Akron Life February 2022

GOOD EATS

U N C O R K E D

by Mike McKenney

Toledo Spirits Co. Toledo, Ohio

As Ohioans, we have much to be proud of — our sports teams, our cul tural institutions and our thriving food and drink scene. While craft beer gets all of the acclaim, we have some standout distilleries in our state, including Toledo Spirits Co. in the Glass City. Andrew Newby, Dustin Wade and Lukas Kummer founded Toledo Spirits in 2013 and have spent the last eight years growing it, adding several varieties and making quite the name for them selves around the Buckeye State. Those who are vodka lov ers should try Toledo Spirits’ Heart of Gold vodka ($19.99) and Heart of Glass strawberry vodka ($33.56). Heart of Gold is filtered through pre cious metals including silver and gold, giving it a unique, silky character. Heart of Glass is produced using 100 percent Ohio-grown strawberries — a pound and a half of them per bottle. Gin fan? East Side gin ($31.74), with its proprietary blend of botanicals from juniper to lemon verbena, is a versatile and approachable spirit that enhances gin-based cocktails. If rum is more your style, go for King & Dane silver rum

($24.99), Toledo Spirits’ nod to Caribbean-style rum with a Midwest influence and bright, slightly spiced notes of pineapple, mango and clove. Other varieties include Maumee moonshine ($25.65) produced with 100 percent Ohio apples; Black Kite coffee liqueur ($20.99), a cold brew-infused spirit with a Jamaican-style rum kick and Orange Tiger orange liqueur ($26.80), a spirit aged in bourbon barrels that makes a fierce aperitif.

Toledo Spirits has more to offer than fine spirits too. Those mak ing a trip out to Toledo have to stop by the distillery and its hip bar, Bellwether, named one of the best bars in Ohio and awarded the best bar in Toledo by Toledo City Paper for the last two years. The ingenuity of the bar staff in crafting artisan cocktails, as well as the rustic chic atmosphere and the inven tive bar snacks from dry-rubbed pork nachos to a mashed potato flatbread, puts the Bellwether in a class of its own.

Toledo Spirits prides itself on utilizing everything Ohio in its production, including grains, apples, berries, herbs and botanicals, ensuring a high quality product that is smooth and approachable. Snag some bottles, and add these fantastic spirits to your cocktails while supporting local — that’s some thing to be proud of. Find Toledo Spirits at select Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Acme Fresh Market, Giant Eagle and Silver Spirits locations.

[ Mike McKenney is a manager at Heidelberg Distributing Co. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

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