Cordials, Cocktails and Fall Colors

As we frequently explore places off the beaten path, it is time again to go in search of a new adventure. We will visit a historic 1840s log cabin distillery, known for its art of crafting home-grown, natural fruit cordials and an Italian inspired limoncello.

Cordials and Cocktails

Our day long adventure will include a beautiful autumn drive through the countryside as we pass through scenic small towns, just in time for the changing fall colors, while visiting a brewery and a distillery.

Our Event Plan

We will drive through the beautiful Loudoun County, known for its rolling hills of farms and vineyards, pastures filled with grazing horses, and the Blue Ridge Mountains along the horizon, that it’s hard to believe you’re just 25 miles from Washington DC.

Fall colors in the countryside

Picnic Lunch at a Brewery

Our first stop will be a brewery near historic Hillsboro Virginia which takes pride in using as many local resources as possible from local wood barrels to malts and hops.

Old 690 Brewing Company offers a variety of fresh beer on tap across a broad spectrum of styles.

Mugs of beer

We will have a quick picnic lunch at the brewery along with trying their different brews, so feel free to bring your own food or you can buy food snacks from the food trucks or some lite fare from the brewery tasting room.

Cordials, Cocktails and Limoncello

We will then drive for around 10 miles which will take us to an 1840s log cabin distillery in West Virginia, known for its art of crafting home-grown, natural fruit cordials and an Italian inspired limoncello.

Limoncello

The owners of SweetShine Bloomery were inspired to create their own limoncello after returning from a vacation to Italy, and hence began their journey of creating cordials and cocktails, with a charming mini-distillery where artisan cordials are made by hand from their farm’s own lemons and raspberries.

We will taste their different cordials, cocktails and limoncello which has won over 20 international awards.

A Short Walk in Charles Town

We will do a short walk through the historic district of Charles Town, a city in the Jefferson County.

George Washington, our first President, was an early settler in this area and was responsible for many members of the Washington family settling here as well. In fact, present-day Jefferson County has at least six Washington family homes still standing today.

Jefferson County Courthouse in Charles Town

Charles Town is named after its founder, Charles Washington, youngest brother of George who built his home, known as Happy Retreat, here in 1780.

Jefferson County's strategic location at the gateway into the Shenandoah Valley made it a target for both North and South during the Civil War and historical markers throughout Jefferson County tell the stories of these battle sites.

We will do a short walk in Charles Town where some of the notable buildings include the Jefferson County Courthouse built in Georgian style in 1836 and the Old Opera House which opened its doors in 1911.

Recommended Reading

Limoncello and the Lemons of Sorrento

Event Details

Event: Cordials, Cocktails and Fall Colors

Description: A drive through the countryside just in time for the changing fall colors while visiting a fruit cordials distillery in Charles Town WV.

Date/Time: Saturday October 28th, 2017 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission: Free / Grapes & Grains members must RSVP

Tentative Schedule

11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Old 690 Brewing Company

15670 Ashbury Church Road Purcellville, Virginia 20132

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - SweetShine Bloomery
16357 Charles Town Road, Charles Town, West Virginia 25414

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Charles Town Visitors Center
108 N George St, Charles Town, West Virginia 25414

Article Category: Events