August 2024 163

I am a member of The Tasty Reads Book Club, which gathers at Cicada Books in Huntington’s Old Central City at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday every month.

For August, we read “And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails” by Wayne Curtis. Initially, I doubted the book’s engagement level, suspecting it might be dull. To my delight, it turned out to be exceptionally lively and entertaining.

The author, Curtis, thoroughly researched and brilliantly blended the intriguing history of rum with fascinating bits of trivia.

Historically, rum is believed to have originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, born out of the discovery that molasses, a by-product from refining sugar, could be fermented and distilled into alcohol.

Rum quickly became a popular drink among sailors, pirates, and the general populace, finding its way into taverns across the American colonies. It is said that even Paul Revere took a moment for a rum drink before his legendary midnight ride.

The book captivated me with its blend of education and entertainment, providing a comprehensive look at rum’s history, production techniques, and its socio-economic significance. It even includes several rum-based recipes. Engaging and accessible, the book proves to be a worthwhile read.

During our book club meetings, it is customary for members to create snacks inspired by our current read. At this meeting, the chef from The Wild Ramp prepared a delectable Banana Rum Cake, another member brought molasses cookies topped with a rum glaze, and I contributed Rum Bars, utilizing Haitian Barbancourt Rum—a brand mentioned in the book and aged 8 years—which enhanced the flavors of our treats.

The Rum Bars were a hit, perfectly complementing our discussion of an exceptional book.

Next month’s read will be “Tuscawilla: Stories of the Farm.” It is a collection of stories written by the late Jane Cary about farm life in Greenbrier County in the middle of the 20th century. Cary’s niece, Kaaren Cary Ford, compiled and edited the book. She will join the discussion on Zoom.

“Tuscawilla” is a good book, too. You are welcome to join us!

2 cups chopped pecans, toasted

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

½ cup flour

1 cup red candied cherries

¾ cup candied pineapple bits

¼ cup candied citron

2½ tablespoons rum

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Prepare an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking pan by greasing it.

In a sizable bowl, mix butter and brown sugar until they are light and fluffy. Incorporate eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well blended before adding the next. Mix in vanilla extract.

Slowly mix in flour to the butter mixture. Stir in toasted pecans, cherries, pineapple, and citron until fully combined.

Allow to bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, typically taking between 45 minutes and an hour.

Remove pan from oven and sprinkle rum over the top of the hot bars.

Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

For questions about recipes or other information, contact Susan Maslowski at mudriverpottery@aol.com or go to metrokanawha.com. Susan also has a Farmer’s Table page on Facebook.

Redemption Sur Lee Rye Whiskey

Redemption Whiskey is reinforcing its Sur Lee straight rye whiskey as a constant offering in its Specialty Series portfolio, signaling a critical achievement for this distinct iteration with a novel maturation technique. The choice is a reaction to rising appeal from both avid aficionados and new patrons, as stated by the entity.

Sur Lie is a French winemaking method where wine is matured on its lees, or spent yeast cells, to bring about additional complexity and a richer texture. Inspired by this, Redemption has adjusted the approach for this specific rye whiskey by integrating so-called “whiskey lees” into the barrels prior to aging, enriching the whiskey’s richness and flavor nuances. (Hence the name “Sur Lee.”)

“What initially attracted me to this technique was its untapped possibility,” Alan Kennedy, Redemption Whiskey’s master blender, tells Forbes. “No one had ever utilized it in whiskey before, and it presented a unique chance to enhance rye’s intricacy and transform the whiskey into something distinctly extraordinary.”

The result is a flavor profile that is both deep and complex, Kennedy describes. “The result is a whiskey with rich, nuanced layers of flavor evolving with each sip,” he explains. “You’ll find floral notes up front, followed by a nutty backdrop. Then decadent, buttery flavors of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg. All of this is perfectly balanced with a lingering spicy finish that leaves a lasting impression.”

Kennedy also acknowledges the challenges and learning curve involved in developing this new technique.

“When we first conceived this expression at Redemption, we were venturing into uncharted territory,” Kennedy says. “We weren’t certain how the whiskey lees would influence our rye mash bill, so our biggest challenge was understanding the impact of this technique and finding the right balance. With such an unconventional approach, it was crucial to ensure the process didn’t overshadow the essence of our rye but rather pushed its boundaries.”

Redemption Sur Lee begins with a classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, featuring 95% rye and 5% barley content with an ABV of approximately 47%.

“We were also challenged by the techniques needed to create the whiskey,” Kennedy says. “With a new-to-world expression comes new-to-world techniques needed to create it. Almost every step in the whiskey making process had to be modified and new methods created.

“As the whiskey ages, we periodically rotate the barrels to ensure the backset continues to naturally interact with the liquid,” Kennedy says. “The result is a rye whiskey with layers of unexpected flavors and notes that are truly unique.”

By introducing a never-before-seen technique, Kennedy says he’s excited to see what inspiration this might spark in the industry.

