Author: Laura Windham

To create the crisp, elevated drinks visitors love at The Greystone, our mixologists use a variety of tips and tricks you may not find in a typical recipe book. In this Cocktail Corner, we’re highlighting delicious ways to add flavor and fizz to your drinks.

RAPID INFUSION
Infusion is a process that brings the natural flavors of fruits and botanicals, such as lemongrass, strawberry, and hibiscus, into your chosen liquor. This is an incredible way to enhance the flavor of a cocktail, but it traditionally takes anywhere from days to weeks of soaking the botanicals in alcohol for the flavor to come through. However, there are now new methods for infusion that shorten this timeline to mere minutes.

The first and most popular method is through a combination of nitrous oxide and pressure. With a cream whipper, the mixologist will use nitrous oxide gas to first force the spirit into the botanical then force the spirit to be released. When the spirit exits the botanical, it is now fully infused with that flavor and ready for mixing. Other methods for rapid infusion include utilizing negative pressure via vacuum sealing, or via a sous vide temperature manipulation.

CARBONATING COCKTAILS
To add a refreshing, sparkling element to a cocktail, many mixologists turn to carbonation. Traditionally, bartenders may add soda water to the cocktail to get the bubbles going—however, this method dilutes the original flavor of the cocktail and may result in an “off” taste. To carbonate without the addition of soda water, mixologists may choose either to infuse CO2 into the cocktail or use a soda syphon.

Soda syphons are an excellent choice for bar settings, where you’re making cocktails to order. Just add the chilled beverage to the soda syphon and release excess oxygen from the bottle for the chemical change to take effect. This works best with clear liquids without cream or inconsistencies like chunks of fruit.

BATCHING COCKTAILS:
If you have a party coming up with a signature cocktail, you may choose to batch the cocktail by making multiple servings en masse ahead of time. When doing this, it’s important not to include ingredients you know will go bad shortly— including fruit juice, egg whites, and dairy. In fact, if you’re using any fresh ingredients for a batch cocktail, you may want to see if you can substitute it with a flavored syrup.

Make sure the ingredients in the recipe can be easily multiplied to suit a batch, tasting when complete to see if anything needs to be adjusted. Leave out any bubbly element like soda water or sparkling wine until you finally pour the cocktail into individual glasses, as the bubbles otherwise won’t last.

We’re so excited to bring back our tradition of Sunday Night Music at the Mansion Bar. Starting this April, talented musicians from across the region are coming to The Greystone to play from 6 to 8pm every Sunday night. Whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town, we encourage everyone to stop by and enjoy the musical stylings of these skilled performers.

LARSON SHOOK

An up-and-coming guitarist, Larson specializes in jazz and lounge covers for our Greystone guests and visitors. This Brevard native plays both the electric and acoustic guitars, lending a versatility to his sound that is only magnified by his talent.
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MYRON HYMAN

A triple threat from the nearby town of Etowah, Myron impresses as an acoustic guitarist, bassist, and singer. His song “Rock that Boogie” was honored as the Best Blues Song by the World Songwriting Awards in spring 2024. We’re sure he’ll play this award- winning song for you if you ask!
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KEVIN SANDERS

A pianist raised in the musical city of Nashville, Kevin began learning his craft at only eight years old. With a foundation of classical music, he grew to embrace the genres of pop, R&B, Latin, and jazz as he grew older—with training at the revered Nashville Jazz Workshop. Influenced by musicians like Billy Joel, Gene Harris, and Herbie Hancock, Kevin performs his music across western North Carolina, traveling from his home in Brevard.
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HOPE GRIFFIN

Praised by Bill Kopp in the Mountain Xpress for her “soulful voice, straightforward arrangements and solid, accessible songwriting,” Hope is a folk guitarist and singer-songwriter. Originally from Alaska, we are thrilled she made her way to western North Carolina and is now gracing us with her talents!
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MARGIE PAPAJOHN

A storied pianist and performer, Margie has created a musical style of her very own over the decades. She has been the chosen performer for numerous events and famed locales, including the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. A juried musical artist for the South Carolina Arts Commission, Margie is in the process of creating an album of music created straight from her heart.

With sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, roaring whitewater rivers, and crystal clear lakes, it’s no secret that Western North Carolina makes a stunning backdrop to any destination wedding. No matter the theme or season, this varied landscape, rich in biodiversity and a quiet beauty you can only find deep in the mountains, will always bring an unforgettable atmosphere to the occasion.

Beyond the gorgeous photos, why are couples flocking to the region for everything from intimate elopements to wedding weekend extravaganzas?

First up: the variety of gorgeous venues. Western North Carolina is home to an untold number of venues that each bring a unique element, from lakeside inns like The Greystone to mountainside fields like Chimney Rock Farm. These venues not only celebrate the couple—they also showcase an authentic connection to the region, whether it’s a small historic church or a bustling brewery.

Next: adventure is quite literally around every corner. If you can’t think of a gift for a wedding party, a zipline tour through the mountains or a whitewater rafting experience would be the ultimate thank you. Or, if you’re looking for a more peaceful outing, vineyards like Sawyer Springs and Marked Tree offer select tasting experiences. Destination wedding guests often choose to stay longer in the region, turning their visit into a complete vacation.

Finally, the food and hospitality of the western North Carolina mountains cannot be beat. From cozy restaurants where culinary gifts are passed from one generation to the next to upscale catering designed to impress our booming wedding industry, there is always a smiling face and a great meal ahead.

Dappled, vibrant, and unerringly distinct, orchid blossoms are perhaps some of the most unique flowers to grace our gardens and homes. We give their thick stalks and magnificent blooms to mark celebrations and special moments—each petal color conveying a new, precious meaning: purity, love, friendship, and loyalty.

Orchids are found all across the world, coming in an almost unimaginable variety of over twenty thousand species. According to the North Carolina Native Plant Society, the mountains of our state are home to dozens of native orchid species, from the hot pink Bog Rose to the delicate, spiraling Northern Slender Ladies’ Tresses. They dot the landscape, lending their color and nectar to the Blue Ridge Mountains’ majestic biodiversity.

As you venture on springtime hikes through the mountains we call home, we encourage you to keep an eye out to appreciate any spectacular orchids that brighten your path. And if you’re searching for an incredible orchid to take home with you, this region is home to two specialty orchid nurseries with plenty to choose from.

Found just beyond Brevard on the appropriately named Orchid Heights Drive, Looking Glass Orchids and Owen’s Orchids grow these beautiful flowers side by side. Countless visitors enjoy browsing their flourishing greenhouses, seeing these colorful blossoms burst with life and selecting a plant of their very own. If you’re visiting The Greystone this spring, we recommend a leisurely drive through the mountain roads that connect our Inn with these two local businesses, so you can see the memorable brilliance of these flowers for yourself.

 

Greening Up the Mountains Festival

 

Aptly named, the annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival in Sylva’s historic downtown commemorates both Earth Day and the beauty of springtime. The festival kicks off with a 5K, followed by live music, local arts vendors, great food, and breweries. Plan your visit for the spring, and enjoy this environmentally-friendly celebration! Photo credit: Greening up the Mountains Festival on Facebook.

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Brevard Summer Music Festival

 

In their own ways, each of these books is about a journey—of the mind, the spirit, or the body. As you turn the pages to these stories, we hope you find endless inspiration and adventure as you embark on your next journey.

 

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I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel J. Levitin
In this examination of humanity’s powerful relationship with music, Dr. Daniel J. Levitin references scientific studies and world-famous musicians to uncover just how significant music is to mental health.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Brimming with curiosity and care, the author of The Joy Luck Club pays special attention to the birds who live in her backyard for this work of observation and imagination. Illustrated by Amy Tan herself, these birds emerge as central characters as the author shifts her focus from a hectic world to nature’s patterns.

