Behind the Booze - Interviews, Season 2

Episode 042 | Behind the Booze – Napa South Interview with Tracey Sutton

Napa South Wine Bar in Clayton, Georgia, merges two wine worlds for the vino lovers – Napa Valley, California wines meet southern wines. The Boozy Blondes love their wine, and Chrissy found her home away from home when we stumbled upon this new bar in the heart of downtown Clayton. She ventured here three times during her visit to the north Georgia mountains!

It’s no surprise Chrissy is sipping on wine as the DOE. She enjoys a glass of Dark Horse Red Blend while she chats with Tracey about Napa South and how her dream of opening a wine bar became a reality just a few months before this interview – Napa South opened its doors September 2022!

Tracey and her husband moved to Clayton, Georgia, from northern California during the pandemic in 2020. Having a great deal of love, knowledge and experience with Napa Valley wines, Tracey wanted to bring these varieties to Georgia while also showcasing southern wines. Every two months she shakes up the offerings with four new Napa Valley wines and four new southern wines, which guests can enjoy by the glass, by the bottle or in a flight!

Napa South is open every day of the week (except Wednesdays) so locals and visitors have a place to go on the traditionally quieter days of the week, like Mondays and Tuesdays. In addition to wine, they offer beer, sparking cocktails and small plates with an ever-evolving menu. Both Chrissy and Tracey chose the Napa Nachos as their favorite menu item.

There is no shortage of events at Napa South like Hometown Tuesdays and The Sunday Sip! Be sure to follow Napa South on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news and releases.

Future plans for Napa South include building an outdoor deck area. And the best part is, there are three lofts available for rent right above Napa South – what could be better than visiting Clayton with a wine bar just below your room? The Boozy Blondes can definitely get behind that kind of wine cellar!

Behind the Booze - Interviews, Season 2

Episode 038 | Behind the Booze – Cerveceria la Tropical Interview with Harold Perez Mendoza

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Join the Boozy Blondes as they visit Cuba’s oldest brewery, yet one of Miami’s youngest! If you’ve been listening to the Boozy Blondes podcast, this will be the third time you’ll hear about  Cerveceria la Tropical in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. (Episode 20 and Episode 37)

Chrissy met Harold Perez Mendoza, Cerveceria la Tropical brewer, in the Keys at Hemingway’s Rum Co. Distillery in 2022, and she gushed about the brewery. She invited Harold to be on the podcast and the girls met up with him at the beginning of 2023.

The DOE is la Original Reserva, an amber lager, one of Cerveceria la Tropical’s core beers. Harold poured it straight from the tank. This is the original Cuban recipe from 1888! When you listen to this episode, It’s safe to say this was not the girls’ first drink of the day – Harold is a great Boozy guide!

Harold is from Venezuela and started with Cerveceria la Tropical from the beginning. Prior to here, Harold worked for a few other breweries (including Veza Sur, another Boozy Blondes favorite featured in Episode 20) and owned his own brewery in Venezuela.

So a brief history for you (read the full story here), Cerveceria la Tropical started in Cuba in 1888 but was nationalized when Castro’s government took over in 60s. So the Cerveceria la Tropical founders and family moved to Miami and forgot about the beer business. Fast forward to more modern day and the founder’s grandson partnered with Heineken to bring Cerveceria la Tropical brewery back!

In Cuba Cerveceria la Tropical was located in a beautiful tropical garden in Havana. It was the center of entertainment! In Miami Cerveceria la Tropical replicates much of what it was in Havana – the giant birdcage, pictures of the original brewery adorning the walls, the gates at the entrance, the stage, the garden! It’s truly beautiful here. And caters to everyone – beer drinkers, wine drinkers, liquor drinkers, mocktail drinkers, foodies, kids, pets – everyone can find something they love here. 

Harold mentions it’s important to produce beers favorable to the masses but also get creative. Cerveceria la Tropical is starting to make more creative and unique beers. They are growing organically but quickly! Their goal is to release two to three new beers in the taproom each month. In addition to beer they are developing ready to drink (RTD) beer based options. In the taproom you can try numerous beer-based cocktails and plans include canning these for distribution.

There is always something going on at the taproom and you can rent out the space for your special events too! Be sure to follow Cerveceria la Tropical on Facebook and Instagram and visit the website to see beers on tap, upcoming entertainment, food menus, tour info and so much more!

