The Pacific Northwest has been noted as having the most- wineries, breweries, and now craft spirit distilleries in the country. In honor of that special recognition, let’s take a look at some of the craft and artisanal spirit up-and-comers.
First up is BroVo Spirits – a women-owned business that’s all about “lady-made liquors”. Committed to using cool ingredients grown on small farms across the state, their unique spirits include flavors like Lavender to the more unexpected Rose Geranium and Douglas Fir. Now that is true NW flavor!
Washingtononians will all agree that we have a thing for our potatoes. And out in Snohomish, Skip Rock Distillers are using only the best Skagit Valley Yukon Gold potatoes for their rich, flavorful Skip Rock Potato Vodka. Tasty!
Heading on down to Kent, Sidetrack Distillery is creating some of the most decadent, berry liqueurs that I have ever tasted. They started out as a berry farm so it was only natural that they would make luscious liqueurs. Rich and juicy-sweet, Sidetrack’s portfolio of berry-licious liqueurs are dreamy to sip – add to a glass of bubbly or drizzle over ice cream!
There are just so many wonderful Northwest spirits to taste! If you love absinthe, then head over to Woodinville’s Pacific Distillery, creators of Pacifique Absinthe as well as Voyager Gin. Several Seattle distilleries are also making some wonderful products, just check out Sound Distillery (makers of Ebb+Flow Vodka), Batch 206 Distillery (creators of Batch 206 Vodka and Counter Gin), Glass Distillery (distillers of Glass Vodka). If you make it down to Portland, make sure you stop by House Spirits Distillery to try their Aviation Gin (one of my faves!), Krogstad Aquavit and more. What are some of your favorite new Northwest craft spirits?
Cheers to these new Northwest distillers and here’s to shaking up some great NW cocktails! –Kathy
Blackberry Sage Sidecar
To learn about other unique Pacific Northwest distilled spirits and more cocktail inspiration, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Sip Northwest Magazine and check out my cocktail show Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen!
Makes 1 cocktail
1 fresh sage leaf
1 oz. Sidetrack Blackberry Liqueur
1 oz. Remy Martin Cognac
1/2 oz. Cointreau
1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/4 oz. simple syrup
Garnish: 1 small sage leaf
Tear sage leaf and drop into a cocktail shaker. Measure in remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Cap and shake. Strain cocktail into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with a sage leaf.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™
Toasted Thyme Last Word Cocktail
For a warm, rich flavor, I like to flame fresh thyme with Green Chartreuse in the mixing glass before building the cocktail. For a demo on how to make this cocktail and how to toast the thyme, check out this episode of Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen.
Makes 1 cocktail
1 – 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Green Chartreuse in a spritzer
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3/4 oz Green Chartreuse
3/4 oz Aviation Gin
3/4 oz Luxardo
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
Garnish: Amarena cherry on pick and/or fresh thyme sprig
Place 1 or 2 sprigs thyme into a tempered mixing/pint glass. Holding a lighter near (but not over) the glass, spritz the thyme with Green Chartreuse to ignite. (Be very careful doing this!) Once the thyme is lightly toasted, add a few ice cubes to put the flame out.
Measure 3/4 ounce Chartreuse, gin, Luxardo and lime juice into a mixing glass, then fill with ice. Cap and shake. Strain cocktail into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with an amarena cherry and/or fresh thyme.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™
