Sip Northwest, Summer 2016
G O O D T A S T E Liquid Assets 26 S I P N O R T H W E S T C O M Bainbridge Organic Distillers Organic Vanilla Vodka 40 ABV 39 It helps that Bainbridges base vodka already has international acclaim Then there are the organic Madagascar vanilla pods that spend at least four months in the vodkas company that are bottled right along with it The result is at once rich buttery intensely aromatic and irrefutably delicious 44 North Vodka Rainier Cherry Flavored Vodka 35 ABV 30 Few fruits rep the Northwest harder than the luscious red gold Rainier cherry and nowhere does it shine brighter than in 44 Norths Idaho potato vodka Beyond the juicy cherry orchard sized punch on the nose it manifests in peachy earthy waves on the palate and in the finish Willies Distillery Montana Honey Moonshine 35 ABV 41 Distilled from molasses and three local grains and sweetened with raw Montana honey this lovely bronze liquor is chock full of spice caramel and overall richness that plain moonshine often lacks An unexpected hint of apple lingers in the finish Indio Spirits Distillery Red Island Finger Lime Flavored Rum 35 ABV 20 Real Australian finger limes give this Oceaniainspired spirit its vim The tightly coiled citrus flavor springs from the bottle the moment its uncapped and dances across the palate or in any tropical cocktail 3 Howls Distillery Hopped Flavored Whiskey 44 ABV 29 Locally beloved 3 Howls layers Amarillo Horizon and Chinook hops over a silkysmooth whiskey backbone the result is a sippable summer ready elixir with the blissful herbal attributes of a true Northwest IPA Whistling Andy Distillery Pink Peppercorn and Pear Gin 40 ABV 26 It took the team two years of creativity to arrive at this one of a kind gin formulation In the glass juicy pear flesh aromas give way to classic juniper character on the palate before yielding a super subtle peppery inflection on the finish FLAVORED SPIRITS Lets face the facts flavored liquors havent always made the best names for themselves The words connote synthetically modified bottles of saccharine sacrilegious potions and options like pineapple upside down cake rum havent helped the cause But now craft liquors thoughtfully infused with natural fruits herbs sweeteners and spices are stepping up to take back the category and we welcome them with open arms The following are just six worth getting excited about BY BRETT KONEN PHOTO BY BLUE ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY Youll Actually Love
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