Bourbon may be Kentucky’s claim to fame, but that doesn’t mean the Sunshine State will be left out of September’s National Bourbon Heritage Month festivities. All along the coast, Florida hotels are mixing up homages to “America’s Native Spirit”.
Stranahan’s Manhattan in St. Pete Beach
The Mediterranean-inspired Hotel Zamora is treating guests to Stranahan’s Manhattans—a blend of Stranahan whiskey, sweet vermouth and muddled cherries—and a variety of bourbons for $2 off all month long in honor of Bourbon Heritage Month. Guests can sip their whiskey while lounging on a cabana at the hotel’s 360-degree rooftop lounge five stories above sea level or on the ground level at the freshwater pool’s outdoor bar. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests can dine indoors at the Castile Restaurant or outdoors on the property’s terrace overlooking the ocean. The restaurant’s menu features a range of culinary samplings from Spain, Mexico and the Mediterranean. Accommodations include 72 guestrooms and suites with balconies overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Just outside the hotel lies the white-sand beach of St. Pete Beach. Room rates start at $225 per night. For more information, visit thehotelzamora.com.
Whiskey Smash in Sarasota
The 223-guestroom Resort at Longboat Key Club in Sarasota offers more than 100 hand-selected whiskeys from around the world at its Tavern & Whiskey Bar. The menu features cocktails, concoctions, international whiskeys and the Whiskey Smash—a cocktail made with Eagle Rare bourbon, lemon and muddled mint, served on the rocks. Just outside the window guests see another draw to the resort, its award-winning golf course. Guests can choose to play on the Harbourside Golf Course, which runs along Sarasota Bay, or on the more challenging links-style Islandside Golf Course that borders the Gulf of Mexico. Additional active pursuits include tennis at one of 20 onsite tennis courts, and exercising at the hotel’s 4,000-sq.-ft. fitness center or in a group fitness class at the Mind & Motion studio. For a more relaxing time, guests can indulge in The Spa’s therapeutic massages and holistic body treatments inside the 9,000-sq.-ft. facility or poolside in a cabana. Make sure your client saves room during their vacation to taste dishes from each of the Resort at Longboat Key Club’s eight restaurants, which include the Portofino Ristorante & Bar, an Italian restaurant specializing in fresh seafood, handmade pastas and wood-fire brick-oven pizzas. Room rates start at $249 per night. For more information, visit longboatkeyclub.com.
Bottled Heat in Clearwater Beach
Sandpearl Resort’s “Bottled Heat” drink uses a brewing method that dates back to 1937 when the hotel lacked a heating system. When a cold front would hit, the hotel would serve guests a sip of bourbon, or “bottled heat.” Today, guests still enjoy bourbon at the resort’s four-diamond Caretta on the Gulf restaurant. For an extra taste of America’s favorite whiskey, have your clients order the Berkshire pork chop with chipotle bourbon glaze. The 203-guestroom and 50-suite resort also offers plenty of family-friendly amenities such as a lagoon pool, Camp Ridley for Kids children’s club, and experiential programs, where guests visit a haven for rescued sea animals, participate in chef cooking demos or work alongside visiting artists. The Sandpearl Spa features 50 spa services, including touch therapy, signature Essence of Sandpearl treatments, as well as skincare and salon services. At the Sandpearl Fitness Center, guests can get join indoor and outdoor group classes. Room rates start at $229 per night. For more information, visit sandpearl.com.
