Can you believe it’s been over a decade since Indiana allowed craft spirit businesses to operate in the state? Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Casey Smith has a smart and thoughtful look at how the landscape has changed since 2013, when the Indiana Legislature created the Indiana Artisan Distiller’s Permit and kicked off what Thrillist referred to in 2016 as a local distilling boom.

These days, distillers say that complicated state-to-state laws regarding shipping pose challenges for their businesses (something I run into every time I want to send Hard Truth‘s fantastic coconut rum to an out-of-state pal), as are restrictions on how they can share their goods at festivals. And after you read Casey’s reporting, you’ll probably want to give our March cover story on the region’s craft distilleries another look—here’s all our reporting on the business on one handy page.

Diners in Carmel have two new places to stop this weekend. Moontown Brewing Company will open its first non-Whitestown location today at 1000 W. Main St., it announced on Instagram. The venue, which is restricted to patrons 21 and over, has snacks on hand but also welcomes outside food. Over in Carmel City Center, Hanami Sushi & Sake Bar (317-799-1515) has celebrated its grand opening, Current reports. Co-owner Saowalux Fary is the woman behind a slew of local Thai restaurants and says the business “had a Japanese friend consult on the restaurant’s traditional Japanese dishes.”

Soulshine Vegan Cafe is set to close. The vegan restaurant at 6516 Ferguson St. was known for its comforting throwback vibe and menu of tofu scrambles and seitan mock meats, but a recent equipment issue prompted its owners to reassess the business. Its owners announced on Instagram that, for now, it’ll be open with a limited menu on Saturdays only as they sell off their goods and wind down operations.

A new food ’zine from local high school kids launched this week. Too Many Cooks, a magazine from students in the Patachou Foundation’s summer Food Fellowship Program, had its launch party Thursday night with an issue featuring coverage of “food justice, sustainability and community empowerment through art, poetry, essays and interviews,” Mirror Indy reports. Students from Arsenal Tech, Believe, and Purdue Poly worked on the mag, which is available at Patachou restaurants and Dream Palace Books (111 E. 16th St., 317-737-1215) for $10. Yes, I have this song in my head now too.

Four out-of-state chains are plotting Indy moves. National sports bar chain Tom’s Watch Bar just signed a lease at 140 S. Illinois St., it announced via press release, part of an ambitious cross-country expansion plan. The bar’s differentiator is apparently its “one-of-a-kind venue featuring 360° viewing from every seat with a massive stadium screen surrounded by hundreds of additional screens,” which sounds a little bit like the baddie’s lair in deeply flawed 2009 action film Gamer, so if you’re into that, get stoked. Opening date is TBD.

Also in chain news: Cousins Subs, a company with 93 locations (some company-owned, some franchised) is opening its newest outpost today at 8545 Emerson Ave. (in the Claybrooke Commons strip mall). In a press release, it promises a distinctive “Milwaukee Sub Shop” ambiance. I won’t make a Laverne & Shirley joke since you’re probably still annoyed by my Gamer reference above.

Kura Sushi is Japan’s second-largest sushi chain, with 543 restaurants and counting. In recent years, it expanded to Taiwan (56 spots) and the U.S. (It boasts 64 locations across the country, with nine more on the way.) Its expansion has reached Fishers, IndyToday notes, writing that a Kura is “under construction just west of Kroger on 116th Street.” Like with Tom’s, there’s a gimmick: In this case, kitchen staff place sushi on a conveyor belt, and diners snap up the items they want. Long a standby in Japan, the rotating food trend has taken a nosedive there in recent years, with customers complaining about a lack of freshness and gross social media pranks rendering dishes inedible.

Finally, Chop5 Salad Kitchen, which boasts two Ohio locations and one in Florida, is looking for franchisees who want to open in Indy, the IBJ reports. Startup costs are an estimated $995,800, and franchise fees begin at $40,000. “This is the opportunity to take a newer brand and get a bigger territory,” a company co-founder says, which is good reminder of what big box dining is truly all about.

The post The Feed: New Carmel Restaurants, Sad Vegan Closure, Craft Distilling Milestone appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

Airplane food doesn’t have the best rep, but dining options at the Indianapolis International Airport are a whole other story. Here’s where to find some tasty local meals on the fly.

