Oh how I love the summer! Bodybuilding competitions are over for a few months, the weather is divine, and there are so many foods to be eaten and drinks to be drunk. My latest adventure took me to the mountains of Burke County, North Carolina, where there’s beer, whiskey, and barbecue as far as the eye can see.
Outside of JD’s Smokehouse
The first pitstop was JD’s Smokehouse for some famous barbecue in the town of Rutherford College. JD’s specialties are hardwood-smoked meat plates and myriad side dishes including such delights as Brunswick stew, jalapeño cheese grits, and sweet potato crunch.
Chicken and pork plate at JD’s
All of the meats come unsauced so that you can sauce them yourself with the variety of sauce choices on the table. I of course selected the spiciest offering to jazz up my chicken and pork. (The picture above was taken pre-sauce.) For my sides I went with my favorite classics: baked beans and macaroni & cheese. I was not disappointed!
After some adventures (which I’ll write another post about), it was off to the very hip root + vine for drinks and dinner. I made an excellent decision in choosing the below golden stunner for my drink order – it was “A Very Merry Un-Birthday to You” IPA from Fonta Flora. First of all, the name. Duh. And secondly, it was DELICIOUS. I think I had three more throughout the weekend because I loved it so much, and I even ended up purchasing two growlers of it. One to share with friends, and one for me!
root + vine
root + vine
After dinner, we headed to Fonta Flora brewery (the home of the amazing beer above) to check out their other offerings. I couldn’t bear to order anything else but my new favorite IPA, but some others I was with ordered beer flights. Flights are always a great way to get a lay of the land at a new brewery.
Fonta Flora Brewery, Morganton NC
The following day, we switched gears a little bit and headed to Blue Ridge Distilling, where they make Defiant single malt whiskey. Now, I’m not usually a whiskey person (I think it tastes like crayons), but I was extremely impressed by this one. It was drinkable, smooth, and entirely un-crayon-y.
Defiant is different because it’s not aged long – only 60 days – because instead of using oak barrels, they infuse the whiskey with flavor by including American white oak spirals (peep one in the lower left corner of the photo above). It only takes 60 days for the whiskey to displace the oxygen space in the oak and that means it’s been fully infused.
Tim Ferris, co-founder of Blue Ridge Distilling gave us a great tour of the place, walking us through the process of whiskey-making, and even let us sample a new rye whiskey they’re developing which isn’t yet on the market.
Tim Ferris, Blue Ridge Distilling
Defiant Rye Whiskey sample
Want to go on a tour like this? You’re in luck, because Burke County offers Beer, BBQ, and Whiskey Trolley Tours to the public! Tours last six hours (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and typically cost $45 per ticket. Visit www.DiscoverBurkeCounty.com or call 888-462-2921 to book!
If you’d like to check out the places I visited while in Burke County, NC, their websites are listed below. Happy food babyin’!
- JD’s Smokehouse in Rutherford College, NC
- root + vine in Morganton, NC
- Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, NC
- Blue Ridge Distilling in Bostic, NC
I’d do ALL of this! Love whiskey, love proper American BBQ food, and would love to visit the Carolinas. x
I am not a whiskey drinker. However, I enjoyed reading the story of the making of this whiskey and really would like to try it.
It sounds like you had a great time. I have never cared for whiskey, a little too strong for me but I love BBQ.
It sounds like you had a great time. I have never cared for whiskey either, I don’t think it tastes like crayons but can’t say for sure exactly what it is I don’t like about it. Maybe the Defiant would be more to my liking.
One chicken and pork plate for me please! It looks delicious!
This looks like so much fun! You and I definitely could go on the same vacay together. If I have a chance I’d love to do this!
What a great way to spend the day. I haven’t been to North Carolina. The food part is the most amazing tour 😉
I really enjoy brewery and distillery tours – I think they are just so interesting from a scientific standpoint! And, there is also usually some sampling going on…..
I live in North Carolina and haven’t visited these places before. They look fun! Thanks for sharing.
That’s indeed a nice way to spend a day especially for those who drink alcohol.
Now, I’m extremely hungry! What a great way to spend the day. Summer is indeed the best, a great time for adventures and the outdoors.