Behind the Booze - Interviews, Season 2

Episode 033 | Behind the Booze – Casa de Vino 57 Interview with Patti Southard & Wayne Lake

Patti Southard and Wayne Lake opened Casa de Vino 57 about five years ago. From day one, their goal was to make everyone who visited the cozy wine bar tucked away on Treasury Street in St. Augustine feel like friends and family. The Boozy Blondes can attest – they felt so welcome and comfortable chatting with Patti and Wayne, they hung out for three hours after the interview, only dragging themselves away when their husbands said it was getting late and they were coming to pick them up!

While Wayne stuck to water during the interview, Patti enjoyed a glass of sparkling pinot noir rose, and the blondes shared a wine flight, which looked more like a wine tower! They loved the presentation of the flight and were told to drink from the bottom to the top (lighter wines are on the bottom of the flight and the wines get bolder as they go up).

Patti and Wayne got together years ago over their love of wine and dreamed of opening a wine bar. Wayne had years of experience working with wine, and Patti had years of experience drinking wine! Perfect! They found the property at 57 Treasury Street which included a beautiful courtyard and apartment above the downstairs bar. The original structure was the Joaneda House and built in 1806. It is one of the ten oldest structures in St. Augustine on the narrowest street in all of America!

In addition to its boutique wine selections, Casa de Vino 57 also offers beer and wine-based cocktails as well as amazing charcuterie boards with vegan cheese options! They host monthly wine walks and Full Moon Tastings as well as live music Thursdays – Sundays! You can join the Wine Club and schedule private wine tastings.

Be sure to follow Casa de Vino 57 on Facebook and Instagram and keep up with their website to stay in the know for all the fun events!

Resources and Ridiculousness, Season 2

Episode 028 | Boozy Blondes Happy Hour, Volume 1

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Lushes! We are back, ringing in 2023 with Season 2 of the Boozy Blondes Podcast. This season promises more interviews with boozy influencers, owners and brewers, and we can’t wait to share the boozy travels this year has in store for your favorite booze travelers.

Molly and Chrissy are apart for most of the first half of 2023, so they plan to host happy hours with each other to discuss their separate boozy escapades and finds. Tune in to keep up with the adventures, starting with the first episode of Season 2 – episode 028 – releasing January 12, 2023. Chrissy is keeping warm with Brothers Bond bourbon, Owls Brew Boozy Tea, and espresso martinis in chilly Sky Valley, Georgia, while Molly drives south back to sunny Florida after surviving the bitter cold of PA for Christmas.

Special shout outs to the team at Napa South, @chandrasekharkartik and the blondes’ favorite field drinker Tanya! If you have a question for the Boozy Blondes, send a DM to @boozy.blondes on Instagram or email boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com.

Cheers!

Foundations, Finales and Fuddled, Season 1

Episode 027 | Boozy Blondes Season 1 Recap

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They did it! The girls successfully completed Season 1 of the Boozy Blondes Podcast! In this final episode of 2022 they review what went well, where they would like to improve, favorite stops on their adventures and goals for next year.

The DOE is Champagne! Finishing Season 1 calls for a celebration and what better libation than Champagne!

Some fun stats from Season 1:

  • Instagram Followers: 400+
  • Listeners: 767 plays across 9 countries over 4 platforms

And some goals for Season 2:

  • Instagram Followers: prediction!! 1500 followers as of Nov 3, 2023!
  • Listeners: 1000 listens by the end of 2022
  • More interviews!
  • Strategically attracting more booze followers

The girls are extremely grateful for your support and are excited to see where 2023 takes them and this podcast! They are so thankful to have the opportunity to collaborate with and meet boozy friends along this journey and know Season 1 was just the beginning!

If you want to collaborate with the Boozy Blondes, send them a message! boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com

Cheers!

Foundations, Finales and Fuddled, Season 1

Episode 026 | Drinking at Home, Tournament of Champions!

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An ongoing tradition for the Boozy Blondes is to visit Sky Valley, Georgia, between Christmas and the new year. This episode gives you a raw look into a typical New Year’s Eve celebration during their trip – the annual Tournament of Champions – the favorite Drinking at Home night of the year! This year the group added an extra element to the tournament – Secret Santa onesies! Each player had to wear a onesie chosen by another competitor.

