kalphablog-blog - Tumblr blog

kalphablog-blog

Kalpha

A lifestyle Blog

30 posts

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

Last Seen Blogs

lethendralis-paints

Lethendralis

five-sided-dice

Five Sided Dice

mvdr30-blog

THE SEARCH IS OVER

ettars-blog

@hermitted

chorttttttt

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Kalpha Bops: Summer Sessions 11/08

Sunset. Chill. Nolstalgic. Love. 80’s.

“How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?” ― Jane Swan

In my case the music in this playlist evokes a feeling of nolstalgia for a lifetime never lived. It is heavily influenced by synthetic 80’s music. Bands like The Midnight tap heavily into this influence, whereas you hear light influences of it in…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Cooking Collection: Fodder NI Dexter Beef

Intense. Juicy. Succulent. Regal. Hearty.

“There is only one right way to eat a steak – with greed in your heart and a smile on your face.” ― Soumeet Lanka

I’d have to agree with the above, when preparing steak it really is go big or go home. This time we decided to go big. I had seen Fodder Cafe on insta several times and had been following them for quite a while. The perfect saturday finally…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

Coastal. Uisce beatha. Potential. Warm. Welcoming.

“The light music of whisky falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.” ― James Joyce

Clonakilty, a town an hour south of Cork and almost on the coast is steeped full of a rich history. Once known for its brewery and smuggling, it looks set to become world-famous for its whisky. Situated on the south coast of Ireland it is quite the drive from the North of Ireland, but totally worth it. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The scene was set for the perfect day and it turned out to be just that.

After exploring the south coast, we made our way to Clonakilty, we first walked through the streets of the town taking in the sights. It was a quiet morning and maybe the reason for the lack of activity was everyone was still in bed working off the night before, which did happen to be St Patricks Day. We stopped at a lovely local café for some breakfast and then headed across to the distillery for the 11:00 tour.

If you are approaching the town from Cork/the East, the distillery will be one of the first buildings that catches your eye as you drive into the town. It would hard not to miss it, standing tall and proud. It is one of the most modern buildings and simply stunning. The glass front gives the passer-by a glimpse of the beautiful stills that sit at the front of the distillery. We parked in the distillery car park and made our way in.

We were met with the warmest of welcomes which can be rare on a bank holiday (most people working on a public holiday aren’t the happiest, I know I wouldn’t be). The two ladies who met us quickly checked I had received my refund as I had stupidly ordered too many tickets. It was the attention to detail and little things that really impressed me. We turned out to be the only ones on the tour that morning apart from one other staff member from the bistro who was training. Our tour guide for the day was Mary and you couldn’t have wished for a better guide. The tour began in the distillery shop which we were then taken outside and around to the beginning spot for the tour which is outside the building. You then climb a flight of stairs and the magic begins.

The first room is a detailed and immersive history of Clonakilty, the distillery and its owners. It was at this point I began to realize that although it is a fairly new distillery, there is a lot of history and work that has happened so that the distillery stands there today. It is rare to see a new distillery with already a rich history. Founded by the Scully family, a local family, they have cultivated the coastal land of Ireland for eight successive generations. Obviously therefore this distillery will become one of the few to have grain to bottle spirits. Another distillery also doing this is Echlinville Distillery which we absolutely love. The barley is grown in fields right on the coast and therefore it gains characteristics from the constant sea spray. They really do say it best.

“Our fields at the base of Galley Head Lighthouse are the perfect environment to nurture and grow the finest of crops. Centuries of sea mist, soft rain and ocean spray provide a complexity to the soil that permeates right through to each individual grain.”

Also a note for any visiting tourists, a recommendation from our guide is to have a walk up by the lighthouse and of course Inchydoney beach.

You then sit down for a short video covering the people and the distillery, it is a beautifully shot film and is easier to digest for those who prefer video to written text. The video details the whiskey and distillery’s beginnings and is a well-rounded introduction to what you are about to experience.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Once you are finished the video you make your way to the upper level of the distillery to the mill room and a view of the main distillery floor. Up here you can really appreciate the surrounding area, the town of Clonakilty and the beauty of the three stills. Mary very intelligently brought us through the initial processes of whiskey making. A process we are all too familiar with from our many distillery explorations but nevertheless she kept it interesting and engaging.