Main plaza (open to all)

Circle City Beer Garden

Thirsty? This Indiana-centric watering hole pulls craft pints from regional breweries and pours wine and cocktails accompanied by a selection of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and breakfast all day. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Indiana Pacers Courtside Club

Root for the home team with a Boomer Burger named to honor the Pacers’ mascot. Even if there’s not a game to watch, you can admire the hoops-themed decor and memorabilia on display. 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

Nature’s Table

Fuel up—and feel good—for your flight with veggie-leaning choices such as wraps, filling protein bowls, fruity smoothies, soulful soups, and early morning–appropriate fare. 6 a.m.–8 p.m.

Concourse A (ticketed passengers only)

Bento Sushi

Counter service quickly satisfies cravings for California rolls, spicy tuna, and salmon sashimi with grab-and-go packaged options. P.S. There’s also ramen, gyoza, udon, and poke bowls. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., gate A11

Bub’s Burgers

When your stomach wants something familiar, it’s hard to go wrong with a flame-kissed cheeseburger, crinkle-cut fries, and a hand-dipped milkshake. Upgrade your appetite if you’re planning to tackle the one-pound Big Ugly. 6 a.m.–8 p.m., gate A11

Harry & Izzy’s

Nothing says welcome home to Indy like clearing out your stuffy sinuses after a long flight with a St. Elmo’s classic spicy shrimp cocktail. 6 a.m.–9 p.m., gate A6

Tinker Coffee Cafe

Get an early-morning (caffeine) buzz with a latte, nitro cold brew, or cuppa breakfast blend from this popular Indy-based coffee roaster. 4 a.m.–9 p.m., gate A20

Concourse B (ticketed passengers only)

Ben’s Soft Pretzels

Keep those restless kids occupied for a few minutes with a giant soft Amish pretzel. Or buy them the cinnamon and sugar-dusted variation . 5 a.m.–6 p.m., gate B7

Just Pop In!

Bags of the fun-loving brand’s signature caramel-cheddar Indy Style popcorn—or any of the salty, sweet, and spicy alternatives—make the perfect snack to carry on. 7 a.m.–8 p.m., gate B6

Shapiro’s Delicatessen

You’ll probably sleep through your entire flight after polishing off a Reuben, corned beef, or pastrami on rye stacked sky high (with extra pickles on the side, natch). 5 a.m.–8 p.m., gate B14

Sun King Tap Room

Flight delayed? Cool your jets and kill some time with a sandwich, a game on TV, and a friendly pint of Sunlight Cream Ale or Pachanga Mexican Lager. 7 a.m.–9 p.m., gate B13

This article appeared in the July, 2024 issue of Indianapolis Monthly magazine. Subscribe today.

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McGinley’s Golden Ace Inn
2533 E. Washington St.
317-632-0696

When Irish immigrants John and Ann McGinley opened the Golden Ace in 1934, they installed the same stove that grandson Jim McGinley uses to prepare the bar’s cheeseburgers today. Fried “in cast iron skillets older than any of us,” the burgers are “nothing fancy, just delicious,” McGinley says.

They also serve to soak up the effects of the Golden Ace’s signature shot, a take on the Irish Flag that trades Jameson for the Grand Marnier you typically see at the top of the drink. Its other layers of crème de menthe and Baileys Irish cream easily evoke the Irish colors, but “you have to use your imagination a bit to see the orange,” McGinley concedes of the twist. “But what’s more Irish than Irish whiskey?

The post After 90 Years, The Golden Ace Inn Is Still A Family Affair appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

If you’re under 60 years old, you’ve never (legally) had a happy hour drink in Indiana. Since 1985, the common-elsewhere practice of chopping booze prices for the brunch, lunch, or the after-work crowd has been banned across the state, but that all changes on July 1. And all it took was a global pandemic.

“Happy hour” began as a slang term used to describe recreation periods for shipbound soldiers during World War I. Meanwhile, back in the states, Prohibition was raging, and tipplers would tie one on at a speakeasy before heading to a public restaurant, where booze was forbidden. As the war and Prohibition ended, the two concepts met.

Fast forward to the early 1980s, when lobbying group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) enlisted then-President Ronald Reagan in a national push for tighter alcohol laws. State-level happy hour bans followed, including Indiana’s in 1985. Ban sponsor and former Rep. Eric Turner said after its passage, “We did what we intended to do, which was to prevent people from drinking excessively during a short period of time. That is working out exceedingly well.”

Lisa Hutcheson, the vice president of prevention and policy at Mental Health America of Indiana, says studies linking happy hour’s ticking clock to dangerous overconsumption were—and continue to be—a reason to restrict the practice. Patrons are “more likely to drink in excess as a response to happy hour time limits or bar-based drink specials,” she says. 