Today there is no DOE. The girls never mention what they are drinking in this episode, but it is very apparent they were overindulging prior to (and during?) recording.

The annual Tournament of Champions involves a bracket-style competition of seven games:

  • Pool
  • Shuffleboard
  • Darts
  • Foosball
  • Flip Tac Toe
  • Blackjack
  • Asshole

Six competitors go head-to-head to earn points in each game – the player with the most total points at the end wins a coveted spot on the podium. The girls interview the competitors following the 2022 tournament and ask them all the same questions:

  • Which of the competitors would you choose to battle one on one?
  • Who had the best onesie?
  • What game should be added to Tournament of Champions?
  • Which of the seven games in Tournament of Champions do you play the most in real life?
  • Who would you trade onesies with?

Listen to this sometimes cringy yet entertaining episode for an uncensored peek into the real world of drinking with the Boozy Blondes, and get to know the other Tournament of Champions competitors a little bit too – Rainer, Joey, Rachel and Phil.

1st place | Joey
2nd place | Chrissy
3rd place | Rachel
4th place | Rainer
5th place | Phil
6th place | Molly

Beware of high-pitched voices!

What are some of your favorite games that would be good for the Boozy Blondes to add to Tournament of Champions for next year? DM the girls on Instagram (@boozy.blondes) with your suggestions!

Wow. Chrissy really has made the podium every year! Impressive!

Resources and Ridiculousness, Season 1

Episode 025 | Drinking at Home

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Get ready, lushes! The Boozy Blondes are sharing their recipe for the best ways to drink at home! Sure, cuddling up with your favorite glass of wine in the best seat in the house qualifies as drinking at home, but this episode takes it to another level. If you’ve been listening to the Boozy Blondes podcast over the past 20-some episodes, you know these girls take their drinking seriously – and always up a notch!

Drinking at Home Recipe (easy!)
– 3 parts guests
– one hearty serving of libations
– a dash of the perfect theme

Mix these together for execution, and voila! Drinking at home just went up a level. The Boozy Blondes have hosted many different themed parties over the years of their friendship and give listeners insight how to recreate some of their faves:

  1. WOW Party – Wine of the World…each guest or couple brings a bottle of wine and dish to share from an assigned country. Put out score cards for wines, and recommend guests bring a food that pairs well with their bottle. Make sampling stations, and enjoy!
  2. Oktoberfest Party – host a night making flower crowns with your friends prior to the event. Create name tags with German names and host a German games competition.
  3. Murder Mystery Party – assign guests a character and a dish to bring. Some options come with scripts, while other options allow guests to organically create their own questions.
  4. Sports Party – when your favorite team is playing, it’s fun to lean in to the colors. Serve drinks and food that compliment your team’s jerseys!
  5. Crocket Party – this is an oxymoron of a party – it’s a redneck version of croquet in fancy white outfits! Grab those plastic flutes for Champagne, pinkies up while eat tea sandwiches and survive the wickets!

Lockdown during Covid taught the girls to get creative with virtual activities while drinking at home. Virtual Bingo, Beer Pong, Drawful and You Don’t Know Jack were some of the best virtual drinking at home nights.

Yard Game Tournaments are a Boozy Blondes fave! Whether you go all out with team costumes and brackets or just get the gang together to throw horseshoes or bags, a little competition always keeps things interesting! The girls have been team HoboMolecule for at least 15 years now!

Along with yard games, card games and board games add some competition to your drinking at home night. YouTube has a great Power Hour series; the girls especially love the Totally Rad 90s Power Hour!

Hosting a beer tasting at home is a fun way to try new varieties. This has become a tradition for the Boozy Blondes during their annual trip to Sky Valley. Pick out some beers (or ask guests to each bring a six pack), set up sampling stations and download this handy beer tasting sheet! This is a great way to find beers you love – or hate! Be sure to have your camera ready to capture the bitter beer faces!

What are some of your favorite games/themes when drinking at home? Let the Boozy Blondes know in the comments below!

Season 1, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 024 | Drinking Abroad – Italy & Greece

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Settle in, lushes! We are crossing the pond and drinking abroad today! We highly recommend this episode if you’re planning a trip to Greece or Italy, or if you’d like to live vicariously through one of the Boozy Blondes and her fabulous trip overseas!