These sounds a great way to spend the day, not sure what I would choose though!
now this looks like my kind of place – except for the whiskey, I can’t stomach that after getting drunk on it at 17 ha! But the rest (and maybe a vino or 3) and it’s perfect
OOh this sounds just amazing, though I am not too sure which sauces I would choose x
I love the idea of making your own choice of sauces at JD’s Smokehouse. Great adventure with amazing foodtrip indeed. 🙂
The BBQ looks so completely delicious! I love that you can choose your own sauces. The picture looks so yummy that I can only imagine how much better it is in real life. 😉
I love bbq! I so wish I could head there for dinner right now. Looks delicious!
oh this looks like such a cool spot. i always like that all of the food looks really fresh.
This looks like a cool place to tour. Looks like you had a great time.
The food looks so good. I love BBQ but NC BBQ is so different than what I was used to. In TX, the BBQ is slathered with tasty bbq sauce.
I like the chicken and pork plate. The place sounds really nice for a family dinner.
My husband and I have been to our fare share of breweries, and this one looks great. Sound like you had a lot of fun there too!
What a great way to spend the day! This food looks delicious, great photos.
All I can say is I miss North Carolina Barbecue. My family is from there we always went to Lexington Barbecue.
Looks like some amazing places to visit. I had to crack up at your description of whiskey as “crayon-y.” I’ve never had it outside of a Whiskey sour, but suspect I’d be rather finicky over brand. It’s always nice when you find one you like.
Looks like a very fun place to eat. Our family really enjoyed BBQ parties, I think they will surely like to go there.
It’s hard to find a great bbq place. Looks like you hit the jackpot. This place looks delicious
Aah my maiden name was Burke so I feel I should attend one of these tours. These tours sound incredible!
I absolutely love BBQ and I love how these are unsauced! Mac n cheese Is my all time favourite too x
Wow, how fun. I love a great brewery because it gives me a push to step outside my norm. LOL. Sounds like you did the same. Thanks for sharing
I sure do love a good BBQ! I think the whiskey tour would be super interesting.
I was born and raised in NC, until we moved to FL when I was 16. NC BBQ is something I dearly miss. It’s always the first and the last meal I get when visiting.
A food and drink tour sounds right up my alley! I would love to do one soon.
This looks like a fun place to visit.
Your pictures are very charming.
Oh how fun. This place looks like it’s really great, would love to visit sometime.
Food and drink tour like this has always been my favourite tour. The chicken and pork bbq look so delicious. I love your way of writing.
All of these food choices look so good and so delectable. I love the summertime for sampling great foods too.
This food looks delicious. I love the name of the restaurant. I would totally do a tour of the smokehouse and eat all the goodies along the way.
this looks like an amazing place. food and drinks are always a great combination
BBQ never fails to make me happy! I love this, I hope I can try this one of these days!
You’ve got a funny way of describing whiskey’s taste, haha! Although the name sure sounds strong and tempting, I might just get one for a special person. That pork and chicken plate just looks wicked tasty! You’ve shown some good places here, very nice.
All of the food and drinks look amazing!! I love trying new places to eat when we travel, bbq is one of my favorites!
I love that macaroni cheese is considered a side dish in the US haha, in the UK it’s usually a main course. But having it on the side of something else is my idea of heaven!
I love any dish that includes macaroni and cheese. It’s such a staple in American dishes that it’s just enjoyable in any form.
I could do with a tot of that whiskey and the chicken and pork plate sounds fab.
That sounds like a great tour. The food looks pretty good especially the BBQ.
Wow BBQ! Its one of the thing that i like most when travelling.
One of our favorite things to do when we travel is try out BBQ joints! The one you found looks awesome!
Oh wow. The food looks brilliant. Making me so hungry.
That’s that feel good soul food, hmmm! The distillery looks pretty cool, I’d give that whiskey a try.
Going here during the summer would be the absolute best. It’s the perfect tour for couples or friends! I really like the idea of being able to enjoy good food and some drinks, especially since it’s the summer, it’s definitely well-deserved!
Looks like a great destination and you shared some fabulous photos. JD’s Smokehouse looks delicious!
Looks like a great time! If I am ever in the area – will definitely have to check it out. Thank you for sharing this little secret.
BBQ and whiskey is the perfect combo. Everything looks so cool! Thanks for sharing this gem!
What wonderful adventures you have! We also visited a distillery and it was fascinating.
That looks to die for. I love eating food like this in the summertime!
This would be my husbands happy place! I will have to show him!
BBQ is one of my family’s favorites! I am sure we would all enjoy visiting JD’s Smokehouse as we continue to travel around the country.
BBQ is one of my family’s favorites! I’m sure we all would enjoy visiting JD’s Smokehouse as we continue to travel around the country.
My two favorite pastimes. The food looks killer!
