The Brooklyn Based Booze Awards
Just five years ago, there was no such thing as Brooklyn-made liquor (at least not legally—we can’t speak to what people do in their own bathtubs). But much-welcome changes in prohibition-era laws have opened the doors for local craft distillers, and it turned out the doors were more like floodgates.
With a dozen Brooklyn distilleries now in operation, stretching from Red Hook to Greenpoint, we decided that is was time to test them out. Brooklyn Based assembled a willing team of tasters and tried all of the Brooklyn-made liquors currently on the market (tough job, but someone’s gotta do it).
Our group of 20 thirsty Brooklynites sampled each booze straight up, on ice and with fancy-pants cocktail mixers (like Morris Kitchen‘s Brooklyn-made ginger syrup), and voted then voted for winners in each category. After much well-lubricated debate, we’re ready to name our favorites.
Best Cocktail Mixer
Winner: Cacao Prieto’s Don Estaban Cacao Liqueur
This new Red Hook facility makes both chocolate and booze, and, most notably, chocolate liqueur. Crafted from single-origin Dominican Republic cacao, this unique spirit tastes like a glass of rum infused with dark chocolate. We found it a bit too sweet to drink on its own, but just a few drops of the stuff added to whiskey (Kings County Bourbon perhaps?) is perfection.
Where to Drink It: Clover Club on Smith Street carries Cacao Prieto—ask one of their knowledgeable bartenders to mix it into something from their julep menu.
See more at Brooklyn Based!