The DOE is aperol spritz (3 parts Champagne, 2 parts aperol, 1 part sparkling water over ice). In Italy spritz is big, made with any aperitif + Champagne + fizzy water. All the locals drink spritzes (especially as a day drink) and most often they are served with crisps (chips) or snack towers. This is your pro tip – order a spritz, it’s the best value – for about 5€ you get a drink and snacks!

Chrissy’s trip spanned over 19 days – and it was full of planes, trains and automobiles. And boats. Her trip was in late March/early April which is typically the off-season in Italy and Greece. During the off-season you can expect a low amount of tourists, it’s easy to get into restaurants, hotel rates are discounted, but the weather is hit or miss and not everything is open. Locals recommend traveling In September.

In this episode Chrissy shares travel tips, favorite bars and differences in the drinking culture as she takes listeners through her adventures in Italy and and cruising through Greece. She visits:

  • Milan, Italy
  • Venice, Italy
  • Padua/Padova, Italy
  • Verona, Italy
  • Madonna della Corona, Italy
  • Bolzano, Italy
  • Kotor, Montenegro
  • Mykonos, Greece
  • Santorini, Greece
  • Bari, Italy

One drinking culture difference in Italy – the coffee game is strong. Coffee bars are actual bars, and there are different trends for different times of day. In the morning grab coffee and snacks, breakfast pastries or meatballs. Meatballs for breakfast?! This may be the one exception to Molly’s “no morning meat” rule. They sound delish. Don’t get comfy though; locals enjoy their coffee and snacks while standing at the bar and move on. Starting around 11am the coffee bars start serving spritz and chips (crisps) – unlike breakfast, you can sit down for this one. Later in day, around 7 pm-ish is cicchetti (happy hour), then after 8pm, it’s time for wine with dinner.

Chrissy’s favorite bars in Italy:

Vino Vero (Venice) – Chrissy enjoyed a cooking class in Venice with Lorenzo. (Lorenzo’s house made the favorite bar list too). He recommended his favorite at Vino Vero, Amarone wine.

– Sophias cafe (best craft beer)

Santa Maria (brewery in Verona – taproom)

Retro Wine & Cocktail Bar (Venice)

Cafe Rialto (Venice)

Caffe Vergnano (comparable to Starbucks)

Marie Bistrot (Verona)

Bottega Vini (Verona with 198 pages of wine)

Antica gelateria del corso (base of the Madonna della Corona church – Spiazzi, Italy)

Hopfen & Co (Bolzano, Italy)

Chrissy boarded her cruise ship from Venice and immediately noticed a big difference from the cruises the Boozy Blondes frequent in the Caribbean (listen to Episode 013 Booze Cruise for tips to making the most out of your weekend cruise). This particular European cruise was filled with young families, the drink package was not a priority (she was willing to bet she and Phil were the only ones with a drink package – they were ship favorites with the bartenders!), the activities were not in English, and it was a “commuter cruise” – people were boarding and debarking in all the ports. But similar to the Caribbean cruises, the ship docked in beautiful places!

The first stop was Kotor, Montenegro which was so picturesque or rather, Game of Thrones-esque, as Chrissy describes it. There were cats everywhere (they are protected), and Christmas is very big there. Chrissy recommends Caesar’s Wine Bar for the best charcuterie board and inexpensive wine.

The next port was Mykonos – a party place in season, but it was pretty much shut down when Chrissy was there. It reminded her of a little Venice and she visited Mykonos Brewing Company with Yoshi!  (This is the only brewery on the island). She recommends Katerina’s Bar on water with great views and Captain’s.

There was one place Chrissy wanted to visit more than anywhere else – Santorini! “I had happy tears the whole time!” she says. While more places were open here than in Mykonos there still weren’t many tourists. If you visit, go to the Meteor Cafe in Oia and the Venetsanos Winery. Guests can take a tour here, and they offer a tasting flight with a meat and cheese board.

The last port was Bari, but Chrissy didn’t get off the boat this day. Perhaps an excuse to go back?

