL's Birthday, it was decreed that this weekend would be two days completely off.

Cue Yul Brynner.

A couple of weeks ago I'd received an email from the Gage Hotel in Marathon inviting us to a dinner they were offering which was a take on a "Winemaker Dinner". In this case it was going to be a "Whiskey Maker's" Dinner.

On my first visit here, I chauffered a group of folks from Georgetown.  Wanting to save money, I stayed in the front left room which is about 50 yards from the railroad tracks.  Trains sounding horns all night long.  The Los Portales suites are much better sound proofed.

In this case it was going to be a "Whiskey Maker's" Dinner.

While I am not a big fan of Bourbon (stemming from a subconsciously remembered incident from my misspent youth, quite a bit of cheap bourbon and the aftermath), but my beautiful wife, son and daughter-in-law are.

I made the reservations to stay at the Gage and for the dinner.

The drive over to Marathon Saturday morning was sporty as the recent storm front from the Gulf was working its way north west from the Coast, very slowly and dropping a prodigious amount of moisture on the country side. Finally as we got to Sonora, we exited the storm front and Little Juvat availed himself of the 80MPH speed limit (plus a couple for the team).

Stopped for lunch in Ft Stockton and ate at the Sagebrush, where I had a most delicious Green Chili Cheeseburger. (Ask for an extra napkin.) Most delicious.

Properly and nutritionally resuscitated, we turned Southward toward Marathon, arriving around 2. Checked in and dropped our bags in the room, and proceeded to reconnoiter the entire city.

Which didn't take long.

But the effort taxed us severely, so we stopped in at the local barbecue and brewery joint. In honor of our fearless leader, I decided on a hopped beverage, although they had quite a few versions of whisky from Scotland which were calling out to me.

Properly oriented on the myriad of things to see and do in Marathon as well as refreshed and relaxed, we returned to the hotel where Mrs J availed herself of a nap, while I sat out in the courtyard and re-read Mark Berent's "Rolling Thunder".

Suppertime approached and we made our way over to the White Buffalo Restaurant and announced our arrival. (No, Beans, no trumpets were sounded.)

Appetizers were served along with a Old Fashioned made with TX Whiskey's Blend. To be kind, not my favorite. Mrs. J loved it, so she had 1 and 15/16ths.

 The salad course was next, a nice wedge salad with homemade buttermilk and candied bacon. I wasn't fond of the raisined tomatoes (Mrs J was, so she got those also), but the accompanying TX Bourbon Shandy was actually enjoyable. Very light and refreshing.

Sorry, I got ahead of photography mission and had a bite and sip first

Main Course was a coffee rubbed Ribeye Cap served with a neat shot of TX Bourbon. Took one sip of it and the Bourbon flavor was very pronounced. Tried it with a piece of beef, and it went quite well, but the overpowering Bourbon flavor was distracting.   The Whiskey Maker had said something just before this course that I thought was interesting.

He'd said he's often asked what the difference is between Whiskey and Bourbon. He said he responds "What's the difference between Merlot and Wine?" The light clicked for me at that point.

Reflecting back on our trip to Distilleries in Scotland, I'd been taught a trick to drop one, maybe two, drops of water into a neat glass of Scotch. It lessens the alcohol flavors and brings out other flavors.

So if Bourbon is a Whiskey and Scotch is also, would what works for one, work for the other?

Yep!

Dipped my finger tip in the water glass, dropped two drops into the Bourbon, gave it a swirl and Voila'. Much better.

Finished off the Steak and the Bourbon and was quite happy with the discovery.

Final course was Burnt desert honey Ice Cream with the Whiskey Maker's TX Blend neat. Did the water thing again, and enjoyed the Whiskey. The Ice Cream was a little, shall we say, too foo foo for me.

Dinner was over and the Whiskey Maker finished the evening with a little pop quiz. First one to answer each question correctly won a prize. First two prizes were a bottle of the TX Blend and an Autographed Book on how to make the stuff each.

It was "Winner take all", no participation trophies awarded.

People were mad at me.

Finished the evening off with a couple of fingers of Glenlivet 24, just to make sure I hadn't lost the taste.