adult beverage – Escape to Blue Ridge Blog | North Georgia Cabin Rentals

November 6, 2021September 9, 2023

Adults Night Out in Blue Ridge

There is not much better than escaping to the Blue Ridge mountains with the whole family for a memorable week creating memories. However, alone time with your partner is much needed too and a romantic getaway can really help to ignite your passion. Remember why you fell in love in the first place. Take time to relax and connect at the cabin, but when you are ready for some nightlife, Blue Ridge has all the hot spots to explore!

Whiskey & Water- Seafood & Bourbon Bar

Start your night off with dinner and drinks at Whiskey & Water; a brand new local spot right in the heart of Downtown Blue Ridge! Enjoy their large selection of high-quality, sustainable seafood, cocktails, whiskeys and bourbons from all over the world. Whole Fried Snapper with a whiskey on the rocks anyone? They make their dishes with the freshest of ingredients and with fish caught from the best of America’s coasts. Are you a local to Blue Ridge? You may notice the Whiskey & Water’s location is the old historic 1937 Post Office, beautifully renovated into the new restaurant space. If you’re looking for a nice night on the town with good drinks and good food then Whiskey & Water is the place for you!

Escape Blue Ridge

After a filling dinner at Whiskey & Water it’s time to get active and solve a mystery or two at Escape Blue Ridge. You and your group will find yourselves “locked” in a room and the only way to get out is by solving a series of riddles and puzzles to escape before time runs out. Currently you can take on two different adventures Prohibition– a 1920’s themed room where you and your group are a team of investigators leading the charge on illegal alcohol sales or Black Beard’s Brig– a pirate themed room where you’ll enter in handcuffs and must escape before the evil pirates return and make you walk the plank! And coming soon in March 2022 is a wizard themed room- Wizard School of Magic. You and your friends will have a blast solving puzzles together and going on an adventure!

Vertigo Pinball

Not in the mood for an adventure? Throw it back to your youth and be that “Pinball Wizard” you’ve always dreamed of being at Blue Ridge’s most exciting new venue- Vertigo Pinball! No coins, tokens, or bills needed; just buy a wristband and play till your heart’s content! Play on all kinds of themed pinball machines like Marvel, Jurassic Park, Metallica, The Walking Dead, The Mandolorian, and so much more. Also enjoy a selection of beer, wine, and ciders while you play and unique eats like grown-up grilled cheese! Have a night full of fun and games!

Hook & Eye

After a few rounds of pinball or after solving your escape, the fun continues! Head over for more drinks at Blue Ridge’s new rooftop bar- Hook & Eye. Kick back with a cocktail in your hand and enjoy the beautiful view of Downtown below and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Open Tuesday-Saturday!

Black Bear Bier Garten

More drinks can be found at Black Bear Bier Garten. They offer 19 local, craft & imported draft beers. And pair your brewski with one of 9 varieties of wild game sausages or one of their giant pretzels! Even enjoy live music on select nights! Need a girls night out instead? Drop the husbands off at “husband daycare” while you and the girls shop and explore Blue Ridge together. There’s always fun to be had at the Black Bear Bier Garten!

The Dogwood

Delicious food and incredible drinks come together in perfect harmony at The Dogwood. Enjoy your meal from the comfort of their huge outdoor patio that’s nestled under 100 year old trees and a gorgeous hand painted mural. The Dogwood offers a unique dining and drinks experience, with a select menu of only 10 items and customizable drink options. Some of the scrumptious, southern, comfort foods that you can expect from The Dogwood are BBQ Deviled Eggs, Sticky Ribs and Shrimp & Grits. Yum! Don’t forget to pair your meal with a drink from either their extensive wine list, craft cocktail menu, full bar, or beer garage that has over 70 options of beers to choose from! The Dogwood is a great place to spend an evening with friends and if you come on the weekends you can expect amazing live music from local artists as well.

Mona Lisa’s Dessert House

Finish off the night at Mona Lisa’s with a nightcap & a plate full of sweet treats! They have all the desserts you can imagine! From cakes and pies, to dessert martinis and wines; they truly have it all. Ending your night with a delicious and decadent dessert is a perfect ending to a SWEET night of kid-free fun in Blue Ridge!