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
This time-bending novel explores a young protagonist, Odile, on the brink of leadership in an otherworldly setting. She lives in the middle of three versions of the same village—one in the past, one in the present, one in the future—as she must decide how to contend with learning the unexpected.

James by Percival Everett
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Percival Everett has written a new modern classic, retelling Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through Jim’s eyes. Retaining all the adventure of Twain’s original novel, Jim’s perspective unveils new truths and powerful stakes through unforgettable prose.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey
In her ruminating, soaring novel, Samantha Harvey writes of a group of astronauts orbiting Earth—gazing at the blue lulls of peaceful days and the distant devastation of natural disasters, and reexamining their own relationships with the planet and the people on it.

In our corner of the rippling Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Toxaway is surrounded by hundreds of miles of forests, rivers, and natural wonders that grow even more lovely in the wintertime. From high ridgelines, frost coats red spruce needles and bare limbs alike, casting the world below into a crystalline landscape. Countless destinations and hikes around The Greystone Inn put the region’s singular wintry beauty on display, particularly the ones we’ve chosen below!

 

 

Rainbow Falls 

 

Named for the rainbows frequently cast by its spray, Rainbow Falls is a 150-foot tall waterfall roughly seven miles from The Greystone in the Pisgah National Forest. Begin your hike at the Rainbow Falls and Turtleback trailhead in Gorges State Park, and make sure to take some photos at the overlook while you’re there!

 

Blackrock Mountain

 

Located in Sylva, Blackrock Mountain offers views of the expansive Panthertown Valley and all its iconic landmarks. Pack a picnic to enjoy by the sloping cliffs, while staying mindful of potential ice and enjoying a spectacular view far from the edge. Photo credit: Asheville Trails.

 

Upper Whitewater Falls

 

An 11-mile drive from Lake Toxaway, the Upper Whitewater Falls is a gorgeous, multi-tiered waterfall of 411 feet. The upper overlook is easily accessible, with a short passage leading directly from the parking lot. Dramatic and roaring, the falls cut a vertical path through the dense forest on either side before pooling in the rushing water below.

 

Black Balsam Knob

 

With breathtaking 360-degree views of the Pisgah National Forest, Black Balsam Knob is a beautiful day hike for anyone seeking adventure. All Trails features a hike for the Knob and its neighbor Tennent Mountain, totalling 4.3 miles in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.

A stone’s throw from The Greystone Inn, the Killer Bees Honey farm hums with activity. After living in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte for most of their lives, owners Denise Altay and Sean Collinsworth settled on a 75-acre parcel of land on Walnut Cove Mountain. Now a certified wildlife refuge with sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is where they cultivate impeccably pure honey—tested each and every year by independent labs to ensure it remains free of toxins, pesticides, and chemicals like the common herbicide, glyphosate.

A beekeeper since the age of twelve, Sean brought three hives to their new mountain home—and realized just how special this ecosystem was for producing honey. “We were in this incredible, magical sweet spot,” Denise said. This was due in part to the rich flora growing on the mountain, coupled with a climate that limits the amount of time bees spend collecting pollen and nectar. Sean’s bees, in their ever-growing number of hives, traveled to a greater variety of flowers as they produced honey, creating an uncommonly rich flavor.

Denise and Sean also found their land was home to an immense amount of sourwood, a deciduous tree with long leaves and thin strings of blossoms. Sourwoods are unique to southern Appalachia, growing extensively from Georgia to Western North Carolina and creating a honey sought after around the world. “Really good sourwood [honey],” Denise said, “should have a caramelly, buttery beginning and a hint of anise at the end—licorice.”

In addition to their business, Denise and Sean operate the Queen’s Brigade, a non-profit that donates to university-level research on the creature that makes all of this possible: the honey bee. The fifty hives at Killer Bees Honey produce two honey flows a year, one wildflower flow and one sourwood flow, sold on the Killer Bees Honey website and in local stores like the Historic Toxaway Market. Keep an eye out for their next harvest in late May, and enjoy this sweet treasure found right in Lake Toxaway!