for Ohio spirit lovers summer 2024 magazine
Bourbon Destination OHIO’S A PROOF
Find an amazing collection of bourbon bars all over the state with huge selections and rare finds.
magazine
There’s no better way to cool down after a long day than by sitting on a shaded patio with an icy cold drink. Add a cocktail umbrella and a swizzle stick and you instantly have a pretty drink that conjures up thoughts of laying on a beach and listening to the waves. Looking to impress guests or just sip out of something special?
Check out Michael Pramik’s story on Gay Fad Studios in Lancaster. Owners David and Jason Annecy are creating midcentury modern glassware that makes even a glass of water feel extraordinary. No spirit is more perfect for summer than rum — like the Siren’s Share cocktail I’m holding here from Huli Huli Tiki Lounge in Powell. Alexia Kemerling walks you through the different varieties of rum you’ll find on OHLQ’s shelves.
Pina Colada or Strawberry Daquiri!
content team
Managing Editor Claudia Plumley Senior Editor Kelsey Miller
Associate Editor Gwynnie Kowalski
Assistant Editor Jennifer Coon
Managing Art Director Stephanie Mauric
Senior Art Director Lindsey Smith
Associate Art Director Sel James
Editorial Contributors Nick Dekker, Alexia Kemerling, Michael Pramik, Katharine Stevens
Some liquor bottles you’ll find for sale are so unique and colorful. I’ve got to admit, I’ve kept my first robin’s-egg blue bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Not only is it pretty, but at first blush, it seems like there’s gunpower in the bottle. (It’s gunpowder-shaped tea, least you make my mistake.)
Tired of your empty bottles collecting dust on a shelf? Meet Cleveland artist Steve Siedlecki of CLE Bottle Crafts Co. who crafts everything from lamps to tiki torches from liquor bottles.
Ready for a road trip this summer? Head west with Katharine Stevens who writes about two distillery trails in western Ohio. Nick Dekker also takes you to notable bourbon bars around the state.
— CLAUDIA PLUMLEY, EDITOR
“ “ “ ” ” ”
Aperol Spritz
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A nice cold gin and tonic!
President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.
ISSUE 06
10 in this
TAKE A PEEK The Summer Issue
THAT’S THE SPIRIT 03
Learn about the world of rum and delve into its complex flavors.
OHIO’S A BOURBON DESTINATION 05
Explore 11 standout bourbon bars across the state.
HEAD WEST 07
Discover new favorite spots as you explore two western Ohio distillery trails.
MIDCENTURY REVIVAL 09
Browse stunningly designed retro glassware at Gay Fad Studios.
BOTTLED UP 12
See how artist Steve Siedlecki of CLE Bottle Crafts Co. turns discarded bottles into works of art.
SPIRITED COOKING 14
Level up your culinary game using spirits.
RUM That’s the Spirit:
Light, dark; spicy, sweet — from its appearance to its flavor, rum is a remarkably diverse spirit.
BY ALEXIA KEMERLING
The various flavor profiles of rum add complexity to cocktails, with some recipes calling for multiple types of rum. Distilling sugarcane can be traced back centuries to multiple countries, including India and nations in the West Indies. Today, rum is produced in more than 80 countries. Despite the prevalence, or maybe because of it, with so many different cultures and styles — rum is often misunderstood.
If you’re browsing the rum aisle in the liquor store, you’ll notice the variety of colors — from black to chestnut brown to amber gold to clear. Yet, there’s remarkable diversity among rums of the same color and plenty of overlap in aging and distilling techniques among the different hues. You certainly can’t judge a rum by its color.
Rum Believable
While there are no international standards for how rum must be produced, that doesn’t mean the spirit has no rhyme or reason. Many islands, Cuba and Martinique to name just two, have set their own regional standards for rum — just as the U.S. has done to distinguish bourbon from whiskey.
For guidance on how to explore this spirit, rum expert Matt Pietrek has proposed paying attention to several key aspects: source material, distillation, origin (one distillery or multiple?), aging and flavorings. Get more tips in Modern Caribbean Rum: The Ultimate Rum Bible; the aptly named book was co-authored by Pietrek and his wife, Carrie Smith. He’s also the Community Envoy for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association, and he runs the websites CocktailWonk.com and RumWonk.com.
Source to Still
All rum starts with sugarcane, which can be in the form of sugarcane juice, syrup, molasses or a combination. Don’t get it twisted — a sugarcane base does not equate to a sweet drink. While there are sweeter rums, don’t blame the surgarcane. A sweet flavor profile is crafted with additives.