But by 2016, when then-Rep. Tom Dermody proposed a bill to lift the ban, most states had dropped their restrictions. But his effort still stalled. Now the mayor of LaPorte, Dermody declined to speculate on why the 2024 push against the ban succeeded but says, “In the end, Indiana always does a good job of protecting its businesses.”

Rep. Jake Teshka, who authored the ban-toppling bill, says, “The pandemic really gave us an opportunity to see that it’s unnecessary” to restrict drink specials. “We have office workers who are quickly getting back home to their bedroom communities. Maybe we can keep them out for an hour or two after work,” thus boosting business for places “still struggling to return to pre-Covid levels.”

As part of the new law, happy hours are capped at four hours a day and less than 15 hours a week. They’re also prohibited from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., as are all-you-can-drink or “bottomless” specials.

The law also allows bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks to go, under some very specific conditions. In the earliest days of the pandemic, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to go, but prepared mixed drinks were still forbidden.

Teshka notes that bars compromised with “cocktail kits” of separate components to be mixed at home. “There was a Tex-Mex place by us that would sell their famous frozen margaritas to go, with the mix in a foam container and a sealed pint of Jose Cuervo.” With the July 1 law, “Now it’s legal to sell those mixed together,” he says.

That doesn’t mean you’re strolling out of a Mass Ave pub with a brimming boilermaker in hand. According to Indiana’s Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, only bars and restaurants with carryout privileges can sell mobile mixed drinks, which must come in a “new, clean, sealable” receptacle free of “perforations or straw holes.” Unapproved containers include disposable soup or condiment vessels, repurposed soda or liquor bottles, or fast-food style to-go cups.

Carissa Newton, the vice president of marketing for Cunningham Restaurant Group, warns that the relaxed restrictions won’t be a panacea for all that ails the industry. CRG owns bars and restaurants across Indiana, as well as in Kentucky and Ohio, where happy hours are in full swing. “It will obviously impact sales and traffic to the restaurants,” she says her experience suggests. “But I don’t know that it’s going to bring in this huge influx of revenue.” 

Other bar owners still seem nonplussed that after all this time, happy hours are even an option. Jim McGinley, whose family-owned Golden Ace Inn opened four months after Prohibition ended, says, “Sure, we’ll probably do something,” but he adds that they “want to take it slow.” A spokesperson for Taxman Brewing Co. says they’re likely to offer specials between 4 and 6 p.m. at its CityWay (310 S. Delaware St., 317-734-3107) location but says they’re still mulling details.

Alicia Sweet, co-owner of Holy Cross bar Natural State Provisions and King Dough pizza restaurants, says staff at her businesses are “still getting on board” with the service adjustments required by happy hour specials. But with sales down by 15 percent this year alone, Sweet is hopeful the specials can offer an economic boost. 

“It’s cool that it’s starting in the summertime,” she says. “We can open earlier, do a happy hour from 4 to 6, and then, maybe, people will stay for dinner. That’s all we can hope for.”

The post Happy Hours Have Returned To Indiana appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

Metro Nightclub (707 Massachusetts Ave., 317-639-6022) has apparently changed hands. The long-standing gay club opened in 1990 and has been a mainstay of local LGBTQIA+ culture since. Via Instagram, it announced last week that Bill Pritt, the man behind nearby sushi (among other offerings) spot FortyFive Degrees, is the bar’s new owner. If Pritt’s name sounds familiar, that’s because we just talked about him last week—the entrepreneur also bought the long-vacant bank at 555 N. Delaware St. (at East North Street) for (per the IBJ) $1.25 million. After an extensive renovation, he’ll open a restaurant called Harrison’s in that nearby space.

Do you want a side of education with your cocktail? That’s the question posed by the Barrel Room, a shadowy “micro-speakeasy” that provides “a 2 hour multi-sensory and educational cocktail journey” with light apps and a strict no-tardiness policy. Booze school is in on May 30, with reservations available now via OpenTable. 

Louisiana-based chain Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux appeared to have a false start last year, opening at 247 S. Meridian St. in May as part of “a significant expansion into multiple Midwest states” (as the Star put it) then shuttering just a few months later. The sports bar’s franchisee told the IBJ that the flow of customers was inconsistent, so he moved the business to Fishers—11655 Fishers Corner Blvd., to be exact—saying “We found that we’re better when we’re a big fish in a small pond.” It opened on Monday, so news on whether Fishers is a small enough pond for the 80-location company will likely arrive soon.