Chrissy’s parting tips in this episode:

  • You know it’s a long day of travel to get overseas – it helps to have airline club level (check out airline credit card deals if you aren’t currently a member) – long layovers = expensive bar trips otherwise
  • book First class on trains – she experienced both First and General fares and the ease of logistics and lack of stress in First Class is well worth the price
  • Pay for the international data plan for phones – download google maps and gps routes to avoid getting lost when there is no service or Internet
  • When in Venice, splurge for a private water taxi, not a vaparetto (Chrissy describes a vaparetto as a bus on water – it’s only 7 to 15 euro OW or you can buy daily, weekly or monthly passes, whereas a private taxi is about 90 euro but it takes your door to door rather than a random vaparetto stop. When you arrive in Venice, depending where the stop is in relation to your lodging, you may have to drag your luggage through streets quite a ways

Have you traveled to any of these locations? What are some of your must-sees?

Season 1, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 020 | Miami: Bars, Breweries, Boats & Baseball: Pareidolia Brewing, Nauti Dawg Marina Cafe, Cerveceria la Tropical, Veza Sur, loanDepot Park (Milwaukee Brewers at Miami Marlins)

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Traditionally when you hear “Miami,” your mind instantly goes to palm trees, fashion, expensive cars, South Beach and non-stop parties. But did you know Miami is home to 40 breweries and beer halls nestled among the cute suburbs of its downtown? Miami hosts an often overlooked craft beer scene and the Boozy Blondes tackle a sliver of it in this episode.

The DOE is Vape Life by Tank8 at The Fermentorium in southeastern Wisconsin (hear more about the Fermentorium in Episode 12). Vape Life is a Cotton Candy IPA and the girls’ favorite beer ever! The also cracked cans of delicious Spa Goggles, a 4% ABV gose with cucumber and lime flavors from Ology Brewing in Tallahassee, Florida, since they crushed Vape Life in no time.

So the girls ventured south to Miami for Molly’s birthday. They planned a day-drinking brewery tour day and a Brewers game since they were playing the Miami Marlins. During the drive they stopped halfway to Miami in Sebastian, Florida, at Pareidolia Brewing Company. Pareidolia’s definition according to Miriam Webster is the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern // the human ability to see shapes or make pictures out of randomness (like an ink blot test or seeing pictures in clouds). The blondes loved this concept and noticed multiple examples in the decor of the brewery. The logo is a perfect example of a pareidolia – it’s a barrel but it looks like a face!

Pareidolia opened in 2014 and was the first craft brewery in the area. Fun fact, the owners also co-founded the Treasure Coast Wine & Ale Trail: 9 breweries, one winery, one cidery and one meadery! You know the girls want to tackle this trail!

Anyway Pareidolia is family friendly and dog friendly, with a brew room, taproom and outdoor area. They feature live music, beer, wine, seltzer, cider, and food. As you know, food is very important to the Boozy Blondes, so shout out to drinklocalflorida.com who makes it so easy to find breweries with food in different parts of the state.

They arrived right around lunchtime and with their food Molly ordered a flight of the Slow Paddle Porter (5.2%), Knee Deep in Peaches Smash Beer (4.7%), Gotta Guava Kettle Sour (4.7%), and Don’t Call Me Ginger (5.9% Red Ale). She then ordered a regular sized Knee Deep in Peaches, her favorite from the flight. Chrissy drank Berry Good Seltzer.

Before they left, the girls announced the winner of their Coppertail Brewing Beer it Forward contest – congrats to @seang_thatsme for winning a beer courtesy of the Boozy Blondes!  Be sure to follow Pareidolia on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all that’s happening here!

Second stop was Pompano Beach for a Happy Hour booze cruise to Lake Boca. Big thanks to Mike and Colleen, the booze cruise hosts – Mike even listened to Episode 13 (Booze Cruise) so he was prepared for the Boozy Blondes!  After spending time on the water the crew stopped at Nauti Dawg Marina Cafe in Lighthouse Point for dinner.  They enjoyed pretzels, burgers and grouper Reubens and were impressed by the fantastic service at this waterfront restaurant.

From here it was time to finish the journey south and check in to the hotel. They girls stayed in Brickell, Miami’s financial district and close to Wynwood where the brewery crawl would take place.

Wynwood is a beautiful, trendy suburb of Miami, and the girls definitely did not have enough time here! It’s an art district with over 70 galleries and murals everywhere! First stop in Wynwood was Cerveceria la Tropical – Cuba’s oldest brewery, but one of Miami’s youngest breweries. The girls were blown away when they walked up to this brewery. It’s stunning. Stunning! It’s pet friendly, open and airy with the brewery, tap room, beer garden, stage, kitchen and full bar all on site. Listen to this episode to hear the amazing history of this brewery stemming from its Cuban roots.

