SIP ON PENNSYLVANIA-MADE UNION FORGE VODKA AT THE PITTSBURGH WINE SPIRITS FESTIVAL

With the Pittsburgh Wine & Spirits Festival just a few days away, it’s time for our annual Boozy Q&A with five PA distilleries that you’ll catch at the event. Read on to see what they had to say about hot summer drinks, trends that are here to stay and what they’re looking forward to on Friday.

• Richard Couchenour, 2 JAS Distilling
• Maximilian Merrill, Ponfeigh Distillery
• Herman C. Mihalich, Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey and Mountain Laurel Spirits 
• Stephanie Ridgway, Union Forge Vodka and Charles Jacquin et Cie
• Bill Taylor, KelRay Industries

What is your favorite spirit right now?

I have to be partial to Monongahela Rye. -MM

Our Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey. -HM

I’m a fan of vodka, especially one that has some body and complexity to it. -SR

Bourbon cocktails (smashes, mules, old fashioneds) with a fun pop of Boba Pops. -BT

What should we be drinking this summer?

I like our Two Jackasses Coconut Flavored Rum in a Coconut Mojito. It’s an awesome flavor profile since we use toasted coconut in the spirit. It gives you a smoky flavor to the coconut and the mojito works great for a summer vibe. It is refreshing and you can get a bit of the tropics in every drink. -RC

Whiskey sours made with our Dad’s Hat rye and fresh lemon juice are perfect for the summer. -HM

Peach flavored cocktails are perfect for the summer time. Try adding a splash of Peche de Vigne to a martini for a truly elevated martini experience. -SR

Boba Pops in a wide variety of cool, fun and delicious cocktails. -BT

PHOTO COURTESY PONFEIGH DISTILLERY

What trends are you observing that are here to stay?

People are drinking less but drinking premium spirits. Not your daddy’s brand but clean smooth whiskeys. -MM

Well made cocktails with fresh ingredients. -HM

I think the bourbon trend has really endured well and there is no end in sight for the popularity of bourbon-based cocktails. -BT

What will you be serving at this year’s Pittsburgh Wine & Spirits Festival?

We’ll be serving our Unaged Silver Rum, Spice Flavored Rum, Barrel Aged Rum plus Coffee, Coconut and Banana Flavored Rums. -RC

We will be serving Manhattans and Rye Gingers. -MM

We will be sampling our Pennsylvania rye whiskeys and an Old Fashioned Cocktail made with our whiskey during the Early Entry hour. -HM

The Union Forge Vodka, official vodka of the Pittsburgh Penguins! I’ll be serving it neat and mixed in our classic Keystone Lemonade, a refreshing blend of The Union Forge, Jacquin’s Triple Sec, fresh lemonade and lemon-lime soda. -SR

We will be providing samples of our Boba Pops in five flavors – peach, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry and lychee. -BT

What do you enjoy most about the Pittsburgh Wine & Spirits Festival?

This is our first time, so we are looking forward to the exposure since we are the newest and largest distillery. -MM

Meeting old friends and making new ones who share our love for delicious whiskey. -HM

The people who attend are always so friendly and engaged in learning about the spirits. -SR

The crowd! It is awesome to talk to so many people and share ideas and experiences related to all of the products available. -BT

Can you share a recipe with us that our readers can try at home?

Two Jackasses Rum Sunset

1.5 oz Two Jackasses Spice Flavored Rum

4 oz Orange Juice

1 oz Grenadine

Lime Slice for Garnish

Pour orange juice, Two Jackasses Spice Flavored Rum, and grenadine in a glass with ice. Stir and strain into a fresh glass and garnish with a lime slice.

Ponfeigh Perfect Monongahela Manhattan

2 oz Ponfeigh Westsylvania Rye

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

.5 oz Dry Vermouth

1-2 dashes Aromatic Bitters

1 Luxardo Cherry with Syrup

Ponfeigh Rye Mule

2 oz Ponfeigh Westsylvania Rye

4 oz Ginger Beer

1 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice

Dad’s Hat Whiskey Sour

2 oz of Dad’s Hat PA Rye Whiskey

1 oz of Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 oz of Simple Syrup (We like ours with honey simple syrup)

Give these a good shake and serve up in a coup or over ice in an old fashioned glass if you prefer.

The Union Forge Keystone Lemonade

1.5 oz of The Union Forge Vodka

.5 oz Jacquin’s Triple Sec

5 oz Fresh Lemonade

1 oz Lemon-Lime Soda

Add vodka, triple sec and lemonade to a tin with ice and shake well. Strain into a collins glass over fresh ice and top with lemon lime soda. Garnish with a lemon wedge (optional).

Kentucky Boba Bluegrass

3 Parts Bourbon

1 Part Rose’s Lime Juice

1 Part Ginger Beer

1 Heaping Tablespoon of Blueberry Boba Pops

Stir and garnish with a lime and boba straw.

The Pittsburgh Wine & Spirits Festival is this Friday, May 31, at the Event Center at Rivers Casino. A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased online.