Saturday in PEI

So because of limited time, we didn't want to spend our entire weekend at the festival and miss out on all that PEI has to offer. We opted instead for a little exploratory Saturday, though we were extremely sluggish to get started after the ruckus that was the night before. We ended up deciding to visit the Prince Edward Island distillery, and find a couple of lamb farms to see if we could get a leg or shoulder for our future ground oven plans.

The distillery was a really cool place, where Julie Shore plys her trade as a master distiller. She makes vodka out of PEI potatoes, which is great news, because that qualifies as a local products. Though I'm not a vodka guy at all, the vodka is creamy and texturally different than anything else I've ever tried. She also makes Gin, which is a great addition to any party, particularly one involving me and a bottle of tonic. G&T is my standby, the drink I lean on to provide warmth when all else seems horrible. Even beer can't compete with a well made G&T. Her gin is a little too spice-heavy for my tastes, but once again, totally different than anything else I've ever tried. Her pot still is almost a work of art in it's complexity, and her facility is extremely clean. I almost forgot to mention that after she is done producing her sumptuous spirits, she finished the circle by feeding the mash to several pigs she keeps in the backyard. Happy pigs and a sweet recycling program.

Excellent way to round out a facility, because they in turn provide local chefs with food for the plate, where most distilleries simply provide the landfill with trash for the turf. She also makes a "bourbon" though it can't be called that, because that is a regional name, and a blueberry grain vodka, which actually tastes of blueberries, not sugar and extract. It's a really nice place, and while waiting for the tour before you to finish, you can doze on the sleepy sun drenched front patio. Excellence.

Julie also had an idea to send us to a local lamb farmer to find a large piece of animal to roast underground. Sadly Springwater farms couldn't oblige, all they had left was small portions. However, we did get a wicked run around of the farm, including meeting the animals, learning a bit about tanning hides, and even riding a train made from hay and having a costume show. George has two daughters with a lot of energy and some serious train building abilities, complete with a station. His flock of sheep is so beautiful it hurts. And so domesticated it's awesome. Usually petting sheep is a difficult one, but his entire herd are like pets, and come to the fences when you walk in the barn. An excellent time. We also procured some lamb sausages which we ate that evening upon returning to Charlottetown. All in all, it was a nice day in the countryside of Prince Edward Island, which is some seriously beautiful countryside.