Be sure to check out some of these NEW spots on your next Escape to Blue Ridge and of course our local breweries and wineries for more kid-free fun. Need more ideas? Check out our Workcation blog for more ways to relax, unwind, and have fun: https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/workcation/

October 13, 2019November 9, 2019

The Marriage of Moonshine and Music

National Moonshine Day is observed annually on the first Thursday in June. Yes, we are posting this in October, and we don’t expect you to remember this date eight months from now. Truth is, you can turn just about any day into a celebration partaking in some good ole mountain white lightning. But where can you get your hands on it? Stay with us for the answer to that question.

Prohibition

For years, visitors to our area would ask their waitresses at diners, gas station attendants, and the guy who gave them the key to their room at the local travel lodge (in a quiet whisper) where they might get their hands on some of the illegal potables these hills were noted to produce. In the ’50s and ’60s, if one of those tourists was lucky enough to land him a ball jar bottle of the mountain hooch, there’s a great possibility it came from the still of American Appalachian moonshiner Jack “Mimm” McClure.

Everyone knew of Jack in these parts. He was easy to spot when he came to town. With his big 250 lb frame and always in a Stetson hat, he opened doors for the ladies, spoke kindly to children and was noted for his philanthropic generosity of spirit. Still, he made his fortune selling illegal spirits. He had a reputation for influencing the election of many politicians in the local and state seats. He also had his own ideas when justice should be served. The late Georgia Governor and McClure’s fellow Towns County native Zell Miller wrote of Jack, “He was loved, hated, respected, and feared, depending upon the experience one had had with him.”

The Music

McClure was dubbed “Grandaddy Mimm” by his grandchildren and that became his moniker amongst the folks in the mountains. He succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 1969. With his passing, so did an era of illegal bootlegging. But this is just where our story gets more interesting.

One of Jack’s grandkids, Tommy Townsend was a “gitar” player who as a youngin’ fell in love with the music of Waylon Jennings. Now Jennings could easily be to country music what Tommy’s Grandaddy Mimm was to moonshine. They were both outlaws with class, who had a presence that no one could quite forget. Townsend’s parents got him behind stage to meet Jennings many years ago. Waylon took a liking to the boy and brought him into the Jennings family fold. Waylon was Tommy’s mentor but it was Waylon’s son Shooter Jennings who became Tommy’s friend. Since 2008 Townsend and 4 other former members of the Jennings band have been entertaining fans as the Waymore’s Outlaws. In 2014 they began opening for Shooter Jennings and then backing him as his set in concerts all over the country. This year Tommy released his solo debut album “Turn Back the Clock”. Shooter Jennings produced the project.

Who’s Your Grandaddy?

Tommy never forgot his North Georgia roots nor his Grandaddy Mimm. He also held the family secret recipe to Grandaddy’s famous moonshine as well as the schematics to the still his Grandaddy designed many years before. In 2012, Townsend announced his plans to recreate his Grandaddy’s legacy, only this time, it would be within the law.

Today, you can tour the Grandaddy Mimm’s Corn Whiskey Distillery located in Blairsville GA, just a thirty-minute drive from Blue Ridge. Tours are given daily, but on Saturday’s you get to meet and chat with the head distiller and get to see the whole “still” in action. Your imagination of the outlaw days of moonshine starts to unfurl as soon as you drive up to the building that houses the museum and distillery. Inside you’ll find so many eclectic relics from those days as well as an enormous, interesting array of music memorabilia and instruments collected by Townsend over the years.

The Shine

Taste tasting this hooch is also encouraged. The choices are tough to make. Just four ingredients, corn, sugar, yeast, and water produce all of the moonshines, including the Mule Kickin 140 proof. The 96 proof Peach is their biggest seller. It’s hard to find a naturally flavored high octane whiskey, and it makes for some very interesting mixed drink recipes. There are also Apple, Cherry and Blueberry options, all using natural extracts. Plan on taking a jar or three home for great souvenir memories. The gift shop also has an abundant selection of shirts, hats and other mementos to bring back home.

When you mosey up to the bar, take note of its fine detail and its rich wood design. If you are a cult fan of the movie “Coyote Ugly”, this is the very bar that LeeAnn Rhimes ascends to join leading ladies Piper Perabo, Maria Bello, and Bridget Moynahan to dance while she sings “Can’t Fight the Moonlight”.

Plan Your Trip

The Distillery is located on your way to many of this region’s most visited autumn viewing spots and waterfalls, including Brasstown Bald, Vogel State Park, Richard Russell National Scenic Byway, and the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center. The distillery is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm.