Rum can be distilled using copper pot stills, coffey pot stills or column stills; distillers work continuously or in batches, and the finished product can even be a blend of several distillation types. At this stage in production, the spirit is clear — coloration develops next.
Age Before Beauty
Rum can be aged in wooden barrels anywhere from a few weeks to decades. As in any aging process, barrels can add flavor complexity and impact the color. Additional filtration might be used to lighten or remove color imparted from the aging process.
As you might be coming to expect with rum, there can even be diversity among rums aged the same length of time. For example, are the barrels new? Charred? Are they resting in a humid climate or somewhere with cooler temps? Or, if the rum is a blend, does it include rums aged for different lengths of time?
Another key consideration: don’t fall into the trap of darker equals older. Black rum may or may not be aged, but typically gains its midnight hue from color additives like molasses or caramel. And on the other side, white or clear rum is often aged, too, but is lightened through additional filtration.
Sugar, Spice, Everything Nice
Like many spirits, other flavor agents can be added after distillation to add new flavors and aromas. Spiced rum draws in flavorings like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or cardamom. Try spiced rum in a negroni or hot toddy — perfect for a relaxing evening. Flavored rum tends to focus on adding in one strong flavor profile, rather than a blend. On Ohio shelves you’ll find bottles of coconut or pineapple rum — ideal for frozen cocktails — or dark roast coffee rum, perfect for chilling and serving with espresso.
Stay Rum Curious
Don’t let the variations of rum deter you from spending time sipping and crafting cocktails with this spirit. If your curiosity has been piqued, consider joining the Ohio Rum Society Facebook group, founded by Chad White, that meets 10 to 16 times a year.
“The few years leading up to forming the Ohio Rum Society in 2016, world travel and the soaring craft cocktail movement helped me realize that everything I thought I knew about rum was totally wrong, from its production and prestige to its versatility in a glass,” White says, “Rum stands on its own next to the greatest spirits out there, from single malts to small batch mezcals.”
Through monthly tasting socials and conversations on the group’s Facebook page, the Ohio Rum Society seeks to “empower Ohio consumers through education and info sharing, shining a light on the most diverse and historically rich spirit in the world while debunking all the myths and misconceptions along the way.”
ON A Classic Twist
this timeless drink at home.
Rum Old Fashioned
2 oz. aged rum
¼ oz. demerara syrup
1 dash bitters
1 orange twist
Mix
Pictured: Squeeze your orange peel to add more flavor to a Rum Old Fashioned.
Below: Rum shines in a variety of cocktails.
OHIO’S A Bourbon Destination
Bourbon-seekers can find an amazing collection of bourbon bars all over the state with huge selections and rare finds. Here are 11 of the best destinations for bourbon across Ohio.
BY NICK DEKKER
The Whiskey Bar in Cleveland Heights spans two levels while managing to feel intimate. “The mood is always amber,” their tagline says. Try to snag a seat at the bar so you can eye the veritable wall of whiskeys.
The Whiskey Bar features more than 500 varieties of whiskey with specially curated picks, plus expertly crafted cocktails and live music.
With locations in Bedford Heights, Brunswick and Copley, Lizardville, a companion to the Winking Lizard taverns, satisfies your quest to find a wide bourbon selection. Lizardville is known for their massive beer selections (including barrel-aged options for whiskey lovers) along
with an expertly curated collection that spans American bourbons, Irish whiskeys, Canadian whiskys, ryes, single malt Scotches and Tennessee whiskeys. It’s all enjoyed with an easy-to-love pub menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and wings.
Situated in a beautifully renovated Victorian home, House of Spirits in Marysville is a Prohibition-era cocktail bar with more than 250 bourbons, whiskeys, ryes and Scotch, plus a seasonal menu of house-designed libations.
The Whiskey Bar
Thanks to partnerships with different distilleries, House of Spirits often features special select barrels or bottles you won’t find anywhere else.
The Century Bar in downtown Dayton is regularly ranked as one of America’s Best Bourbon Bars in The Bourbon Review. Open since 1942, the historic bar features remarkably well-preserved details, from intricate woodwork to stained glass lighting fixtures. It’s the perfect setting to explore their 800-strong whiskey menu, as well as their cocktails and blind tastings led by the owner.
Chesterland’s Oak & Embers Tavern features the best of both worlds: barbecue and bourbon. The pub once made an appearance on Diners, DriveIns and Dives and also earned a nod as one of the country’s best bourbon bars in The Bourbon Review. Guests can sip a wide variety of bourbons alongside burnt ends, brisket and baby back ribs.