My family and I are planning a trip to North Carolina during the month of August. The food looks amazing and we will have to check it out. We’ll be with the kids and will probably leave them behind (they’re 19 & 21yo) and go on the whiskey tour! So much fun! 🙂
This sounds like a great day out – right up my street! R
Talk about an epic tour that has a little of everything. Some delicious barbecue and a cold beer practically defines summer for me.
So glad that you are able to take a break from body competitions and take some time to relax and enjoy. Looks like you had a great tour…your photos are gorgeous!
Whiskey and BBQ I am in! This looks so good what a great experience thanks for sharing amiga xoxoxo
Looks like you had such a fun tour! Fonta Flora brewery reminded me of St. Augustine brewery which I visited last year. It was fun! Thanks for sharing about your tour with us!
Have a great long weekend!
Looks like a great tour! That BBQ looks amazing!
I would emigrate just for food!
It looks so delicious and just exactly what I am craving!
I don’t drink but the food looks fantastic! 🙂
Here in Texas we get brisket, which is great but I grew up eating pork BBQ in GA. This looks like a wonderful place. I’d love to go if we get to NC!
That smokehouse looks amazing. The ambience is great and the food looks delicious. I’m totally hungry now after seeing those pictures.
Oh wow what an amazing sounding place – I would totally love to try that food! x
I’d have such a blast on a tour like this. I’m sure I’d enjoy the BBQ at JD’s Smokehouse and it would be well enjoyed.
This looks like my kind of placed – we’ve taken a distillery tour in the Lakes, UK and loved it. Really interesting (plus I love the tasting part)
I may plan a trip around this foodie paradise! Love that little copper pig 🙂
I have a good friend who lives in NC. I will ask her if she’s been to these places. I am positive she did! I have to ask her to take me to these awesome places when we get to meet up later this year.
I have never tried wiskey but – crayons? YUCK! I will have to try this non-crayon variety. 🙂
JD’s smokehouse looks amazing! We love pulled pork down here in my neck of the woods, so I know that would be the place for our family. Really, we’d be happy touring all of them, though. What a great time!
What a brilliant tour anything that involves good food gets my attention.
Me too! I enjoy good food and good wine. Nothing beats the feeling of a happy tummy! 🙂
Burke County is fairly close to my home, I dont know how I have never visited it. Sounds Like it is a hidden gem.
This is a great post. Am I the only one who thinks “Food Baby” is a phrase that should be replaced? Like you really shouldn’t think about the implications of that common reference. LOL
Lol!
If I ever get to North Carolina, I am definitely checking out these places! The distillery looks so neat!
What a fun tour for foodies. I love barbecue and I would love to visit JD’s Smokehouse. The jalapeno cheese grits are calling my name.
Looks like you had a delicious time! I always love to go for a good BBQ. My husband would love some of those beers and other drinks. We miss all the nice food experiences in NC (we used to live in Fayetteville).
I bet you were looking forward to this after bodybuilding. I love steakhouses x
I am absolutely starving! It is early in the morning and I’m telling you right now if I had that restaurant here I would be going there right now! Deafly looks absolutely sinful!
I would totally join you (and it’s quite late at night here right now) lol x
This looks like a really fun and interesting tour.
Omg this was not the post to read when I’m hungry! That pulled pork looks amazing, wow. I agree that whisky tastes like crayons haha!
lily kate x
jolihouse.com
Doesn’t it though? I love pulled pork, so reading this post is making me especially hungry.
I would love to go on a food tour. I think I have found a get away for my husband and me. The food look amazing, BBQ & beer, it doesn’t get any better.
This looks so good! I love tours like that, and the food looks great too!
Barbecue and whiskey! What could be a better combination than that. I’m sure a lot of people especially the guys would enjoy joining a tour such as this! It’s packed of the things that they love most and it’s really fun!
Love! This looks super fun! Seeing how the whisky is made would be awesome! I recently went on a wine tour and it was really cool!
JD’s Smokehouse sounds awesome. You just can’t get southern bbq up here in the northeast!
Sounds like an amazing tour, I would have loved the food part the most as it sounded so nice, I am not a beer or whiskey drinker but am sure my husband would have helped me out x
I bet those beans and that mac and cheese were amazing. I have an actually baby in my belly at the moment, and now we are craving all of this.
Oh yeah, that is totally what I would have ordered, too! NOMS.
That sounds like a yummy way to spend a day. I don;t drink anymore but that barbecue sounds to die for!
Love me some bbq. This place looks and sounds amazing.Thank you for sharing.