SPIRITED HOLIDAYS
SHARE LOCAL SPIRITS AND WINE with family and friends at your holiday feast. By the time the table is set, the rolls warmed and the turkey’s out of the oven, the lively conversation won’t be the only thing creating a festive mood.
BOS MEADERY
Reviving a merry drink from the days of yore, owner Colleen Bos infuses Wisconsin honey and wild botanicals into 10 different mead varietals. Hammer Smashed Cherry gets the party started as a proper “session mead,” or settle for a lighter finish on the palate with the floral inspired Hibiscus and Ginger. bosmeadery.com.
HAWK’S MILL WINERY
Prefer to sip dessert after a hearty meal? This new winery’s fruit wines such as Peachy Keen and Plum Crazy are brimming with sweetness. If you long for a milder aperitif, linger over a glass of bestseller Purple Martin, a semi-sweet red wine. hawksmillwinery.com.
J. HENRY & SONS BOURBON
Custom distilled from home-grown heritage red corn, Joe and Liz Henry’s award-winning straight bourbon beckons you to sit back, relax and enjoy your holiday company. Patton Road Reserve is its cask-strength bigger, stronger brother, clocking in at 115 to 120 proof, and a lovely option to sip during board games—or ball games. jhenryandsons.com.
WOLLERSHEIM DISTILLERY
Putting the bounty from their yearly harvest to further good use, Wollersheim’s spin off venture opened in August this year. If you love their wine, Garden Gate Gin is a smooth, floral addition to after-dinner cocktails (it’s distilled with local herbs)—and the 100 percent Wisconsin crafted Coquard Brandy and Apple Brandy will warm any Midwesterner’s heart. wollersheim.com.