We then made our way down to the distillery floor which we were taken through the processes of whiskey making from fermentation to distillation. I would go through it in detail here but I wouldn’t want to spoil the magic for anyone visiting the distillery. Their process is similar to that of any distillery and it is clearly all to a high standard. You also get to see the still in which their gin is distilled. Their gin – Minke – was how we came to learn of the distillery when they launched it at the Gin Experience in Dublin. Since that first sip we truly fell in love. This time however we were here to taste the whiskey.

Before we could taste, there was one very crucial stage left, in fact possibly the most important stage in any whiskey – maturation. This is where a whiskey truly picks up its character. Clonakilty have really jumped into the art of this, with using port, cognac and many other barrel types. Again this part is best explained on video. This was in one of the most amazing rooms I have been in.

The distillery is beautifully decorated beginning to end but it is in the aging room that the interior truly shines. A glamorous long wooden table is surrounded by embroidered chairs and all lit with old Russian warehouse lighting. The attention to detail is spot on and I am sure I missed many more details. My favourite was the stunning metal whale tail mounted on the wall.

Clonakilty’s whiskey is finished at their Atlantic Ocean maturation warehouse and this creates even more character given the cool salty sea air that the barrels will sit in.

The above picture shows the charring on the inside of the wooden barrels that give the whiskey its flavour and colour. The charring creates those caramel tones and brings out the oils in the wood further. The aging process and advancement of colour is demonstrated in a beautiful cupboard.

We then moved into the speakeasy to taste the whiskey, the part everyone is the most excited for.

After a fantastic in-depth tour – Mary also took us through our tasting. We had opted for the connoisseur tasting. We were to try three whiskeys – the core Small Batch, the Cognac Cask finish and the Distillery exclusive a Single Malt Single Cask. Before the whiskey tasting we were offered something we had never been offered before at any distillery. Bearing in mind we have been to countless distilleries, this was shocking. Mary offered the driver, three small miniatures to pour the remainders of their tastings so they didn’t go to waste. Again it was the little touches and attention to detail that made this distillery so wonderful. After establishing who was going to drive we went on with the tasting.

I truly believe at every distillery we learn something new and this was no different. This time it was in how to nose the whiskey. I already knew to open my mouth so the vapors also flow through your nose and touch the back of your tongue on the way past, but this time Mary instructed us to pass it by our noses three times in a circular motion to get our palettes used to the smell. This really helped and is a trick I have used since.

The first tasting was the Small Batch, the core whiskey of their range. Served in the perfect whiskey tasting glass you receive a generous amount. First we were encouraged to observe the colour and appearance of the whiskey, then to observe the “legs” of the whiskey. All this before even tasting and we were learning so much about the whiskey just from its appearance. We then moved on to nose the whiskey using the above technique, almost tasting the whiskey as the vapours pass down your neck. Finally then getting to taste the whiskey.

The tasting like the nosing of the whiskey was done in a unique way too. Far too many times I have been to a distillery and been told countless flavours that I should be tasting, at Clonakilty this was quite the opposite. Mary sat back and allowed us to taste the whiskey for ourselves and for once without the guidance of flavour profiles, it allowed our palates to work naturally. We were able to taste what we tasted instead of what we were “supposed to”. I must be honest to start with I felt a little lost without knowing what I should be tasting, but I soon found my feet and it made for a very enjoyable and mind-opening tasting. It truly was a fantastic way to make the taster carve their own experience.

The small batch is a silky smooth whiskey and really is a good core whiskey for them to have. Usually this is the whiskey that will sell the most and be tasted the most, so it is an important foundation to get correct for any distillery. I think the Double Gold it won at the San Francisco Spirits Competition really speaks for itself. I of course picked up a bottle from the distillery shop.

The second tasting was the Cask Finish Series, which was the Cognac finish. If you are a cognac lover but would like to dabble in whiskey, this is the one for you. Any cognac drinker who has tasted our bottle has loved it. At 43.6% you would expect it to have quite the burn but it is wonderfully smooth and is elevated with a few drops of water

The final tasting was a distillery exclusive, a single malt aged in Bourbon casks. Personally I am not a fan of single malts, it has too much of a waxy aftertaste for me. That is totally a personal preference and I can still appreciate a good single malt. This had all the personality of a single malt and wasnt as repellant to me as some single malts. So I’d say its pretty fantastic for any single malt lovers!