(The girls return to Miami in Episode 037 | Miami Florida Breweries, Bars, Speakeasies and Little Havana and interview Cerveceria la Tropical brewer Harold Perez Mendoza in Episode 038 | Behind the Booze – Cerveceria la Tropical: Interview with Brewer Harold Perez Mendoza!)

Chrissy drank the Mameycita (La Tropocal’s version of a pain killer) and had the Cuban sandwich. Molly enjoyed a flight of Nativo Key Suave IPA (4.5%) which was poured tank to glass, Noche Tropical (4.6% Schwartzbier), Tropicalista IPA (6.9%), and Berry Blush (5% wheat beer). She also had the Fields Forever cocktail (basil infused vodka, guava, strawberry and St. Germain) and ate smashed Brussels and Yucca fries.

The girls begrudgingly pulled themselves away to hit another brewery on their list but definitely want to return to Cerveceria La Tropical soon! Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for events and specials.

While it was difficult to leave La Tropical, the girls were glad they did because their next stop was Veza Sur Brewing, which they also loved! Veza Sur is home to a brewery, taproom and beer garden – and delicious beer and creative beer cocktails! It’s pet friendly, has lots of games and hosts a food truck on site. It’s adorable inside with a giant bookshelf behind the bar displaying hundreds of fun knickknacks.

Chrissy opted for a beer cocktail, Shoot the Moon, a super tart concoction of Veza Sur’s guava sour mixed with fresh Florida citrus, house brewed Campari and mint. Molly again ordered a flight that came with a bonus cafe con flan (5.6% ABV coffee porter topped with flan)! The other beers on her flight were Chismosa Raspberry Wheat Ale (6.4%), Lulo Sour (3.8%), Prickly Pear Sour (6%) and Key Lime Sour (6%). Everything was so good!

Veza Sur offers daily happy hour specials so be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Because the girls spent so much time at these two breweries, they were unable to visit any others. They had to get back and changed for the Brewers game at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. The girls were impressed by the stadium and really enjoyed the game and atmosphere. Pro tip – if you arrive early hit the Bud bar in left field for $3.05 beers! During the game you can visit the 305 Concession Stand for $3 hot dogs and $5 beers (12oz cans). loanDepot Park is also home to Biscayne Bay Brewing Company!

While not on this trip, Chrissy was able to visit some other great breweries and bars in the Miami area:

3 Sons Brewing in Dania Beach, Florida. 3 Sons boasts “out of the box brewing” offering unique flavors and awesome food! It’s family-run and family friendly. During her visit Chrissy enjoyed Fer Sherbet (7.2% sour), Sour Scoop (8%) and Smooth Ops Pina Colada (6% Smoothie-style Hard Seltzer). She also ordered the ceviche! Has anyone ever has brewery ceviche before? It’s excellent at 3 Sons!

J Wakefield Brewing in Wynwood, Miami. This brewery is perfect for the Boozy Blondes – it offers lots of sours! This brewery is independently owned and used crowd funding to open its first brewery. 

Chrissy also stopped at Marabou (great empanadas), American Social (fantastic happy hour), Limonada Bar + Brunch (spin the drinking wheel of chance!), Batch (distillery) and Versailles (world famous Cuban restaurant).

So while South Beach is fabulous and fun, the greater Miami area also has lots to offer and the Boozy Blondes and have only begun to scratch the surface. ¡Dale!

Season 1, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 016 | Disney Drinking, EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

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Tune in to the Boozy Blondes’ most magical episode! 💫

There is something special about the magic of drinking in the most magical place on earth that keeps bringing them back to the annual EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Over the past 15 years or so, the girls counted at least ten trips to the gluttonous festival which holds some of their favorite memories.

The DOE is Imperial Crazy Mona from Tabula Rasa Brewing in Jacksonville, Florida. This Porter is aged in Rye Barrels for 18 months and is 11% – a little strong for these two, which is apparent as they giggle and gush about all the fun EPCOT brings!

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is “a taste tour across six continents, drinking around the world, travel, friends, food, booze – it has it all.” The Disney Food Blog provides tons of information and resources and describes the festival “…featuring incredible special events, informative culinary and beverage demonstrations, celebrity chefs, and delicious Marketplace Food Booths around the park, this annual event is a can’t miss part of the Disney calendar!”

