Food Adventures – Drink
Our dining critic journeys into the bizarre, healthy, spirited, "who knew?" and just plain cool and delicious. Lobster ice cream anyone?
Belly up to the Bar
Get a whisky at The Whiskey, with an astounding list of bourbons, ryes and malts with and without the “e” (Scottish, Australian and Canadian use “whisky,” Irish and American spirits are “whiskey”), from Jack Daniels and Dickel to Scotland’s Great King Street and Bruichladdich Unpeated Barley whiskies. Restaurant Row. downatthewhiskey.com
Rum rules at the Caribbean-inspired Sugarcanes, with a small food menu and rum from more than 30 countries. International Drive. sugarcanesrumbar.com
Revel in an assortment of 40 premium tequilas—blanco, reposado and añejo alike—at the lobbyside 98FORTY TAPAS at Rosen Centre Hotel. International Drive. rosencentre.com
(COURTESY OF MATHERS)
Speakeasies may be the “thing” downtown, but the latest entry, Mathers, is a bit more. Gorgeous styling in the upstairs space of an 1800s building, its focus on craft gin from Hendrick’s, Death’s Door, Botanist and more is very modern. South Magnolia Avenue. mathersorlando.com
(COURTESY OF BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURES)
Florida in Fine Spirits
Florida just east of Pensacola has become a distiller heaven, with Scratch Ankle making Florida corn vodka, Peaden Brothers crafting Blue Berry Curve whiskey, and Timber Creek distilling Black Rye Whiskey, made from Florida-exclusive 401 black secale grasses. peadenbrothersdistillery.com; timbercreekdistillery.com
Absinthia Rubra is a deep red liqueur made with tangerines by Fish Hawk Spirits in Ocala. fishhawkspirits.com
Cotherman Distilling creates a single malt whiskey, aged in American oak charred barrels, at their facility in Dunedin. facebook.com/cothermandistillingcompany
Golden-colored Starkus barrel-aged vodka comes from Kozuba & Sons in St. Petersburg. kozubadistillery.com
Weeki Wachee is home to Wild Buck Rye Whiskey, made in hand-hammered copper stills by NJOY SPIRITS. wildbuckwhiskey.com
Up in the hills of Lake County south of Leesburg, Yalaha Bootlegging Co. brews organic blueberry brandy behind the country store at Blue Bayou Farms. yalahabootleggingco.com
