Good morning from Cincinnati where it is now around 6:30 in the morning. My Hotel for these two nights is a Holiday Inn Express and suites in Bellevue. I mentioned in the opening comments that this was a strategic choice that’s because the hotel is within very close walking distance of the new riff distillery and also party source which is supposed to be one of the largest liquor stores going.

The hotel is as basic as you might expect, but given that I’m here for two nights and intend to spend almost no time in the hotel it works for me on location.





It feels a bit ‘in the middle of nowhere’




When I came down for breakfast there was a huge group of ‘Robocats 379’ having breakfast all in matching clothing. At first I thought thy were a sports team but closer examination made that unlikely They are actually a robotics competition team and Google as I might I’m no wiser as to how they actually compete!

The breakfast layout is fairly basic however the coffee machines are Costa






I have spotted biscuits and gravy which I’ve not had in an age so I’m going to have to give those a go, maybe they’ll exceed expectations!

Plan of the day starts over here with a tour of the new riff distillery at noon but before then there is some shopping to be done both at Party Source and at the nearby shopping center.

After the distillery tour it will be a cab into the city where the main attraction is a blend your own bourbon event. Around that will be more shopping and bourbon and, if I haven’t flagged by the end of the day, a brauhaus to close the day.

I had a food tour booked for tomorrow which was cancelled by the organisers on Wednesday and try as I might I cannot find any alternative entertainment so Sunday is going to be a city wander day before heading to the airport in the late afternoon.

Right now, food!