The blondes discuss a brief history of the festival and share their insider tips to make your boozy adventure as amazing as possible. They start by sharing their must-brings to Food & Wine.

Top Things to Bring

  1. Mickey or Minnie Ears – with endless options thanks to Etsy, you can purchase your ears at the park or before you go. Molly recommends the Etsy shop DearestEars for comfy and unique options.
  2. Matching Shirts – again, thank you, Etsy, for endless options of unique, customizable products. There is no end to the Disney Drinking puns (bibbidi, bobbidi, booze…drunkest of them all…tale as old as wine…drinking beauty)! Fun fact – the blondes’ squad wore custom festival tees long before Etsy was a thing!
  3. Food & Wine Passport – trust the boozy experts; it’s very difficult to remember all the delicious food and beverages consumed after a full day at the park. Passports like the one sold in the Etsy shop SansoneStationery are a great way to remember all those calories the next day – and remember what you loved so you can look for those items on your next visit.
  4. Gift Card Wristlet – you can purchase these at select stores inside Epcot. It’s a handy way to hold your money – just swipe at each kiosk!
  5. Backpack – some essential supplies are sun block, Chapstick, water bottles and a light hoodie, but slinging a bag over your shoulders allows your hands to be free to eat or double-fist drinks! Plus you can store any souvenirs you might pick up along the way.
  6. Comfy Shoes – plan on walking A LOT. A full lap around the World Showcase is 1.2 miles – that does not include future world nor walking to your mode of transportation. So be good to your feet!
  7. Sunblock – duh. It’s Florida, the Sunshine State. And most of your day will be spent outside.
  8. A Plan – there is a lot to see and do and eat and drink. Map out your path and must-sees/must-consumes before you go. Plan a timeout spot.

Boozy Blondes Pro Tips

  1. As stated just above – plan a timeout. Make reservations for the middle of your day to take a break from the insanity and outdoor elements.
  2. Avoid the main entrance – it’s really cool to walk into Epcot and see Spaceship Earth, but using the World Showcase entrance in between France and the UK will save you tons of time and hassle.
  3. Get a gift card – even if you don’t want to wear the wristlet, get a gift card and load it with your desired spending limit. Gift cards make it easy to pay and also keep you in check if you’re on a budget. Once you’ve drained the funds, reevaluate – time to go or time to reload?
  4. Buy your Mickey or Minnie ears from Etsy. There are plenty of options at Epcot, but it’s always great to support local businesses, and the blondes have found Etsy options to be more comfortable than those at the park. If you have a Ears shop, please let the Boozy Blondes know! They would love to support your shop! They also want to add Boozy Blondes ears to their collection!
  5. Start later in the day. It’s a long day, and it’s day drinking.
  6. Check out the bar in Morocco. It’s a full bar and when the girls have gone, it hasn’t been very crowded, especially compared to other bars around the World Showcase.
  7. If possible, avoid weekends.
  8. If you can’t do the Food & Wine festival, try the Flower & Garden festival!
  9. Going with a group? Make a theme – it’s fun and it’s easy to find members of your squad when you’re all wearing the same theme.
  10. Pack a hangover recovery kit.
  11. Plan brunch the next day. Yes, the whole point of the Food & Wine festival is to indulge and be gluttonous. But you will be hungry the next day, and brunch is a great way to relax and relive the adventures from the day before.
  12. Download the My Disney Experience app and Food & Wine Festival apps.
  13. Share items – it’s fun to split things so you can try a bigger variety!
  14. Get a baguette in France – it’s inexpensive, great to split and works to soak up some booze in your system
  15. Ride the Sky Buckets (aka Disney Skyliner)
  16. Buy annual passes strategically – if you buy your pass at the end of Food & Wine, you have more time to use it next year during Food & Wine.

Boozy Blondes’ Favorite Resources

  1. Disney Food Blog – all things Food & Wine. The girls love the website and Instagram account.
  2. Oliviamichelleh.com – for all the Instagrammers out there, Olivia posts the best places for pics.
  3. Wdwnt.com – Chrissy’s favorite Food & Wine app comes from here and all the kiosk menus are posted each year as well.

Please share your tips with the Boozy Blondes so they can continue to enhance their trip to the Food & Wine Festival every year! If you’re able to make a trip to this festival, the 2022 dates are July 14 – November 19.