The New Tailgaiting Necessities

WORDS  Will Abner

In case you haven’t heard, college football season is upon us. Awesome weather, passionate pom-pom shaking, cookouts, and tailgates galore. I really can’t wait to see what this Fall brings us. A few of us here at the restaurant were discussing our favorite tailgate treats recently, and I started thinking about what the heck are we going to be drinking this year. Of course, there’s always room for craft beers in the cooler, and maybe a few more not-so-craft beers for those marathon tailgating days. It’s in my job description however, to think about how we can toast our favorite teams and consume good beverage in style and with ease. 

Here are a few things that I have come across recently that should help us out. Some items are listed because they make for great, easy game-day cocktails, and others are listed because they are just damn good. Trust me on this, the Dewars, Titos, Mich Ultra, and Tanquerays are tired. 

Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale: Awesome, distinctive packaging, and an Alabama classic this ginger ale makes a killer alternative to a Moscow Mule. If vodka isn’t your thing then try it with bourbon. Its big, bold spice can pair with even the lowliest whiskeys. 

Jack Rudy Tonic: This stuff will spoil you. Go throw away all of the dusty bottles of Schweppes Tonic in your liquor cabinet and clear room for Jack Rudy! This amazing tonic is bright and floral, true to what tonic is supposed to be. Just add a splash of your favorite sparkling water to an ounce of this stuff...Jam!

27 Springs Gin: Yeah, you could use your boring ol’ vodka or gin to go with that kickass tonic mentioned above, but why ruin a good thing. How about making a little effort and grabbing a bottle of this stuff from High Ridge Spirits. It’s the best gin I’ve seen all Summer and sure to blow you away. Not to mention it’s practically made in our backyard. Easily mixed on any truck tailgate, two ounces of gin, one ounce of Jack Rudy, a splash of soda...heck, just eyeball it. 

Reyka Vodka: Like I said earlier about the tonic, why ruin it with mediocre, blasé vodka. This stuff from Iceland has character, without the price tag.  Mineral driven, and incredibly smooth, it does great with anything. It is just vodka after all. Use this in combination with the Buffalo Rock and a lime for a kick on the Moscow Mule, or with the Jack Rudy. 

2012 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: Yeah, we are going to need some wine. Think about what your probably going to be eating, some killer BBQ or just about anything grilled. This spectacular Oregon pinot does everything. Great red fruit aromas, a little spice and earth on the palate makes for a perfect pre-game vino. Open this on one of those cooler, late game evenings. 

Angel’s Envy Bourbon: Don’t let the name fool you, this stuff made it to the list for a reason. When the moment comes for the perfect whiskey drink with a couple of rocks, this is it. Like I mentioned before, it’s all about character. Angel’s Envy is finished in ruby port casks, producing a well balanced, rich and round sip of bourbon. 

Bulleit 10: Speaking of character, this bourbon right here is excellent for the price. Just like its younger brother, the 10 offers great oaky spice, followed by a really interesting tropical/floral/fruit finish. Yeah, I said fruit when talking about bourbon. Don’t go running back to your Jim Beam just yet, give it a taste and expand your palate a little. 

Will Abner is the sommelier and supreme bartender at SpringHouse on Lake Martin. You can catch up with him there, and even in Garden & Gun these days. But always at MADE Paper.

Wet Your Whistle: Craft Whiskey Review

WORDS Sam Wootten  PHOTO Jon Kohn

Whiskey season is upon us! Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
This is not an actual season that any true whiskey fan would recognize, as whiskey is a year-round endeavor with great rewards and exciting releases that know no season. However, as temperatures cool and nights grow longer, we may find the warm comfort of a wee dram just the thing to stave off loneliness or bolster courage in the face of Old Man Winter’s approach.

Now is a good time to stock up, as shelves are brimming with new whiskies and exciting releases from old standbys. Statistics show that whiskey sales have increased steadily since the 2007 economic downturn, and are now leading market share again according to DISCUS. And craft distilleries, much like craft breweries, are the leading the charge. According to the American Distilling Institute, there are about 240 small distilleries in the U.S. and Canada. Some estimates suggest the number will likely jump to 400 to 450 by 2015. Craft whiskey is a huge part of that, and consumers crave libations with stories to match their slow food / buy local aesthetic. Industry insiders believe we will witness a localization of all our favorite beverages, so that “each town will have a brewery, distillery, coffee roaster and cacao artisan.” This makes some sense, as today’s beverage enthusiast finds knowing who is making your liquor is as important as who is mixing your cocktail. With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to explore some of the craft whiskeys being put together in our region.

As you may have recently read in these very pages, Alabama is now finally jumping on that craft distillate trend with their first legal distillery since prohibition. High Ridge Spirits have begun making their “Stills Crossroads ’Shine” just down the road in Union Springs. Jamie Ray and the guys down in Bullock County are working hard and will have product on the shelves in a matter of weeks. Peaden Brothers Distillery in Fairhope is in the construction phase of their facility, and fundraising to get product out as fast as possible. Two more licenses are in the early stages, and we may see a distillery renaissance here in Alabama to match the surging craft beer boom that has made our state the fastest growing market for new beer in the nation.

This timeframe may not suit those of you who, like me, feel the slightest hint of a nip in the air at night and go for the pantry’s top shelf stash. You eager souls may want to research some of the other craft whiskies making a splash in the pages and on the palates of our dutiful staff from their travels hither and yon.

Georgia’s Thirteenth Colony (available at your local ABC Store) is producing multiple-award winning Southern Corn Whiskey, and a tasty Rye Whiskey for those of you with more adventurous palates, as well as vodkas and gin. With roughly a half dozen micro-distilleries operating in Georgia, you have your pick of neighborly options, but without distribution, it may require a trip to Atlanta to stock up.

Tennessee has long been a go-to state for whiskey fans, with Jack Daniels and George Dickel being the elder statesmen. However, craft whiskey fans will likely know Prichard’s (their Double Barreled offering is a personal favorite), and up-and-comer Corsair is quickly making a name for itself. For those of you traveling to the Carolinas, pick up some of Asheville’s Troy & Sons or Greenville’s Dark Corner whiskies and moonshine to taste what is a legal renaissance of the Appalachia’s rich distilling history.

Of course, whatever you’re tasting, I hope it is warming your spirit and relaxing your woes. Please be responsible and safe, and SLÁINTE!