In Cincinnati, Hop Scotch Craft Beer & Whiskey is a go-to destination for more than 100 whiskeys, 60 beers on draft and more than 200 beers in the bottle. Located steps from the University of Cincinnati’s campus, Hop Scotch is a favorite watering hole for the neighborhood and those in-the-know. Plan frequent visits to sip your way through their ever-changing whiskey menu.
Drawing on Prohibition-style décor and cocktails, The Bourbon Affair in downtown Findlay features hundreds
of top-shelf bourbons and whiskeys. The setting offers an upscale but casual spot to work your way through the bourbon list, sample their curated flights or order up one of their expertly crafted cocktails. The Bourbon Affair also added a 60-seat patio for al fresco hang outs.
Opa Grill & Tavern in Delaware is known for their extensive bourbon selection as well as a vast menu of Mediterranean foods. Long the best kept secret among central Ohio bourbon lovers, their collection of hard-to-find varieties, like Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, keeps bourbon fans returning again and again to downtown Delaware.
Whiskey & The WolF in Toledo is known for their craft beer selection, whiskey menu and craveable sandwiches. Sample from dozens of bourbons or taste a classic cocktail like an Old Fashioned, a Sazerac or a Manhattan. Enjoy it with a prime roast beef sandwich like a French dip, a spicy Italian or the Bleu, made with sautéed onions and bleu cheese.
Situated on dynamic Gay Street in downtown Columbus, Buckeye Bourbon House is inside the Residence Inn. The restaurant and bourbon bar is fashioned out of a former bank lobby with a soaring ceiling and an equally soaring list of hundreds of whiskeys. One of their signatures is a full menu of Old Fashioned cocktails that incorporate both locally and nationally produced whiskeys.
The Alibi Bourbon & Cocktail Lounge is tucked into the bustling Short North Arts
District in Columbus. Their whiskey list spans more than nine pages and features spirits from all over the country, as well as Japanese whiskeys, Scotch and more. If you can’t decide, order from their cocktail menu, organized from approachable to spirit-forward and sweet to tart.
One More!
Across the Kentucky border, you’ll find yet another must-visit for bourbon lovers. Guests flock to BOomtown Biscuits & Whiskey in Union for their handsome whiskey list and for the dynamic American frontier-inspired fare from chef and owner Christian Gill. Gill has showcased his culinary prowess through multiple appearances on the Food Network, and his menu of poutine and sandwiches pair with more than 50 whiskeys available. Be sure to order the namesake biscuits and gravy.
left top, left bottom, Pictured: Bourbon Affair
Opa Grill & Tavern
Head West
Western Ohio holds a treasure trove of libation locations. These distillery trails highlight can’t-miss destinations in and around Darke and Miami counties. Come for a weekend to try a few stops.
BY KATHARINE STEVENS
Darke County Whiskey, Wine & Ale Trail
Start your Whiskey, Wine & Ale Trail adventure at the tasting room for Delaplane Vodka, 1. Alchemy Cocktail Lounge in Greenville. Located in a beautiful historic building, the lounge serves expertly crafted cocktails like the Vanilla Hazeltini.
When you sip whiskey from 2. Indian Creek Distillery, you’re enjoying “a true sip of history.” The distillery, located outside of New Carlisle, pays homage to America’s whiskey legacy by following the original recipe from 200 years ago and handcrafts one small batch at a time in one of the oldest operating stills in America.
The original 3. Hayner Distilling closed in 1920 during Prohibition but was resurrected 100 years later in Troy. The distillery restarted the art of crafting award-winning bourbon and ryes right out the gate. The new labels honor the distillery’s history, featuring the original building, the owner and his beloved daughter.
The trail also features three local breweries. 4. Tailspin Brewing Company in Coldwater is owned by Air Force veterans who brought the classic German festive brewpub environment home. Try inventive flavors like the Pumpkin Pie Kölsch at 5. Moeller Brew Barn in Troy, paired with their pizza or wings. At 6. Twenty One Barrels in Bradford, opt for a hard cider fermented with 100% fresh-pressed juice sourced locally.
Want to wine a little? Sip Chardonnay with a side of history in Eaton at 7. Olde Schoolhouse Winery, a historic building first erected in 1890. At 8. Old Mason Winery in West Milton, try the Warming Trend, a port-style wine aged in bourbon barrels for a special finish. Each bottle of wine crafted in Arcanum by 9. A. R. Winery features the owners’ dog, Fuel. Choose anything from dry to dessert wines at 10. The Winery at Versailles and attend music bingo or an art class.
Then, take a short drive downtown in Versailles and treat yourself to an artfully crafted dinner and a night’s stay at 11. Hotel Versailles. End your evening in the cocktail lounge and try the Hotel Versailles Bourbon, a Double Gold award winner crafted specially for the hotel by Hayner Distilling.
