Castle & Cairn

Ultra Wild Passion was introduced in early 2024 as Monster Energy’s tangy take on the tropical passionfruit profile. It focuses on a tart, zesty experience with the same "crackle" as the rest of the portfolio, avoiding the syrup and nectar texture of the Juice Monster line. The embossed can art features a lush jungle-scape with corresponding animals (jaguar, snake, elephant, chameleon). Is passionfruit really the fruit of unbridled desire? Let's find out. 🛒 Price:  $2.99  - Home Depot ✨Calories:  10 ,  16oz. can 🍵 Caffeine:  150mg, slightly less than a cup of coffee 👅 Flavor: I'm actually a bit reminded of Monster's Blue Hawaiian . This has the same very citrus forward mouth that fights a bit with the passionfruit flavor. I didn't get much of the passionfruit until the transition into the finish and it seems a little odd as a flavor combination overall. Mouthfeel is bright and tingly like the rest of the Ultra line. 🧪 Ingredients: Wild Passion sticks pret...

Another solid ready-to-drink canned latte from Philadelphia coffee institution, La Colombe, Mocha offers a sweet cold brew experience in a convenient package with a chocolate flair. La Colombe uses a in-can oxygen barrier to keep it fresh and Nitrous Oxide to help create a micro-foam head and silky texture. Marketed as a cleaner alternative to typical bottled coffee drinks, it has a simple ingredient list and uses sugar instead of corn syrup and Alkalized (Dutched) Cocoa to provide the mocha chocolate flavor at around a third of the added sugar of the average RTD coffee. There is also added lactase to make it easier to digest for those with sensitivities to lactose (more recent iterations have gone lactose free). It comes in both 11oz. and 9oz. iterations both floating around $3-4. Note that La Colombe is rolling our a new package and allegedly new recipe for Mocha; this is the old version widely available in 2025/early 2026.  🌍 Origin:  Unknown, a blend that likely drifts ov...

Paying homage to legendary African American Bartender Tom Bullock, this flavored bourbon is absolutely begging to be put into an old fashioned.  Tom Bullock (1872–1964) was an influential bartender in the pre-Prohibition era that made history in 1917 by becoming the first Black American to publish a cocktail recipe book, "The Ideal Bartender." Bullock was noted as having served many notable figures including President Teddy Roosevelt, and was somewhat widely known for his distinctive technique of garnishing drinks with flaming orange peel. Tom Bullock's is a brand by Henderson Spirits Group and also offers an Old Tom Gin with Sweet Lime. Henderson spirits was founded in 2020 by Alan Henderson of NBA fame with the explicit mission of "Diversifying the Bar". 🛒 Sourced: $55.99 at Total Wine - 750ml - Reference price.  Gifted to me by my Sister and Brother-in-Law. Thanks for supporting my hobby and filling my cup! 🧪 Proof:  82.3 proof, 41.15% ABV  🎨 Color:  Y4 ...

Located just north of the Outlet Shoppes near Woodstock,  Olde Rope Mill Park is a city recreation area with lovely walking trails and immediate access to lake Allatoona. The park is well maintained with on-site restrooms , picnic pavilion, and free parking . During the Summer season, there is typically a kayak launch/floating doc from which to float your boat, though when I visited it was out of service. You'll also find many people fishing from the bank or bridge on most days. A kayaker's favorite, it is one of the few free and easily accessible put-ins and is sheltered from powered boat activity. Water Levels for Olde Rope Mill Boating The water level of Lake Allatoona is controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is lowered during the winter as the drainage area around the lake is relatively large compared to its total capacity. During this period before the spring rains, the trip from Olde Rope Mill may not be navigable and will be very muddy and shallow. I recom...