The inaugural, sold-out event was swamped, even after they added a second tasting session due to interest. Even with all the activity, walking through was a crash course in deliciousness. From the entry I got distracted by Aaron of Intrigue Chocolates, who was running a tasting of ganache with flavors like whisky and cloves. Once I started trying the spirits, it was a great blend of new faces and old friends. Brovo Spirits was offering tastes of Amaro Liqueurs, their brand-new and delicious bartender-distiller collaborations. I was also excited to try some spirits that were new to me, like Rogue Spirits and Whidbey Island Distillery, with their sweet loganberry liqueur. Even Mo of Project V Distillery was there with her Single Silo Vodka and ridiculous taxidermy fox.
There was only one real issue: there wasn’t any place to sit. Wandering was great and all, but I wanted space to sit down and compare spirits, or really go enjoy those grits. It’s hard to do that when you’re balancing a shot glass on a plate. Also, this needs to be a longer event. Like Taste Washington, you need enough time to try some spirits, drink water, and simply enjoy it all.
Based on how excited the crowd was, I really hope this becomes a semi-annual event. I’ll see you all at the next tasting!