Yes, outdoor dining season is upon us. We kicked off last summer by surveying some notable alfresco eating locations in the area, and we could have filled an entire issue with it. But since print space, like summer, is finite, we’ll simply offer another (admittedly incomplete) pile of suggestions for outdoor dining spots that are new, notable or worth revisiting.
The 27 Club was bartender Josh Van Gorden’s contribution to the Copper & King’s annual MixT&pe competition, in which competitors build a cocktail based on a song of their choosing. Initially dubbed "Purple Haze", the 27 Club is a nod to Jimi Hendrix not only in color, but in taste and texture as well.
Owner operator Joel Bierling demonstrates how they serve absinthe at Bier Distillery and Tasting Room in Comstock Park.
With a new restaurant that opens Friday, Coppercraft Distillery in Holland wants to showcase the possibilities of pairing food with cocktails.
Since summer is just around the corner (we hope), it’s time to dust off the patio furniture and ponder some important decisions. Number one: What will you and your friends be drinking in your backyards this season? Here’s a roadmap of sorts to the signature spirits that local distillers have to offer, and how to enjoy them at home.
Farmhouse Cider Co. is quietly helping a craft beverage revolution from the least assuming location imaginable — a generations-old family farm on a dirt road outside Hudsonville. “It’s a place unlike anywhere else,” said John Behrens. “It feels like you’re a million miles from anywhere, but you’re like 15 miles from downtown.”
All 50 states make wine these days — but that doesn’t necessarily mean they should. I mean, sorry, but can you imagine a Nebraskan Pinot Gris? Fortunately, Michigan is blessed with a climate conducive to winemaking. We decided to find out what makes Michigan wine great with the help of the folks at 45 North Vineyard and Winery, a spot known for consistent quality, beautiful facilities and happy dogs.
Hard cider and mead exist in a liquid twilight, neither beer nor wine nor liquor. Cider is light and sweet like a wine, but with the ABV and carbonation of a beer. Mead is its own beast entirely, smoother and richer than wine. So if you’re looking for something special, here’s our guide to all the fermented apples and honey you could ever want.
The rise of rosé is here, and it’s time to peel back the many layers of summer’s big sip. Summer already is flipping its hair and flirting with us and there’s no better way to celebrate than with the official wine of the season.
Wineries are a little harder to find than breweries, but that doesn’t mean we have any shortage of the stuff in West and Northern Michigan. Dozens of wineries are pumping out more than enough vino for all (supposedly thanks to a France-esque climate). Southwest Michigan and Traverse City are particularly dense with vineyards if you know where to look.