Our tasting and distillery experience was sublime and I will certainly be returning with friends if in the area again. There is so much undiscovered beauty on the south coast of Ireland and it is places like clonakilty distillery that make the trip there so worthwhile.

We finished our tour and of course picked up some bottles in the shop to bring home. Even the interior design of the gift shop is brilliant. After purchasing our bottles with a discount from the tour ticket, we popped them in the car and made our way back into the bistro for a fantastic lunch.

A gem of the irish coastline and name I think the whiskey industry will be speaking for a long time.

The Tipsy Times: Clonakilty Distillery @clonakiltydistillery Coastal. Uisce beatha. Potential. Warm. Welcoming. “The light music of whisky falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.”

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

Wild. Rugged. Beauty. Home. Sea.

“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.”

– John F. Kennedy

I have never agreed more with a quote on this blog, therefore it is one of the longest to capture the full meaning. Where I find I feel the most calm is beside open water and more specifically the sea. There is something so captivating watching the waves crash on shore. To watch as the wave start to form far out, building, building, building to eventually peak and crash ashore. The whole Irish coast is spectacular but I am most drawn to the Northern coast.

The coast is steeped in history and is becoming more and more popular with Game of Thrones filming locations scattered along it. Each time I visit, I try to find another part of the coast to discover. This time my destination for sunrise was Kinbane Castle. I looked it up on Google Maps and soon found it was the perfect location, I packed my D850 and headed on up to the coast. I arrived just before sunrise so was able to capture the whole thing. Before the sun broke into the sky I was able capture the swirling waters below me.

Then I noticed out of the corner of my eye a whirlpool forming which I bided my time until it fully formed and shot away getting the below photo.

Then the sun began to rise and the gulls announced its arrival by what they do best – screeching!!

The sun had already broken the horizon but it still had to rise over the far sea cliffs, then the short morning golden hour began.

#gallery-0-9 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-9 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-9 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-9 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

The wildflowers on the hill added the perfect silhouette to some artsy shots which took me to the cliff edges on my stomach. Not really the one for heights so wasnt exactly my comfort zone but it was worth every photo.

As the sun rose it cast it golden glare onto the glistening ripples in the sea making a beautiful scene which contrasted the dark sea. Using my standard lens I was still able to get a close detailed photo of this.

I then ventured right down to the waterside to have my breakfast which consisted of a nut bar and a green juice I had picked up on my way to the coast. As I sat an pondered life it really made me feel a small speck on a giant planet. The beauty of nature is so easily missed, even though looking at pictures online gives us so much access to places we may never visit in our lifetime, there is something truly special about experiencing nature first hand. As the waves crashed against the rocks I had the perfect viewpoint to snap shot this moment.

The sun rose higher and lit up the beautiful causeway coast of Ireland. It remains one of my favourite places to visit and as previously mentioned has some far feeling of home to it. I started my climb back up to the car park and the view back down to the castle was simply stunning. I paused for breath and caught up the beautiful scenes (pictures in our feature photo). I also picked a daisy and got the below shot.

I then packed up, hopped in the car and off to Ballycastle for breakfast at – Ursa Minor Bakehouse. I refreshed, had some fantastic poached eggs on sourdough and back to the coast for more photos. This time heading to Ballintoy harbour, partially to get a good few photos but mostly being a Game of Thrones nerd I wanted to see the filming location there. It certainly didn’t disappoint and it was the perfect sunny day with a cool breeze.

#gallery-0-10 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-10 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 100%; } #gallery-0-10 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-10 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Ballintoy is a beautiful little harbour and is perfect if you enjoy climbing over and around rocks to get the perfect picture. My mission was to get a photo back down the coast to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. After a few slips I got out to the prime location, changed my lens to my 50mm-300mm and zoomed right into 300mm. The results – see below:

If you are every visiting the causeway coast I would fully recommend the rope bridge, even if you don’t really have a head for heights like me. It is a beautiful walk down the bridge and the views from the bridge and island are absolutely worth it.

While I was out on the rocks I was able to look back at Ballintoy and watch the waves crash against the harbour wall. As they built they got larger and larger eventually resulting in quite the large splash.