Twenty One Barrels
Moeller Brew Barn
Miami County Sweets & Spirits Trail
If you’re trying out both trails — you’re in luck! Indian Creek Distillery, Hayner Distilling, Moeller Brew Barn, Old Mason Winery and Twenty One Barrels are all featured on both, so your visit can be a two-for-one.
Then, stop in Troy at 12. A.M. Scott Distillery, exclusive to the Sweets & Spirits Trail, where you can try an award-winning lineup of vodka, whiskey and gin. Don’t miss the newest creation — a honeyand caramel-forward bourbon finished in a honey barrel, made in partnership with a local apiary.
A new addition to Troy’s downtown, 13. The Mayflower features inventive drinks made with spirits from A.M. Scott Distillery, plus a full kitchen and rooftop bar.
The “sweets” part of the trail will satisfy any sweet tooth. You’ll find pastries and other bakery items galore at 14. HomeTowne Bakes in West Milton, 15. Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company in Troy and 16. Dobo’s Delights Bake Shoppe in Piqua. Or order a custom cake from 17. Sweet Dreams Cake Shoppe in Troy. Then stop at one of four 18. Winans Chocolates & Coffee locations for a caffeine boost. Mix sugar with nostalgia at 19. Rad Candy Company in Tipp City or 20. This & That’s Candy on Main in Piqua, or hit the $5 candy buffet at 21. Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop in Troy.
If ice cream is melting your mind, get your favorite flavor at 22. Susie’s Big Dipper in Piqua or 23. Tate’s Tasty Treats in West Milton. For something unique, try rolled ice cream from 24. Bits and Pieces in Piqua. Don’t miss trying the Quackwich at Troy’s 25. Ducky’s Snowballs & Ice Cream — it’s a doughnut stuffed with ice cream!
After sampling your way through the trail’s candies and libations, pick up a grab-and-go dinner at 26. Bodega Market in Tipp City, or stay a while at 27. Long Shots Restaurant & Driving Range in Troy, where you can nosh on pizza and practice your golf swing. Wrap up with a pint of the creative draft beers at 28. Crooked Handle Brewing Company in Piqua.
Hayner Distilling
Crooked Handle Brewing Company
Midcentury Revival
REDISCOVER RETRO ELEGANCE
AT
LANCASTER’S GAY FAD STUDIOS.
BY MICHAEL PRAMIK
Visiting Gay Fad Studios in Lancaster is like stepping into a 1950s cocktail party. The freshly designed glassware on the studio shelves is adorned with vibrant hues and geometric patterns, plunking visitors directly into the middle of the 20th century.
The collection of rocks glasses, tumblers and other vessels that would happily hold your next cocktail reflects the style of the late Fran Taylor, who led the studio from 1939 to 1962.
But the products now made by current owners David and Jason Annecy aren’t merely a trip down midcentury memory lane. Gay Fad’s new designs are artistic interpretations of the long-shuttered studio’s glassware, still reflecting Taylor’s goal of spreading the value of art through everyday objects.
“Our tagline is, ‘Midcentury just got a makeover,’” David Annecy says. “It really is that idea of taking something from the past and making it fresh again.”
Gay Fad was an international glassware company initially based in Detroit, but Taylor later relocated to Lancaster. It became renowned for its whimsical designs that reflected current and emerging trends. Taylor, a forwardthinking entrepreneur, advocated for women-owned enterprises and championed the idea of promoting artistry through industrial design.
Decades after the business ceased operations, partners Jason and David Annecy resurrected the brand with a retail store bearing the same name.
The newly established Gay Fad Studios, which opened in July 2022, showcases original glass creations reminiscent of
Pictured: David & Jason Annecy bottom right: Umbra Glasses
the imaginative and lively designs that Taylor once popularized. It also presents a curated selection of distinctive glassware from various producers, alongside a historical glassware collection and a dedicated museum area where visitors can view some of the thousands of original Gay Fad glassware pieces the new proprietors have amassed.
For aficionados of spirits, the studio’s highlight lies in its assortment of newly crafted rocks glasses, Tom Collins glasses and tumblers conceptualized by Jason Annecy. While not direct replicas of the studio’s original designs (except for the “Starburst” design), these glassware pieces evoke a distinct midcentury aesthetic and exude a sense of craftsmanship and refinement.
“I don’t like copying work — I view that as someone else’s life, their legacy,” Jason Annecy says.
&Q A
David and Jason Annecy create distinctive glassware with a midcentury feel at Gay Fad Studios. We asked them what their customers can look forward to next.
You’ve said the company has three facets. What are they?