“Within the whiskey industry, we’ve seen many ways that the wine category has influenced whiskey-making, most notably through the use of various casks to secondarily age whiskey and enhance its flavor profile,” Kennedy says. “However, we haven’t seen wine techniques influence whiskey in the way that the Sur Lee process did for us. We anticipate that more whiskey brands will begin to explore ways to combine these two worlds, just as we did, to further push the boundaries of the category.”

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Bryce Webster

Forget the socks and jocks this year, fellas! Buffalo Trace Distillery, the world’s most awarded whiskey distillery, is throwing a Father’s Day bash you won’t forget – Australia’s BIGGEST whiskey tasting ever, held right on a footy field in Sydney’s Marrickville.

If you’re stuck for a Father’s Day gift that’s as unique as he is, this is the ultimate experience for any bloke who loves a good whiskey, a bit of footy, and a cracking feed. Buffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest continually operating distillery in the U.S, and it’s celebrating 250 years with the release of 250 tickets for a special tasting event following the Newtown Jets vs. Warriors game (which marks the end of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup).

Known for its old-school rugby charm, Marrickville’s Henson Park will be transformed into a whiskey lovers’ paradise for one night only, bringing together fans through great tastes and thrilling plays, including a feast from the renowned Sydney restaurant Black Bear BBQ.

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Treat him to something different this year – tickets are on sale now but they’re running out fast, so grab yours before they’re gone, or you’ll miss out on seeing Andrew Barnett, one of Australia’s top comedians and football personalities, alongside Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskey expert, Gee David host one of Sydney’s most unique whiskey tasting events.

Here’s the lowdown:

Click here to snag your tickets.

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This is gonna be a cracker of a night, so round up your fam, round up your mates, and get ready to celebrate Father’s Day with plenty of laughs, epic whiskeys, and chat footy with industry legends.

Topics: Food And Drink, Rugby

Beachwood Brewing is an award-winning brewery known for its significant achievements, including being named the World Beer Cup Champion Large Brewpub in 2016, and securing silver and bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2023.

The brewery has now expanded into the spirits market, launching Beachwood Brewing & Distilling in Long Beach, where they produce their own gins, rums, and vodkas.

“We wanted to diversify. We didn’t just want to focus on beer; we wanted to explore other types of alcoholic beverages. With our extensive background in brewing, we felt well-prepared to venture into the production of spirits rather than wine,” explained Julian Shrago, the founder, co-owner, and brewmaster of Beachwood Brewing.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, celebrated for their beers, has officially started their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach. Since Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, they have been offering cocktails made with housemade gin, rum, and vodka.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, celebrated for their award-winning beers, has now officially inaugurated their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Starting from Aug. 14, they have been offering cocktails crafted with their own gin, rum, and vodka.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, known for their top-quality beers, announced this week the official start of their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach, on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. As of Aug. 14, the establishment started serving a variety of cocktails featuring their housemade gin, rum, and vodka, including a classic vodka and soda.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, a name synonymous with award-winning beers, has expanded its offerings with the launch of a distillery cocktail program in Long Beach as of Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. They began serving house-crafted spirits like gin, rum, and vodka in their cocktails from Aug. 14 onwards.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, acclaimed for their exceptional beers, this week launched their new distillery cocktail program in Long Beach, effective Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Since Aug. 14, customers have been enjoying cocktails made with in-house gin, rum, and vodka, including a delightful Painkiller cocktail.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, famed for their award-winning beers, officially launched their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Starting on Aug. 14, they began serving cocktails made with house-produced gin, rum, and vodka.

The launch showcased a variety of cocktails, including a ChiChi, Gimlet, Painkiller, and Vodka and soda, highlighting their newly crafted spirits.

The initial offerings of the program featured popular choices like a gimlet and a vodka and soda, crafted from their housemade spirits.

Demonstrating the art of cocktail making, a bartender skillfully prepared a gimlet for an eager customer at the event.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, renowned for their exceptional beers, marked a new milestone by initiating their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on August 16, 2024. As of August 14, they started offering cocktails crafted with their housemade gin, rum, and vodka. Since its inception in 2022, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling has been catering to patrons with food and beer on tap. The recent launch on August 14 introduced a cocktail lineup featuring original recipes using spirits distilled on-site with a 150-gallon, four-plate copper column still.

The distillery primarily produces gin, rum, and vodka. “Gin is a significant part of our distillery’s offerings. It’s a culinary-focused spirit influenced greatly by botanicals, similar to many culinary practices,” he explained.

Shrago is also a fan of Tiki drinks so rum was a must, while vodka appealed to them because of its clean and versatile nature that can be used in many drinks.

“We were very curious about this too. Could we do it? Should we do it? And what do we really have to lose by trying?” Shrago said.

