Keep the liquids local
NEARBY WINERIES, BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES MAKE THE HOLIDAY BRIGHT
Doesn’t it seem as though every other seasonal song is imploring us to have a nice stiff cocktail at the holidays?
“Holly, Jolly Christmas” asks us to “have a cup of cheer.” One of the singers in “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” asks (perhaps problematically) “Say, what’s in this drink?” And, of course, there’s always Dean Martin singing “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” Theoretically he’s talking about a woman, but given that it’s Martin, I’ve always assumed he’s crooning to a dry martini.
Sure, not everyone drinks at the holidays. And anyone who does drink should obviously do so responsibly and with respect for others. But, sometimes, some of us want a little cup of cheer at the holidays. Instead of serving the usual selection of a few bottles of white, a few bottles of red and a smattering of beers foreign and domestic, why not serve something different? There are multiple locally produced alcohols that
would make a great addition to any holiday party, says Thomas Drabek, assistant manager at Al’s Warehouse Liquor Store in Fairfield.
“A lot of people have family come in from out of town or from out of state for the holidays, and they might like to try something local,” Drabek says.
His favorites include the spirits produced by Litchfield Distillery in Litchfield. The distillery makes bourbon, gin, vodka and other products, but Drabek says he’s partial to the company’s Batchers’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
“I love their bourbon,” he says. “I’ve tried their flavored bourbons, and they’re great, too.”
Drabek says what makes Litchfield’s products special is that they use real ingredients. The cinnamon bourbon, for instance, comes with a real cinnamon stick inside and the vanilla bourbon has a vanilla bean in the bottle.
Alton Blakeslee, store manager at Total Wine in Milford, also likes Litchfield Distillery and, like Drabek, is a big fan of the Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
“It has a smooth, balanced taste with a slightly peppery finish,” Blakeslee says.
Another local distillery that produces a good variety of partyworthy spirits is Bridgeportbased Fifth State, says Renzo Kian, beer and spirits manager at Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market in Fairfield. He says the distillery’s Maple Whiskey is a good holiday choice, and he’s also partial to the company’s Simply Celery vodka. It’s flavored with real celery and Kian says that shows.
“It’s fresh on the palate and it tastes great in a Bloody Mary,” he says.
But revelers can’t live on spirits alone, so local merchants also have recommendations for local wines and beers to serve at a festive gathering. Blakeslee suggests two wines from Jones Family Farms in Shelton. The Woodland White has a flavor profile similar to a Riesling, Blakeslee says, and it pairs well with nearly any food “from appetizers to desserts.”
Blakeslee also recommends Jones’s Strawberry Serenade made, not shockingly from strawberries that have been fermented, then blended with dry white wine and carbonated. It pairs well with strawberries (duh), but also ricotta cheese, fresh mozzarella and burrata.
Ballet of Angels wine from Sharpe Hill Vineyards of Pomfret is another wine pick from Blakeslee. It’s a dry white that’s good as an apertif or paired with spicy foods.
As for beers, Blakeslee recommends Two Roads Holiday Ale, produced by Stratfordbased Two Roads Brewery. The ale is deep brown with aromas of toasted malts and cinnamon.
Kian says there’s a distinct advantage to serving locally produced beverages at a holiday gathering — particularly one attended by a lot of Connecticut residents.
“Connecticut is so small, somehow someone will likely know somebody” associated with a local winery, distillery or brewery, he says. “This creates a connection. And even if people don’t really love (the product), they’ll buy it to help support a local business.”