If savoring an occasional (or frequent) beverage is an essential part of summertime, you're in luck. We live in a region where summer sipping is a fun experience that's taken seriously.
Part of that equation involves inclusivity. There's a growing trend among bars, cideries and other purveyors of adult beverages to offer N/A (nonalcoholic) options. Mocktails and other N/A drinks can make being the designated driver of the group a rewarding and satisfying experience.
And because summer equates with the great outdoors, there are numerous ways to satisfy one's thirst while breathing in fresh air and enjoying the scenery.
FLIGHT PATHS
While most winery tasting rooms offer flights of their current releases, opportunities to sample multiple beverages and flavors in a single sitting are not limited to destinations of the vinous persuasion. Nor are they devoted exclusively to alcoholic beverages.Revival Tea Company, which recently opened a new store in Coeur d'Alene to complement its original in Spokane, allows patrons to create their own flights of three teas ($10) from a menu of 36, and even will assist in assembling a flight that offers a benefit (such as calm, immunity, digestion and so on).
If calm is not desired, Coeur d'Alene's Vault Coffee is offering iced latte flights, consisting of five imaginatively concocted sample-size drinks ($14). Pro tip: When ordering, ask for "no ice" to better taste the flavors.
Traditional mimosas marry chilled sparkling wine and orange juice, but as two local restaurants are demonstrating, they need not be limited to OJ. At 1898 Public House, part of the Kalispel Golf and Country Club, the popular brunch menu features a mimosa flight ($14) that enables diners to choose from among four juices (orange, grapefruit, pineapple and cranberry) and six purées (piña colada, huckleberry, strawberry, raspberry, mango and peach). Old European also has four mimosa flavors on its beverage menu to complement its Danish-inspired fare, and offers a flight of four ($17) that includes one rotating flavor. For a real palate-awakening experience, pair a mimosa flight with a combo plate of aebleskivers (two each of three flavors for $12).
That's not all. No-Li Brewhouse offers flights of its locally made brews in its riverside Bier Hall. Whiskey aficionados can sample flights at Purgatory Whiskey and Craft Beer, curated from a 600-bottle collection. And the three DeLeon's Taco and Bar restaurants in Spokane offer both tequila and margarita flights, drawing from a stock of around 50 tequilas on hand. Prices vary based on the selections.
THE ROSÉ WAY
What better way to get the thirst quenching going than by sampling six rosé-style wines? That's what the historic Steam Plant Restaurant has in store on June 18 when it hosts Rosé on the Rooftop ($35). A chef-curated grazing board accompanies the wine while DJ Snuggs provides the soundtrack. Bonus: A portion of ticket sales goes to Giving Back Spokane.BLUE AGAVE ADVENTURES
The Tacos y Tequila Festival is back for a fifth year, Aug. 23-24, adjacent to Spokane's Central Library. Hosted by and benefiting Nuestras Raices Centro Comunitario (Our Roots Community Center), the event celebrates local Latino cultures through food, drinks, music and activities. Food trucks and restaurants provide tacos and other food, which guests can wash down with tequila, cerveza and other beverages.
Rather not wait until August for your blue agave fix? Coeur d'Alene Cruises has scheduled back-to-back Tequila Tides Dinner Cruises ($85) on June 20. Each cruise includes live music, a buffet catered by the Coeur d'Alene Resort and a specialty margarita.
STRETCHING & SIPPING
Need another reason to get out on Lake Coeur d'Alene? Most Thursdays in July and August, Yoga and Mimosa Cruises ($31) will set sail, each spanning two hours with a 45-minute yoga class (led by Yoga Kim and Company) and a mimosa included.
For those wishing to cultivate a connection among body, mind and breath on dry land, Yoga Uncorked has scheduled numerous "Yoga + Beer" and "Yoga + Wine" sessions ($25; beverages purchased separately) this summer: June 21, July 26 and Aug. 23 at Liberty Lake Wine Cellars; June 28 and Aug. 23 at Sauvage ZSA; July 5 and Aug. 2 at Big Barn Brewing; and July 12 and Aug. 9 at Genus Brewing.
