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If you are like me, there is always another book needed. And if you need more cider info then I have a book recommendation for ya’. It is American Cider by Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo which gives “a new wave of consumers the tools to taste, talk about, and choose their ciders, along with stories of the many local heroes saving apple culture and producing new varieties.”
Craft beer went through (as did I) a keepsake / cellar phase but when you talk Bourbon the shit gets real weird and in Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits by drinks writer Aaron Goldfarb you get story after story of the hunt for old bottles of you name it, whiskey, tequila, rum, and even chartreuse.
I heard Goldfarb talk about “dusties” on the Bourbon Pursuit podcast and the stories are wild so I am heading to my local library to order.
I don’t usually go for flavored ciders, I tilt towards just the apple please. But I am intrigued by Benny Boy’s Madame Ruby’s a bourbon barrel-aged cherry cider.
Here is the short description from the brewery / cidery, “10 months in the making, she’s tart, she’s fruity, and slightly boozy.”
If you are past the enthusiast phase and want to know more technical info when it comes to distilling, there is a new podcast for you, Craft Spirits & Distilling Podcast, with hosts Sydney Jones of FEW Spirits and Molly Troupe of Freeland Spirits.
I haven’t had a FEW spirit but I really liked the gins from Freeland and their bottles are way cool so I will certainly check this podcast out. Find it from your podcast app of choice.
When I think of Alaskan Brewery, I do not envision lush tropics or gin but the brewery does have a Rainforest Gin & Tonic and in my experience, to date, G&Ts are the most consistent RTDs out there.
Despite being married to a half Irish lass, I have not ever tasted a proper poitín aka Mountain Dew. That changed this year, when I bought a bottle from Mad March Hare.
I did smile at the “quietly distilled” wording on the label as well as the triple distilled declaration because I have learned a bit about the number of distillations and how each cleans up impurities but also strip away flavor, generally, of course.
Enough wordplay, what does this poteen taste like? Drinking from the logo’d mug that came with the bottle, the aroma was strong. Alcohol and minty. The eyes do sting a bit bringing mug to lips but the taste is brisk and botanical. Mint and herbs for me with a burn down the pipe.
One of the recipes on the website was for an Irish Mule with ginger beer and lime and bitters which after tasting the poitín neat makes me wonder who would win that powerful flavor battle royale. I would instead go the martini route. Have the botanicals from the Vermouth work with the mint.
I like this neat but could see it working as a cocktail minor player more.
On my latest visit to Portland, I went to the Freeland Distillery and quite liked their gins. I missed out on trying their latest though, an Old Tom. It is their Dry Gin barrel-aged “for 6 months in hand-selected whiskey barrels from women-owned Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.” I do like their whiskey and story as well.
Also, “This exclusive release marries the art of distillation with a cause—supporting women entrepreneurs. AND $5 of each bottle supports Re:Her.”
That is a win, win and win.
Some people must not sleep. In addition to running Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and also starting a cognac line (in France), Fawn Weaver has also written a history of Nearest Green which you can pre-order, called Love & Whiskey.
You may know of Nearest Green because he was the distiller for a, checking notes, Jack Daniels. How Green was lost to Tennessee whiskey and then re-found is the story of this book and one that I cannot wait to read.
I had my three first Tiki Bar experiences last year and I am glad that Los Angeles has a resurgent number of them to visit because they are super fun and kitschy. Plus rum of course.
Watching Lost L.A. as they hit three different bars and talk the origin story was a good education.
You can check the half hour episode out HERE
2 Towns Ciderhouse has their Women’s History Month cider ready for you. “The Baddie is the result of an all-women led initiative and 2 Towns is allocating a portion of the proceeds to the Pink Boots Society, aiding women and non-binary individuals in the fermented beverage industry.”
Look for it when you are in cider mode.