Of course all this walking and hiking was starting to build up an appetite again. Fortunately I knew the perfect location to go and get an absolute amazing feed but unfortunately I still had two locations to visit first. I headed onto my two final locations – White Sands Beach and Dunluce Castle. I was hoping to see the cattle on white sands but they had moved on by the time that I arrived, still getting a good photo nevertheless.

This is really the beach to visit in summer especially if you bring your surf board. I will be back when the weather picks up.

I then was too hungry to stop at dunluce so took a quick snap on my way past.

The old ruins of the castle still stand proud on the cliffs of the north coast and it is steeped in a rich history, a great stop for any tourist roaming the north coast of Ireland.

Finally it was time for lunch. I made my way to Coleraine to one of my favourite little cafe’s – Lost + Found. I knew no matter what I ordered I would be satisfied. I went for the eggs Benedict with bacon and I don’t know whether I was absolutely ravenous or the food was just that perfect. It certainly was delicious and the creamy hollandaise when down a treat. The perfect ending to a perfect day

K, Kalpha

The Wanderlust Way: Causeway Coast Wild. Rugged. Beauty. Home. Sea. “I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it's because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it's because we all came from the sea.

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Tipsy Times: Micil Distillery

Quaint. Suprising. Heritage. Peated. Sliante.

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade… and find someone whose life gave them vodka” – Ron White

In this case Poitin and we found the master of this, Pádraic ó Griallais, who founded Micil Distillery. After hearing the name floating round the industry we had to check out the source. I had primarily heard of the gin and had tasted it before, little…

View On WordPress

#alcohol #blog #drinks #friday #friday night #ireland #irish gin #irish whiskey #micil #new blogger #new post #poitin #travel #wild atlantic way

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

Jolly. Merry. Pleasant. Cosy. Indulgent.

Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever. – Richelle E. Goodrich

This quote could not be truer about the Bailey Spiced Hot Chocolate that I indulged in at Yuleyard. I certainly wished it was a bottomless cup! It was so good here I am writing a whole blog post about it. Well not just about it but it certainly was the star of the show.

Yuleyard – the seasonal name for Eatyard. Based in South Dublin, the small yard beside the Bernard Shaw is always filled with delicious wee vendors and Yuleyard is no different just with a Christmas twist.

Taking on the traditional Christmas Market staples – Bratwurst, Mulled Wine, and of course Christmas music. There was a small bunch of people all playing the festive tunes on ukulele’s. It added a jolly festive feel to the air.

Now onto the star – Baileys treat bar, at first I didnt even notice it hidden in the back corner but once I waddled over – yes waddled (a lot of eating was done that day!), I new immediately that this would be my sugar fix for the day. Baileys Spiced Festive Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and toasted marshmallow was my order of choice. Go big or go home! It was divine, silky, smooth, warming and very very sugary – being the festive season, I didn’t care at all about the calories.

Of course we needed some sustenance too – so we went for Bratwurst and my personal favourites Box Burger. Box Burger never fail to please, their burgers both classic and different are delicious. I went for the classic cheeseburger and it was perfection.

A very enjoyable lunch and a lovely escape from the craziness of christmas shopping.

K, Kalpha

The Christmas Chronicles: Yuleyard Jolly. Merry. Pleasant. Cosy. Indulgent. Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever.

#blog #christmas #christmas shopping #Dublin #eatyard #festive #ireland #jolly #travel ireland

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Tipsy Times: Teeling Whiskey Winter Fair

Cosy. Local. Jolly. Whiskey. Homey.

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough” – Mark Twain

This quote couldn’t be truer for Teeling Whiskey. Personally I will never get enough of their Small Batch Whiskey. Although the cheapest in their range it is just such a perfectly curated whiskey it will never fail to satisfy me. I’ve tried most whiskeys in their range and…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Kalpha Bops: The November Sessions

Ethereal. Sunset. Velvet. Chill. Relax.

“Oh and as the day turns into night”

– A R I Z O N A

Our playlist from november is perfectly encompessed by the opening lyric from the first song of the playlist. This is the music I have been loving to listen to in these dark winter evenings after work.

Song of the month:

“Baby Blue” – Rence

“Baby Blue” closes out our playlist perfectly and it is has been…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 5 years

Text

The Brewing Hour: Early Bird Coffee + Kitchen

Home. Satisfaction. Dreamy. Chill. Delight.