Grandaddy Mimm’s legacy lives on through the distillery and his grandson’s music. When you view Townsend’s recently released music video for his song “Drinkin”, look closely at the ball jars on the bar. You might just recognize some of that high octane corn “licker” that made Jack McClure a North Georgia legend.

September 29, 2019September 29, 2019

Fire Pit Fixings

Last week this blog featured a tremendous round up of cabins with great firepits. One of our favorite things about the weather changing is sitting around the fire pit with a chill in the air, but you are completely warm, not just by the heat of the fire but by the company you are so enjoying. Adding to the ambiance of the evening includes singing songs, swapping tall tales, and of course fire pit cooking!

It’s so fun if someone in your group has a guitar or harmonica, they could play for everyone to sing and clap along, but you don’t even need music to sing your favorite campfire songs! Telling ghost stories always proves to be a good time too. Although the ghost stories typically end up in squeals of laughter because you know that one person that is SUPER scared and they end up falling out of the chair, jumping & panicking, or making funny noises as they try to tame their heebee geebies. Oh yes, good times! Most importantly, you can’t forget about marshmallows!

Who doesn’t love to roast marshmallows? This might be the best and most memorable part about having an outside fire. First, you go on a stick hunt to find that perfect length and sturdiness then roast your marshmallow to the perfect amount of burnt that you prefer. Or, take it to the next level and break out the chocolate and Graham crackers for a melt in your mouth, perfectly crafted s’mores! But s’mores aren’t the only thing you can cook over the fire. Try one (or all) of these “fire pit fixing” ideas next time you Escape to Blue Ridge!

The Healthy-ish Approach

Have you ever considered roasting fruit over an open fire? No? Well, you should because it is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! Choose from pineapple, bananas, watermelon, apples or peaches. The fruit sugars almost caramelize making for a divinely delicious guilt free treat. Of course, having a little caramel or chocolate on hand to dip your roasted fruit into never hurt anyone, and definitely adds more “pow” to your taste buds! Make ahead fruit kabobs or just place them on your stick like you would a marshmallow! Side note: strawberries dipped in marshmallow fluff and then roasted will make your mouth do a happy dance!

Go Fancy

Who says fire pit cooking has to be basic and boring? Impress your guests with fireside Shrimp Scampi! This meal is super easy to prepare, but even more divine to eat! All you need is foil, butter, peeled & deveined shrimp, a little lemon, and your favorite seasonings. We typically improvise with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but for you by-the-bookers, here’s a simple go to recipe with exact measurements.

Classic

It may not be fancy, but there is something extra delicious about a roasted hot dog! It really doesn’t get any easier than this. Pick your favorite dog, we are partial to the Hebrew National all beef hot dogs, pierce it with your stick and roast away. You can even toast your hot dog bun on a stick for a well-rounded hot dog experience!

Kid Friendly

Fast, easy and delicious…that’s my kind of cooking! You can prepare these French bread pizzas ahead of time or create a little make-your-own station on the picnic table. Slice your French bread, cover with marina sauce, add your favorite toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, Canadian bacon, olives) and finish with mozzarella cheese. Wrap your creation in heavy duty aluminum foil and throw them on the fire!

Dare To Be Different

Super easy, but super delicious is campfire cinnamon rolls! Simply buy your favorite brand of refrigerated cinnamon rolls, we personally love Pillsbury Grands. All you have to do is unroll a cinnamon bun and divide the long pieces of dough into sections. Wrap a portion around your stick, careful not overlap for even cooking, and roast away!

Next Level S’mores

Bacon. Yes, you read that right. A little graham cracker, a little marshmallow, a little chocolate, and a couple of pieces of bacon (which you could also roast over the fire) will have your tongue jump out and lick the eyebrows right off your head!

We also encourage you to mix up your chocolate options. Truth be told, it’s hard to beat a piece of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, but have you ever thought of using a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup? What about a Kit Kat Bar? We suggest you try a York Peppermint Patty next time, you won’t regret it. In fact, you may never go back to the traditional s’mores again!

Adults Only

If you’re looking for a way to warm up from the inside out, a Hot Toddy is definitely in order and extra enjoyable sitting outside by the fire. Boil water over your fire and add a tea bag to your cup. Let your tea steep for about two minutes, then add a shot (or two) of whiskey, a little honey, a slice of lemon, and some cloves for extra spice. Bam! Now we are ready to make some fireside memories!