There are about two dozen cocktails on the new menu and some of the highlights include creations like the Saturn, a blend of house gin with passionfruit, lemon, and orgeat. There’s the Chi Chi, which is a twist on the classic piña colada made with house vodka, pineapple, coconut cream, and lime. Another noteworthy drink is the 1944 Mai Tai, a Tiki classic made with rum, lime, orgeat, and orange curaçao. The menu includes other classic cocktails like the gin and tonic, made with tonic water created in-house.

“We have multiple scratch-made tonic waters and several different types of gin. So it’s almost kind of like choose your own adventure when it comes to gin and tonic at our distillery,” he said.

While Beachwood is still primarily known for beers, Shrago believes that beer enthusiasts will equally appreciate their cocktails.

“I’m confident they will taste the passion and the research and the purpose behind every drink,” he stated.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling is located at 3630 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach. For more details, visit beachwoodbrewing.com.

Beachwood Brewing, an award-winning brewery, has earned accolades such as the World Beer Cup Champion Large Brewpub at the World Beer Cup Awards in 2016, and silver and bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2023. Now, the brewery is expanding its offerings by venturing into the production of gins, rums, and vodkas at Beachwood Brewing & Distilling in Long Beach.

“We wanted to diversify. We didn’t want to limit ourselves to just beer, but also to explore other types of alcoholic beverages. With our expertise in brewing, we felt it could be well applied to either spirits or wine. We decided on spirits,” stated Julian Shrago, the founder, co-owner, and brewmaster of Beachwood Brewing.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, renowned for their award-winning beers, officially launched their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Starting from Aug. 14, they began offering cocktails made with house-distilled gin, rum, and vodka.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, renowned for their top-notch beers, has now initiated their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach. The launch took place on Friday, August 16, 2024. Since August 14, they have started offering cocktails crafted with their own gin, rum, and vodka.

The new cocktail menu includes creations made from their in-house distilled vodka, gin, and rum, expanding their offerings beyond beer. The official commencement was marked in Long Beach on August 16, 2024.

Continuing their tradition of excellence in brewing, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling started serving their signature cocktails with housemade spirits on August 14, featuring ingredients such as gin, rum, and vodka.

From August 14, patrons have been able to enjoy specialty cocktails like the Painkiller, showcasing Beachwood’s dedication to quality and innovation in their newly launched cocktail program in Long Beach, starting August 16, 2024.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, famed for their top-notch beers, ventured into a new territory with the initiation of their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach, commencing on August 16, 2024. Starting August 14, they’ve been offering cocktails crafted with their own gin, rum, and vodka.

The debut of Beachwood Brewing & Distilling’s cocktail program in Long Beach was marked by the introduction of several drinks including A ChiChi, Gimlet, Painkiller, and Vodka and soda. The program officially started on Friday, August 16, 2024, following their cocktail commencement on August 14.

Since August 14, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling has been serving a new selection of cocktails featuring house-made gin, rum, and vodka. Among the offerings are a gimlet and a vodka and soda, marking the start of their new distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on August 16, 2024.

With the launch of their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling began serving handcrafted cocktails on August 14, 2024. A bartender was noted carefully pouring a gimlet for a customer, signaling the official start on August 16, 2024.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling, famed for their exceptional beers, embarked on a new venture with the launch of their distillery cocktail program in Long Beach on August 16, 2024. From August 14, they started offering cocktails crafted with their own gin, rum, and vodka.

Since its inception in 2022, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling has been serving both food and beer on tap. The recent introduction of their distillery cocktail program includes a selection of unique drinks made using spirits distilled on-site in a 150-gallon, four-plate copper column still.

The focus at the distillery is primarily on gin, rum, and vodka. Gin, in particular, is spotlighted for its culinary qualities, being heavily influenced by botanicals akin to cooking techniques.

Shrago is also a fan of Tiki drinks so rum was a must, while vodka appealed to them because of its clean and versatile nature that can be used in many drinks.

“We were very curious about this too. Could we do it? Should we do it? And what do we really have to lose by trying?” Shrago said.

There are about two dozen cocktails on the new menu and some of the highlights include creations like the Saturn, a blend of house gin with passionfruit, lemon, and orgeat. There’s the Chi Chi, which is a twist on the classic piña colada made with house vodka, pineapple, coconut cream, and lime. Another noteworthy drink is the 1944 Mai Tai, a Tiki classic made with rum, lime, orgeat, and orange curaçao. The menu includes other classic cocktails like the gin and tonic, made with tonic water created in-house.

“We have multiple scratch-made tonic waters and several different types of gin. So it’s almost kind of like choose your own adventure when it comes to gin and tonic at our distillery,” he said.

While Beachwood is still primarily known for beers, Shrago thinks beer drinkers will enjoy their cocktails as much as their brews.

“I’m confident they will taste the passion and the research and the purpose behind every drink,” he said.

Beachwood Brewing & Distilling is located at 3630 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach. For more information, visit beachwoodbrewing.com.