How whiskey tastings became our Mother's Day tradition
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My mom prefers that I celebrate her not with flowers, but with scotch.
Nineteen years ago, she came to visit me while I was studying abroad — and promptly asked if she could smoke a cigar on the bedroom balcony of my Italian apartment. I'd never seen her smoke a cigar in my life.
- She's been surprising me ever since.
Over the years, we've smoked cigars together in St. Peter's Square (the Italian cops lit them for us), in a quiet piazza in Venice and at a cigar bar in Portland after the birth of my niece (her first grandchild).
I've watched her slurp down raw mussels on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Naples — something even the local fisherman don't do without a dose of lemon.
- She's fearless.
We're 29 years apart in age, but before long, she became my favorite travel companion.
These days, our adventures look a little different. I have two small kids, and most of my travels involve diaper bags and planning snacks.
But for special occasions, I still surprise Mom with a nice bottle of whiskey. (She says flowers make her sneeze.)
We're slowly turning Mother's Day whiskey tastings into our own tradition. Two years ago, we celebrated at Westland Distillery.
- I had my two-month-old strapped to my chest — baby's first whiskey tasting, I joked.
My mom's back in Seattle this weekend. And while dragging a toddler into a karaoke bar probably isn't on the agenda, we'll still sneak away for a little whiskey and adventure — just like old times.
