Lynda Wheatley | Author

Long Road Distillers Amaro Pazzo

Dec. 29, 2018

Amaro, a centuries-old Italian herbal liqueur, is experiencing a rebirth of popularity in America. And if you ask us, the timing couldn’t be better for Long Road Distillers version, released just this month. Its Amaro Pazzo (57 proof, 28.5% ABV), made with Michigan-grown red winter ... Read More >>

Glen Haven Canning Co. Preserves

Dec. 8, 2018

Fresh from the “Dang, why didn’t we think of that?” file: The reborn Glen Haven Canning Co. is preserving the North’s natural bounty of fruits and veggies in cans almost too cute to open. Oh, but when you do — each reveals a harvest plucked and preserved at i... Read More >>

The Awesome Coffee

Dec. 8, 2018

Some people require only a crackling fire to warm their holiday. But for those of us who want to burn this Christmas party down, only a spark-shooting caffeinated cocktail will do. And that’s why we are positively melting for City Park Grill’s aptly named Awesome Coffee. A ble... Read More >>

North Arm Noir

Dec. 1, 2018

Used to be that wine lovers and makers alike sneered at reds made of hybrid grapes; high quality red wines, it was thought, could come only from tried and true vinifera grapes — like cabernet francs and sauvignons. That’s been steadily changing in the north-central reaches of ... Read More >>

Mammoth Distilling’s Old Fashioned

Nov. 24, 2018

Mammoth Distilling, based in Central Lake and with tasting rooms in Traverse City and Bellaire, is fairly new to the distilling scene Up North, but it’s proven itself to be a true master of the classics. Its ode to ‘30s-era screen star Olivia De Havilland — Mammoth gin w... Read More >>

Taproot's Grilled Cheese

Nov. 24, 2018

There once was a time we turned up our noses at “grown-up” grilled cheese sandwiches. Much like kids who demand the orange-powder-made glow of Kraft’s mac and cheese and refuse any lily-gilding Gouda or Gruyére version, we wanted only the original, like Mom made: ... Read More >>

Six Lugs Cocktail Cherries

Nov. 24, 2018

Gone are the days of plunking those suspiciously neon-red maraschino cherries into your Manhattans, friends. While we all have fond memories of topping our Shirley Temples with those bright red cherries, the time has come to elevate your craft cocktail with something a litt... Read More >>

Jim's Joint B.B.Q.'s The Smokestack

Nov. 3, 2018

Jim’s Joint B.B.Q. in Honor abstains from both rules and region. And man, does that work well for those of us who worship at the shrine of smoke. Without the commandments of either Carolina or Texas barbacue cramping their style, Pitmaster Jim and Pit Boss Susan Johnson concoct... Read More >>

Oma’s Cherry-Infused Vodka

Nov. 3, 2018

Distiller Kyle Miller’s “Oma” — that’s German for grandmother — has been infusing her vodka with Traverse City cherries since she emigrated to the Mitten State from Germany in 1952. Borrowing a little bit of Oma’s pluck and a lot of her recipe, Mi... Read More >>

Master Beet Pale Ale

Oct. 6, 2018

A ruby gem among other ales that literally pale in comparison, Tunnel Vision’s Master Beet Pale Ale brings a vibrant and well-landed punch to the unexpected ingredients category — and your palate. A full pint proves smooth and crisp, thanks to a clean melding of hops and shred... Read More >>

Four Roses Bourbon

Sept. 22, 2018

When a certain author, who shall remain nameless, called the organizers of Harbor Springs Festival of the Books to make certain he could find his preferred bourbon while visiting town next weekend, the organizers called the adjacent Bar Harbor. And no wonder. The longstanding burger-n-bee... Read More >>

Troye Sivan – Bloom – Capitol

Sept. 15, 2018

Doubling up his efforts by producing half of the effort with collaborators Allie X, Leland, and Bran Inscore, and then wrangling in good ol’ Max Martin (famed Swedish songwriter/producer) and his team, Sivan’s latest infers a wide range of influences from the ’80s on upw... Read More >>

Crepes & Co. Savory Crepe

Aug. 4, 2018

We’re not sure there’s a better way to improve your hyper-rushed morning than ordering up a crepe stuffed with ham, cheese, and egg — scrambled or sunny — at French chef Vanessa Grasset's Crepes & Co. Freshly made far faster than any drive-thru McBreakfast... Read More >>

Left Foot Charley’s Strawberry Cider

Aug. 4, 2018

If summer and fall met and mingled under an August moon, Left Foot Charley’s strawberry cider would be the result of their magical union. Imagine a dry cider — one of LFC’s classic cider styles — infused with 400 pounds of strawberries. The initial sip is a surpris... Read More >>

Montmorency Cherry Juice Box

June 28, 2018

So you’ve heard for years that drinking the juice squeezed from tart cherries eases muscle pain, soothes arthritis aches, and makes your heart healthier. And maybe you’ve dutifully popped a couple tablespoons in a glass, added water, and slugged some down each morning. Well, S... Read More >>

Bacon Habanero Tortilla Chips

June 23, 2018

There’s a picky person in every Up North party crowd. And if yours has a dieter, a vegan, or a gluten-free, GMO-hating, Mexicali-loving bacon addict, just serve a sack of Late July Snacks’ Bacon Habanero tortilla chips, and you’re golden. Probably the least offensive but... Read More >>

Oloves

June 16, 2018

It’s a cruel irony that bathing suit season happens to coincide with the absolute best time of year to sit outside and sip wine. (A six-ounce glass will run you about 115 to 150 calories, but let’s be honest: With this scenery, who stops at a single glass?) Luckily, Chateau Ch... Read More >>

High Five Spirits' Mi Senorita Vodka Rita

June 9, 2018

We swear, it’s not only High Five Spirits’ gorgeous presentation of its Mi Senorita Vodka Rita that had us swooning. (But seriously, who wouldn’t fall hard for a chilled copper vessel cut in the shape of an upside-down pineapple and packed with thick rings of citrus, Hig... Read More >>

The Tonic

June 2, 2018

For ’80s kids from the Detroit-area’s eastside burbs, it wasn’t autumn without a trek to Blake’s cider mill in Armada, Michigan. Class trips, family jaunts — you filled up on all the fall accoutrements at Blake’s: fresh-pressed cider, hot-from-the-oven-... Read More >>

Dirty Thirty

May 12, 2018

You might not expect a lace-curtained tea shop to bring the heat. But the speakeasy hidden behind Traverse City’s Teetotalers does exactly that — once your password gets you permission to step behind the bookcase anyway. Inside the moody, elegant space done up in hyper-detaile... Read More >>