PROOF

President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.

Custom Media

Managing Editor Claudia Plumley

Senior Editor Kelsey Miller

Associate Editor Gwynnie Ball

Assistant Editor Jennifer Coon

Managing Art Director Stephanie Mauric

Art Director Lindsey Smith

Associate Art Directors Michael Hughes, Sel James

What’s your favorite summer cocktail?

I

Editorial Contributors Jason Brill, Nicholas Dekker, Ann Fazzini, Megan Kafka, Alexia Kemerling, Michael Pramik

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Associate Publisher Karen Matusoff & Advertising Director

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Chief Financial Officer George Sedlak

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I like the Paper Plane Cocktail it has all the best qualities of bourbon with some simple and fun flavors. Bonus if it comes with an actual folded paper plane as a garnish.

OOne of my favorite ways to enjoy warm summer nights is to sit outside with an icy cocktail in hand. The patios are always packed in the summer, so you need to get there early — nothing like an excuse to start relaxing early in the day. Even when we stay at home, you’ll often find me outside picking mint from my flower garden to use in cocktails. In this issue — our first of Proof Magazine — we’ve shared several cocktails perfect for summer. One of my favorites is The Last Word made with Chartreuse, our featured spirit this issue. Made from more than 130 herbs and flowers, it adds an exotic flair to your glass and is an instant conversation starter. Another favorite of mine is falernum, a wonderful mix of ginger, lime, clove and rum. In this issue, Michael Pramik takes you to Maggie’s Farm Rum in Pittsburgh where you can taste their falernum that’s sold at OHLQ locations. Michael retraced the steps I took last summer at three distilleries in Pittsburgh’s fun Strip District. My husband and I spent the afternoon strolling from Wigle Whiskey to Kingfly Spirits and finally to Maggie’s Farm Rum, where we sat at the bar to taste their rum before ordering cocktails with our favorite picks. Like Michael, we went onto Hidden Harbor, the city’s swanky tiki bar, for a cocktail with their custom white rum from Maggie’s Farm. We hope to repeat our trip this summer when the Cincinnati Reds play the Pirates. In every issue of Proof Magazine, we’ll take you to bars and distilleries around Ohio and beyond where you can have distinctive experiences to remember. It’s proof that we take our spirits seriously.

CLAUDIA PLUMLEY, EDITOR

Peach Highball