I was just at a hotel in Portland and they had a Pinot I didn’t hate. I think was called A to Z…not sure. The wine came with the room but what I got from the mini bar was not liquid, just something to munch on. Cashews. Way over priced, surprise, surprise.

BTW, I hope the Sofitel gave you a discount!

Oscar, I agree patxaran is amazing! That was my favorite aperitif in Bordeaux (one of the family members went to Basque country a lot, so he’d bring back goodies). Here’s some more info on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patxaran Great stuff if you can get your hands on it.

QOTD: I never get stuff outta the mini-bar. Too damn expensive. Although one time when I was stuck in Paris and staying at the Paris Hilton (insert joke here), I bought a lovely demie-bouteille of white at a grocery and drank it that night. Best unexpected delay ever!

Hey Gary

Good fun

QOTD: Never, ever drink from it, prices are too rediculas. Normaly just get some drinks on the street and drink them in the room if I feel like it … THough I think once I had a can of lemonade when I was very hungover…

Cheers
Andrew

yes gary i agree-that wine is shxxxxty-some people love it -always bring my own wine to the hotel-hotel wine lists are real lame!

QOTD: In my experience, the only good drink you can get out of a mini-bar is that last drink of the night after returning from drinking at a REAL bar…although that last drink may cost you close to your entire night’s tab at the REAL bar.

a hoot of a show. I travel a lot, so the mini-bar is sometimes all I have when I arrive late at night.

Interesting show – we all have been there.

QOTD – in a small hotel in Germany, there was a bottle of a “grower’s” Champagne that was really good. Can’t remember the name, just the fact that I was surprised.

A show to make a lurker come out. ROCKED! TFF! Lovd T. I never touch the mini bar. Too Cheap! rather go down to the lounge / mingle. They never have good s**t in that bar. CdP,CdR,Vac,Gig… Orange, that’s where my peep’s are. Unless the food calls for something else of course… Love u Gary, come to Montana and visit.

Never touch mini-bars, I’d rather drink from the tap than pay for the premium.

Loved this episode. Very cool, hope to see more like it.

qotd: Craziest beverage was a red bull ripoff called Mad Croc. Scary stuff.

Another amazing show. I loved the format but then again I work in the F&B department for a “W”onderful boutique hotel chain.

The Thunder Rack is a great idea. At my location, we went for a mixed-drinks format with a tiny 4oz shaker in the mini-bar and different bottled mixes. Pick your alcohol and your mix. Shake it yourself and enjoy.

QotD: The afternoon spent with my department heads mixing said cocktails and trying them out.

gary–this is an AWESOME, hardcore episode! You are so dedicated to the thunder show you even made it with the blair-witch style camera work! The camera has surprisingly good quality picture though!

Cuenca, Spain (really all the paradors in Spain but especially this one)…Tanqueray and Tonic from the mini bar with Marcona Almonds to accompany. Everything tastes better when you’re looking over a gorge from the window of a converted medieval hospital.

I travel a lot for work, so I won’t knock the mini bar. On a few late-arrivals, it’s contained my only dinner option. I’ll say my BEST experience is champagne out of the mini bar in Vegas, because well, that means I’m in Vegas!! Who likes the short ribs at Kraftsteak?? THIS girl!

Another classic episode….could have taken your word for it that you were going to spit, did not need to travel into the bathroom with you

QOTD- Ginger Ale at a resort in the Bahamas. My wife and I were sicker than a dog for tow days and the Schweppes got us through!

QOTD: Nothing GV…can’t say I’ve ever ventured into one…the prices just make me turn my head

Awesome show, would love to see short shows from minibars when your traveling….QOTD: Abita in New Orleans. Just feels so right before dinner.

Weird little episode GV. I never touch anything in the minibar after being charged $12 for a bottle of 20 cashews. That wine had to have been $20.

I love this on the fly type of episodes. It shows your love for us and not ever wanting to let us down. Thank you once again for all the heart and soul you give us. QOTD: Even a mini-bar at a cheap motel is way overpriced for my tastes. Can I afford it? Easily. Is it worth the price? Never.

GARY!

Finally got to catch up on WLTV last night, and this episode my friend, took the proverbial cake. I was definitly detecting a hint of MacGyver action on the nose.

QOTD: A former girl scout always packs her own mini-bar.

My parents never let me have ANYTHING from the mini bar. Too expensive!

I have no mini-bar stories. Good job with the flip camera, though. I have one of those too. I have a little tripod for it.

Sorry, I’ve got nothing. I’ve never used the mini-bar. It’s always a rip-off.

Gary!
This is an AWESOME Thunder Show! I have always wondered what you would say about mini bar wines, and you WENT there! I bow down to your dedication to Wine Library TV, and your respect for all of us who are forced to drink these wines on occaision. The show from your room…CLASSIC! Nobody works as hard as you…! Your 50 percent (working with a cold!) is every other wine reviewer’s 100 percent!

Now, next show…Flip Cam From The Air! Taste airplane wine…coach or First Class – your choice! I would LOVE to hear about these! …and your guest could be the person sitting next to you!

“Thunder Rack” – AWESOME idea! I’m gonna look for it! Hopefully you get some calls from hotels. You GO, G-Man!!

Best drink story: I love hotel loyalty programs – and the Wyndham supplies your beverage and snack choice. Everytime I check in, my room is already set up with a complimentary bottle of wine and cheese and crackers. This is a great welcome after a long commute. However, since most other hotel chains don’t offer this, I call the local wine store and have them deliver good wines to my room, so I’m not forced into the overpriced mini bar Clos Du Blah’s.

“Me, with a little bit of YOU, we are changing the wine world!”

Great episode Gary – glad to see you carry on without Mott. Good work.