The Most Underrated Spirits and Liqueurs, According to Portland Bartenders – From Oregon-made pear brandy and baijiu to Becherovka and Ancho Reyes Verde
In a recent article for Eater, Maya MacEvoy interviewed Portland bartenders and asked them to share their favorite underrated spirits and liqueurs, “so those of us barely stepping outside Old Fashioned territory can try something new.”
MacEvoy writes in the introduction: “Portland loves its booze. Between September 2020 and August 2021, Multnomah County alone reported more than $183 million in distilled spirits sales alone, and the city of Portland is home to numerous distilleries, cocktail bars, and liquor aficionados. It’s hard to find an area in Portland without a smart, creative bartender shaking and stirring nearby, be it at a hotel lounge or a dive.”
Adam Robinson, a bartender at Deadshot answered, “As far as underrated spirits go, I really wish I saw more cocktails on menus featuring brandy. I think it is an often-overlooked category that has loads of potential. Personally speaking, I am a huge fan of Cognac — I think the price point can be a little inhibiting for some bars, as they don’t want to have cocktails on their menu above a certain price, which I totally understand. Locally, we have two pear-based brandies made by Clear Creek and New Deal that both are fantastic in cocktails.”
You can find a range of cocktail recipes using our award-winning New Deal Pear Brandy by clicking here.
