Summer is on the horizon in Pittsburgh with great sips, too. Here are a few hard hitters with smooth tastes to pick up summer-inspired spirits:
Kingfly Spirits
Nothing welcomes summer quite like a crisp, clean limoncello on ice. Even better, Kingfly makes their own affordable limoncello in-house, and while you pick up a bottle or two, relax and cool down with their renowned limoncello slushies, back by popular demand! The Kingfly Bliss Spiced Rum and White Rum make perfect island-breeze, rum-inspired drinks. Shake up your home bar game or stop by for one of their other cocktails, The Buschwacker, a tiki-inspired drink shaken with Kingfly Bliss Spiced Rum, cold brew coffee, coconut cream, oat milk and cacao to taste test the right way for a summer evening out.
Lucky Sign Spirits
Lucky Sign Spirits is an award-winning distillery based in the heart of Millvale. No need for luck with their aptitude for talent though, the varieties of unique spirits will make you ‘cheers’ to summer all season long. Try Lucky Sign Spirit’s Aquavit, a spirit with tastes of citrus, fennel and notes of dill, or pick up a bottle of Girty’s Run Raspberry Gin, a contemporary dry gin with earthy and citrus notes of flavor. Spirits are available in stores only, so take a stroll through Millvale, peruse other local shops and stop by Lucky Sign Spirits.
McLaughlin Distillery
McLaughlin Distillery is known for their crazy creations of moonshines and other scratch-made spirits, based in Sewickley. Open seven days a week, schedule a tasting tour, and learn the ins and outs of the moonshine-making process. From its acclaimed Hokie Pokie Pineapple Lime moonshine to other robust flavors of Ruby Red Grapefruit, Orange, Pink Lemonade, Creamy Limoncello, Mango to a margarita-inspired moonshine and more, you’ll have your bar stacked for the next grill out. Plus, with Picklesburgh right around the corner, celebrate Pittsburgh’s favorite food festival by picking up a bottle of their Pickle Moonshine.
Quantum Spirits
Based in Carnegie, Quantum Spirits puts science to the test with their lively lineup of spirits. Dance into the summer night sipping their Lemon Rhubarb Ginger Craft Cocktail by pouring over ice or savor the devilish sweetness of their Grapefruit Gin Liqueur. Also, try the Marquette Liqueur, perfect for negronis or a Manhattan, Citrus Vodka, or a selection of hot pepper, black lime or orange bitters.
Boyd & Blair
Perfect for putting your own twist to a morning mimosa, sip Boyd & Blair’s newest creation of their bottled craft cocktails, Vodka with blood orange, cranberry and lime, and check out their other craft cocktails including The Lavender Martini or Daquiri. To really spice things up from their signature staples of vodka and rum, try the Bly Ancho Chili Liqueur, a rum-based liqueur infused with ancho chili peppers to combat the summer heat… if you dare.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.