The first part is to preserve and secure that original legacy of the studio. So, we have collected over 4,000 pieces of the original glass, and we have over 1,000 pages of documentation.
Our tagline is,
‘Midcentury just got a makeover’
When someone comes into the store, we ask if they’re familiar with the history, and if they’re not, we can tell them.
Another part is the retail business. Lancaster has a glassmaking history, so we believe in contributing to our downtown in that way.
Third are our custom glass offerings, whether we’re working with nonprofits, bars, weddings or even individuals, we can design custom glassware for them.
Gay Fad Studios presented the inaugural Bottoms Up festival this summer. What’s it all about?
It’s the nation’s first show specializing in midcentury-modern glassware culture. It was held throughout downtown Lancaster June 21–23 and included vendors from all over the country selling anything you would have entertained with in that era.
Gay Fad already sells several original designs of rock glasses, Collins glasses and tumblers. What’s next?
We also now know that we can start to do stemware, so we want to start to do decorated wine glasses. The long-term goal is to expand our product offerings into collections, so you’re really getting a full offering in one design.
— DAVID ANNECY
Pictured: Sparkling displays right: Find your favorite style
More barware is in the studio’s near future, including a Nick and Nora-style glass and a Collins-style glass featuring a wily cat. Through a high-end production process at an Ohio-based manufacturing facility, the owners can impart 24-carat gold and platinum silver on their products. That gives some of the newer designs not only the midcentury feel, but also a step up in quality.
An example is the visually stunning Umbra line, designed to evoke the artistry of Broyhill’s Brasilia furniture with black arches, white dots and 24-carat gold accents.
“When we brought Gay Fad back, we were focused on how do we make it feel as if the company never closed,” Jason Annecy says. “So, when we’re designing glassware today, it’s to a very high standard. We wanted to make sure that we could take one of the new designs and visitors could walk into the museum and say, ‘Yeah, it feels like it fits.’”
Pictured and RIGHT: Starburst glasses
Bottled Up
BY ALEXIA KEMERLING
Most people think the art of distilling lies solely in the spirit itself, but Steve Siedlecki of CLE Bottle Crafts Co. has always found beauty in the bottles. Rather than see these works of art go to waste, Siedlecki gives them a second life as accent pieces and functional homegoods.
We sat down with the creator to learn more about his craft and just how he turns bottles into artsy lamps. Find his work at facebook.com/CLEBottleCraftsCo.
Spirit Saver
Want to keep your favorite bottle even after it’s empty? Reuse bottles that are too cool to recycle — like Blanton’s iconic bottle — to make everything from lamps to tiki torches and plant holders to soap dispensers.
What inspired you to start creating these functional art pieces?
I’ve really gotten into the big boom of bourbon. The design of the bottles always stuck out to me. Some of these companies put so much work into creating nice designs for the bottles and labels, and it stinks to see them go into the trash. I thought, “What can I do to build on their creativity and make something special out of it?”
What types of pieces have you made?
I make lamps, tiki torches, planters for small houseplants and bottles with fairy lights inside or coffee beans or gems for accent pieces. I’ve also done some framed resin art.
Do you have any favorite bottles?
Western Reserve Distillers’ bottles are really neat looking. The bottles have a nice round neck and a big round belly. They’re not super narrow or super tall, so they are sturdy as art pieces. I got to know the owners and now they let me pick up empty bottles, and they even sell some of my pieces in their gift shop.
Where do you source bottles?
I’ll get them from customers, family and friends. I pick up bottles from local bars or distillers. I’ll even volunteer at tasting events and collect the bottles afterwards. It’s been a way to reduce trash and increase my connections to local businesses.
FOR STAYING IN THE BOURBON OR GOING OUT
By
this page: Spirit bottles are repurposed as artsy lamps.
SPIRITED Cooking
Level up your culinary game by using spirits! A dash of bourbon, a little sherry or a few splashes of beer can take any standard recipe and amp it up. We love stirring in our favorite spirits in snacks, entrees and desserts. Woodford Reserve has an easy but impressive recipe that’s the perfect appetizer for parties. BY
NICK DEKKER
BARRELHEAD BRIE
3 tbsp. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
½ cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped
¼ cup dried apricots, diced
¼ cup golden raisins
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup dried cherries
8 oz. brie, round
fresh thyme and parsley, Minced
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Stir in bourbon, dried fruit and toasted hazelnuts. Bring to a light simmer, remove from heat and set aside. Place brie round on a baking dish or skillet that can go from oven to table. Bake brie at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, until slightly puffed and warm. Garnish with the fruit syrup mixture and fresh herbs. Serve with crackers and cocktails. Find the full recipe at woodford reserve.com
