Great Lakes Wine and Spirits Logo

World’s Best Vodka – Valentine Distilling

The 2016 World Vodka Awards results are in and local distillery, Valentine Distilling, has brought home World’s Best Vodka as well as Best Varietal Vodka. Congratulations, Valentine!

Whiskey Rebellion part 4 – Arcadian Cocktail

This is the fourth in a series of four cocktails created by different Detroit bartenders for Whiskey Rebellion 2016 Shane Bang tends bar at the Standby. He is currently the president of the Detroit chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild and was named one of the top 25 bartenders in country by the Daily Meal. […]

Whiskey Rebellion part 3 – Koala-ty Check

This is the third in a series of four cocktails created by different Detroit bartenders for Whiskey Rebellion 2016 Rudy Leon has been tending bar for a little over eight years. He is currently the bar manager at Selden Standard in Detroit. “The Koala-ty Check, based around eucalyptus because of its unique botanical, herbaceous flavor. I paired the […]

Whiskey Rebellion part 2 – Click Out the Signs

This is the second in a series of four cocktails created by different Detroit bartenders for Whiskey Rebellion 2016 Rick Paulger has over 14 years experience bartending and is currently the head bartender at Roast. “I thought the spice of the Wild Turkey Rye played well with the Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curaçao, and the addition of […]

Whiskey Rebellion part 1 – Lady Boots

This is the first in a series of four cocktails created by different Detroit bartenders for Whiskey Rebellion 2016 Having worked at The Oakland for 3 1/2 years, Chas Williams has been tending bar for the last 2 and has recently been promoted to Head Bartender/Manager. “The inspiration for the Lady Boots cocktail was to capture the […]

Oh 2015, Are You Already Gone?

We said goodbye to 2015 a couple weeks back, but it was such a great year that we’re still reflecting before looking ahead.  Being of the firm belief that you have to learn from both mistakes and successes to plo(w)ugh forward, here’s to raising a glass to the year that was and sharing some thoughts […]

“Beer-Clean” is Important

Well, not in the grand scheme of life but in its small way, to a select group of people who want “it” done right, it is important. Beer deserves to be treated with respect and that starts with proper serving temperature (another subject) and then a “beer-clean” glass (I am resisting quotation marks from now […]

Moaui Tai – Shane Bang: Guest Bartender

Shane Bange Action Shot

Our Featured Original cocktail is brought to you by guest bartender, Shane Bang. Inspired by the Mai Tai, the Moai Tai is named after the iconic statues of Easter Island. The cinnamon, lemon, and yellow Chartreuse highlight the botanicals found in the Bombay Sapphire. Moaui Tai 1.5 oz Bombay Sapphire 1oz Lemon .5 Cinnamon Syrup .25 […]

Saturn – Shane Bang: Guest Bartender

Our Featured Classic cocktail is brought to you by guest bartender, Shane Bang. Surprisingly, this delicious Tiki drink is gin-based instead of the usual rum. The Saturn won the 1967 International Bartender’s Association World Cocktail Championship for California Tiki bartender J. “Popo” Galsini. SATURN 1.25 Bombay Gin .5 Lemon Juice .5 Passion Fruit Syrup .25 Falernum .25 Orgeat […]