Spirit World

BY PETE LYONS

Determined to explore Portland’s distillery options, we set out on an urban spirit safari.

Portland’s complex distilled spirits history starts with rum. In the 1700s Portland was home to about as many rum distilleries as we have cra alcohol makers today (closing in on 30). Gathering around the punch bowl for a rum shrub in the summer or around the re for a ip in winter was the neighborly thing to do.

Rum In 2023

ree of Strong Spirits on Diamond Street seeks to create a feeling of community.

Co-owner Dave McConnell is a strong believer in the social connection of the punch bowl. “We always have a daily punch on o er in the tasting room,” he says. e airy and welcoming tasting room gets western sun, conducive to Caribbean fantasies. e daily punch recipe is invariably “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.”

While the punch is good, a daiquiri or mojito made with their clean, crisp Brightwater, a classic light rum, is just what we need. e variety of rums makes choosing a drink a pleasant dilemma, easier than the decision to leave.

The Blueshine Blueberry

Calling on reserves of inner strength sooner than expected, we avoid the temptations of the Fox Street breweries and the Portland Zoo and sail into Maine Cra Distilling

Founded in 2012, the rm moved to Washington Avenue in 2017, adding room for oor malting, Scottish mashing, and barrel aging. e most important changes were the patio—with re rings in cooler weather and a big tent for shade in the summer—and the tasting room, with an industrial salvage vibe from distressed wood and antique signs. Bluegrass musicians jam on a stage in the corner. We try their Fi y Stone single-malt Highland-style whiskey straight and in an

Liquid Assets

old-fashioned. It doesn’t o end but doesn’t impress. Putting dulse seaweed in the old-fashioned gets credit for e ort but doesn’t improve the classic recipe. Similarly, their Hemingway Daiquiri has grapefruit juice in it, no improvement over the original recipe. e fruity drinks they make with their Blueshine blueberry liquor are the main attraction. ey also serve terri c food, including Sunday brunch and oysters from e Shop next door. Go when the weather is good and a bluegrass band is playing, and drink a Blueshine lemonade or three. Have some small plates or order a meal and sit a while.

But we’re on a mission and can’t stay. Resolutely, we march southeast on Washington Avenue. Fortunately our next stop is fewer than a thousand steps away.

THE BEE’S KNEES

Established in 2016, Hardshore Distilling focuses on producing Hardshore Original Gin. e recipe includes locally grown fresh rosemary and mint, unconventional in gin. ey were honored as the Best Cra Gin Distillery in 2017 in a nationwide competition sponsored by USA Today. eir column stills rise just behind the bar, and barrels of aging North Oak Gin are visible in the production space. With only two spirits (really one spirit in two variations) to choose between, it’s easy to move forward. e classic Bee’s Knees gives us a Gatsby feel. eir version of a Pool Boy has us dreaming about cabanas and a chaise longue. Discover your love of gin cocktails and the thrill of seeing a workhorse of a copper

Liquid Assets

column still go about its magical business.