“Every time you revisit a book, you get something else out of it” – Jacqueline Woodson

We weren’t quite revisiting a book but we felt the same effect when we revisited Early Bird Coffee + Kitchen. Quickly becoming one of our favourite places to eat when visiting Toronto. The white and spacious cafe brightens up your morning perfectly with its high…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Tipsy Times: Kinsip House of Fine Spirits

Charismatic. Individual. Unique. Masters. Home.

“Whiskey and ice and everything nice.” – Anon

We love popping into Kinsip, it is truly in its own lane. The only distillery among a vast area of breweries and wineries, it stands out purely by serving a different offering. Mastering many different varieties of alcohol, there is something for everyone. My personal favourite has been the gin ever…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Brewing Hour: Early Bird Coffee + Kitchen

Bright. Refreshing. Clean. Perfect. Peaceful.

“You can’t live a full life on an empty stomach” – Anon

Not a truer quote than the above, especially when exploring a vast metropolis like Toronto. After a sweaty, early morning at Soulcycle we were walking the streets looking for some breakfast. Now, when travelling I would say one of the worst things you can do is not plan your breakfast, it keeps…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Dining Sessions: Signal Brewing

Warmth. Satisfaction. Historic. Brew. Vibes.

“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.” -Dave Barry

In our case, not nearly as well with beef brisket. Also with the oh so glorious cheese board. Before we get into that a brief back story. Signal brewery,…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Wanderlust Way: Niagara Falls

Thunderous. Wet. History. Power. Ice.

“Water is the driving force in nature.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Niagara Falls, one of the first things you think of when you hear of Canada. Possibly one of the most iconic tourist destinations in Canada. Being lucky enough to have visited the falls several times in my life so far, I was excited to travel back there for the first time in winter/early spring.…

View On WordPress

#Blogger #canada #exploring #love canada #new blog #new blogger #new post #niagara falls #The Wanderlust Way #travel #travel blog #travel blogger #travel canada #Wanderlust

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Tipsy Times: Gin Experience Dublin

Gin. Gin. Gin. Gin. And more gin!

“To gin or not to gin, silly question” – Anon

Gin, when you hear this you know summer is just around the corner and that was definitely the case of Gin Experience Dublin. Gin is much more than a drink, it is an experience and a gateway to a vast array of cocktails.

A little about the production of gin before we dive in. Gin, the posh name for flavoured vodka.…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Brewing Hour: Middletown Coffee Co

Welcoming. Warm. Home. Zen. Comfy.

“Coffee is a hug in a mug” – Anonymous

Hug in a mug was the best way to describe my time at Middletown Coffee Co. I stopped in here on my way home from exploring the north coast and visiting The Dark Hedges. I popped in and was welcomed with a big smile instantly feeling at home. The décor of the café is welcoming and warm. With plants and dark wood it is…

View On WordPress

#afternoon tea #Ballymena #blog #Blogger #Coffee shops #coffee shops ni #northern ireland #review #the brewing hour #travel blog #travel blogger #travel ni

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Wanderlust Way: The Dark Hedges

Iconic. Stark. Nature. Rural. Home. “In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful” – Alice Walker I couldn’t help think of this Alice Walker quote when I was at the Dark hedges. There is something so perfect yet so raw about the trees at The Dark Hedges. The trees bend and wind completely individually but when…

View On WordPress

0 notes

kalphablog-blog · 6 years

Text

The Kalpha Bops - The April Sessions

The Kalpha Bops – The April Sessions

Country. Emphatic. Fun. Chill. Relax. “A great song will be great forever – it’s timeless and classic in that way.” – Kacey Musgraves The above quote perfectly captures our song of the week, a timeless song from Kacey Musgraves new album that I will be popping on in the evenings and morning from now until forever. Song of the week: “Oh. What a World” – Kacey Musgraves We are absolute suckers for…

View On WordPress

0 notes

Statistics

We looked inside some of the posts by kalphablog-blog and here's what we found interesting.

Average Info

Notes Per Post

Likes Per Post

Reblog Per Post

Reply Per Post

Time Between Posts

29 days

Number of Posts By Type

Text

Explore Tagged Posts

Fun Fact

Tumblr.com rank in the US is 25.