BREW CITY
Coeur d'Alene's nickname may be the "Lake City," but during the summer it transforms into Brew City, USA with not one, not two, but three festivals devoted to ice-cold beer. The downtown merchants' association conducts both Brewfest ($35-$55, this year on July 12) and Oktoberfest (Sept. 19-20). Brewfest is held in McEuen Park, featuring 30 beers and ciders, food and music, while Oktoberfest (prices to be announced) is hosted by participating downtown businesses, offering German-style beer and food.
In between, Ales for the Trails ($35-$60) takes over Coeur d'Alene's City Park on Aug. 16, raising funds for the upkeep of the North Idaho Centennial Trail.
Not to be outdone, the Post Falls Lions host their 3rd annual Brewfest ($30) at Post Falls' American Legion post.
'HIGH COUNTRY' QUAFFING
It normally requires an appointment to visit High Country Cider, and the ciders made in the "high country" of Rathdrum aren't available outside North Idaho. That's why the cidery has a presence at the Post Falls Market & Music on Wednesdays and will be on hand at Timber Days in Priest River on July 26. But on Aug. 23, High Country hosts its own Cider Fest, spotlighting its ciders on tap and in cans, accompanied by small local vendors and live music. Learn more at highcountrycider.com.
LIBATIONS AND LEARNING
The late science-fiction writer Frank Herbert (Dune and its sequels) once observed: "One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things."
In that spirit, Hogwash Whiskey Den and Raising the Bar bring back their series of Camp Cocktail classes ($85 per class) this summer, each providing "students" with a solid historical grounding in mixology, access to a bartending station, three drinks and appetizers. Camp 1 on June 15 covers cocktails of the 1960s and '70s, Camp 2 on July 20 focuses on the 1980s and '90s, while Camp 3 on Aug. 17 covers the cocktail renaissance of the 2000s. Register at raisingthebarnw.com.
Dry Fly Distilling is also offering a trio of cocktail classes ($40 per class) on June 19, July 24 and Aug. 14. Each includes a tour of the distillery, step-by-step tutorials on three cocktails, plus appetizers. For those whose desire to learn extends beyond the cocktail to making actual alcohol, Dry Fly is also hosting a Make Your Own Gin Class ($125 per person or $150 per couple) on July 10. The experience includes two signature cocktails and a take-home bottle of the one-of-a-kind gin created by the group. Sign up at dryflydistilling.com.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Think of it as privileged access. Latah Creek Winery is introducing a series of events tentatively dubbed "The Pour by Natalie," enabling guests to sit down with winemaker Natalie Barnes as she speaks about six wines selected for tasting. Notes on each wine will be provided, and questions are encouraged to promote an interactive experience. Planned themes include summer wines (with suggestions for food pairings), blends (with insight into how the varietals and percentages are determined) and others being developed. Each group will be limited to 30 to maintain intimacy, and the cost is $20 (refundable with a $40 wine purchase). Call the winery for dates, times and topics.
Wine shops and wine bars also occasionally spotlight wineries and/or bring in winemakers for guest appearances and pourings. Stylus Wine and Vinyl Bar in Coeur d'Alene, for instance, is hosting Walla Walla vintners on back-to-back Thursdays later this month. On June 19, it will be Steve Wells of Time & Direction Wines, and on the 26th, Brandon Moss of Gramercy Cellars is on hand. Owner Krista Spencer-French says the five-wine flights typically cost around $25.
WEDNESDAY WINING
Nectar Catering and Events begins its second quarter-century of providing foodies with fusions of flavors from seemingly disparate regions with its Wine Wednesday Dinner Series. Cuban and Chinese, anyone? That's the mash-up on July 23, with six other multicourse meals ($30 each) scheduled July 9 through Aug. 20. Nectar owners Josh and Katie Wade also select three wines to accompany each dinner. Head to nectarcateringandevents.com for more.
Prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown? Also from July 9 through Aug. 20, Beck's Harvest House in Green Bluff is hosting its Wine Wednesdays Music Series on the drink deck. Beer from the Beck's Beer Shed and food from Beck's Country Kitchen also will be available.
On a budget? The new 1919 Wine Cellar in East Spokane's Sprague Union District just inaugurated Half-Price Wine Wednesdays, an offer available on all full-glass pours.
At Nectar, Beck's and 1919, Wednesday is the new Friday this summer. ♦
