5 Southern Spirits for Summer | Listen

Tip Top Proper Cocktails
Start off strong with Atlanta-based Tip Top Proper Cocktails, created in collaboration with chef Miles Macquarrie of Kimball House. Partnering with a chef to create your cocktail recipes is an ace move, and results reflect a team dedicated to flavor perfection. Of the 16 cocktails available, our favorites are the Paper Plane (you’ll be hard pressed to make one more balanced) and the Cosmopolitan. Tip Top has revived this cocktail from its sad days of bottom-shelf mixers and created something zesty and refreshing. It’s more delightful than we could ever have imagined to have an expertly balanced cocktail ready at the crack of a can. Order online or find a store through their website.

Origami Sake
Arkansas-made sake with Arkansas-grown rice has hit the big time: The Angelfish single origin junmai distillation won a gold distinction at the Tokyo Sake Challenge this past March. It’s our favorite of their four sakes currently available, bright, crisp, and crushable. And although it’s never a bad idea to pair sake with sushi (learn how to make your own rolls with chef Marisa Baggett), branch out and try this blend with the distillers’ recommended pairings: caprese salad, steak tartare, or braised eel. Notably, they also offer a zero-proof sake that contains active enzymes and can aid in digestion. Find at H-E-B, Spec’s, and Total Wine.

Casa Lunazul Primero Collection
Reposado TequilaWhat happens when a legacy agave spirits producer joins forces with a Kentucky bourbon giant? The summer’s smoothest version of the old fashioned. Adding to their Casa Lunazul portfolio, Tierra de Agaves has aged their 90-proof Primero reposado tequila in Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond barrels, and the result is a sipping tequila that strikes a sophisticated balance between rich and delicate with tones of complex spice and nutty caramel. It’s delicious alone, but try it over ice with simple syrup, Angostura and mole bitters, and an orange peel garnish; you won’t want to drink anything else all night. Currently available through select retailers and online delivery in Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, and Michigan.

Distillery of Modern Art Amaro Peach
Of course a Southern distiller would have the brilliant idea to make an amaro out of our quintessential summer fruit, and the gorgeous bottle design is a bonus. DoMA in Chamblee, Georgia, has crafted a peach amaro that is molto elegante with hints of Valencia orange and stewed black fruits—just right for a low-ABV summer aperitivo hour. Mix it with sparkling water or try their version of a Limonata with San Pellegrino lemon soda. Ships to most states or find a retailer on their website.

Make & Muddle Cocktail Syrups
Sometimes you just don’t feel like making simple syrup. Enter Make & Muddle cocktail syrups from Jennifer Brian, Louisville’s “Cocktail Evangelist.” Their 10 syrups keep in the refrigerator for 6 weeks after being opened and range from 2 Pepper Agave with black peppercorns, serrano, and bitter orange to Spiced Cherry Vanilla with cardamom, cinnamon, and Madagascar vanilla. Cool down with a sophisticated combo of 1.5 ounces 1000 Piers Coastal Gin, ½ ounce lemon juice, and ½ ounce of their Honey Lavender elixir, topped with sparkling water. Order on Etsy or buy locally in Kentucky, Illinois, or Indiana.