A brow-raising police raid on several Broad Ripple bars was part of an investigation into allegedly unpaid taxes, Fox 59 reports. Agents of multiple law enforcement agencies descended on Rock Lobster, Average Joe’s, Connor’s Pub, and Mineshaft on April 24, as well as two residences later revealed as the homes of the bar owners. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office confirms that the action was taken as part of an Indiana Department of Revenue investigation into taxable sale reporting. It’s unclear if official charges have been filed in the case.

@chapter.lounge

Chapter 1 We’re bringing a boozy bookstore to Noblesville, IN. Follow along as we plan, build out, and open our space in historic downtown Noblesville. Our space is called, “Chapter” and we’re designing it with book clubs in mind. It’ll be comfy and cozy- with caffine, cocktails, and a curated collection of books you’ll want to discuss. More to come… #books #booklover #noblesvilleindiana #newbusiness #fypage #booktok

♬ A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey

“Boozy bookstore” Chapter Lounge is making a splash on TikTok. The Noblesville business has yet to make its address public but says it will open some time in the summer of 2024. Amateur sleuths can probably figure out its location by pausing and evaluating footage from the company’s notably popular social media posts, which follow its owners’ efforts to renovate its space. 

Then again, you might not have to go to a bookstore to get tipsy in Noblesville. The IBJ reports that officials in the Hamilton County seat have proposed a plan to allow on-street and in-shop drinking for a 92-acre stretch that includes areas near the White River including its courthouse square and Federal Hill Commons. If the plan to Bourbon Street-ize the district is approved, from noon to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday, adults could wander the streets with cocktails, beer, and wine in plastic cups emblazoned with indicators that they’re participating in a designated outdoor refreshment area sip and stroll. Other Indiana cities that already allow the Vegas-y activity are Batesville, Fort Wayne, Greensburg, Huntingburg, Jasper, Kirklin, Lawrenceburg, Shelbyville, Winona Lake, and Yorktown.

Speedway’s Daredevil Brewing Co. (1151 N. Main St., 317-210-0176) is gearing up for Lagerfest on Friday, its globe-spanning celebration of the cold-brewed beer. Expect live music, a slew of food trucks, and lagers from over 20 breweries, as well as ciders and wines. Tickets start at $30 for the event, which runs 5:30–10 p.m. on Friday, May 10.

I’m a little late to this one, but I wanted to direct you to the reporting of Meghan Holt, a Ball State student reporter who penned this great piece on the murky fate of the oldest gay bar in Indiana. The Mark III Tap Room opened in Muncie in 1968, and has endured moves, ownership changes, and temporary closures in the years since. In January, a pipe burst in its current location at 306 S. Walnut St., and it’s been closed ever since. The bar is compensating by planning events elsewhere, but its owners say “[T]here are a lot of things that go into play with the timeframe that are beyond anyone’s control.”

The post The Feed: Indy’s Bar Boom appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

IF YOU’RE hoping for a chill cup of coffee with relaxing music pulsing quietly in the background, Black House Cafe is for you. Just remember, however, that you may have to get cozy at a table next to Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. They were part of owner Mari Reyes Ramirez’s vision when choosing her Fountain Square cafe’s (and adjoining Airbnb’s) decor. The coffee menu is possessed with drinks that recall favorite hair-raising films, like The Dreamer, an ube-infused latte, and the horchata-based Never Sleep Again. The smoothie menu serves up scary vibes, including the Sam Raimi–inspired Ash’s Boom Stick, chock full of cocoa, peanut butter, honey, bananas, and almond milk. 1122 Shelby St.

The post Spooky Sips appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

With locally roasted beans from Bee and Illumine, Speedway coffee shop The Spark (1402 N. Main St., 317-771-1062) has built a loyal fan base of longtime area residents and the town’s hip newbies in the nearly three years since it opened. Now they’re marrying their neighborhood’s roots to contemporary coffee culture with their Latte Art Throwdown, a race month–adjacent event featuring “some of the area’s best baristas from regional and local coffee shops.” It all goes down from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, with $10 tickets (competitor or spectator) to benefit Danville’s Sheltering Wings anti-domestic abuse nonprofit.

Local meat shop Old Major Market (4201 Millersville Rd.) is getting into the pop-up game. The provisions spot has enough wide-open spaces to host special dinners and other food and drink events, owner Mark LaFay tells me, “and it’s something we’ve always wanted to do.” They’re starting this new era in style, with two nights of dinners with chefs Abbi Merriss (Bluebeard, Kan Kan) and Bryan Kanne this weekend. Tickets are available online.

Sangiovese Ristorante owner Chris Evans will open what he says is his “third and final restaurant” in Carmel next week. Tre (10 E. Main St., 317-757-5913) will open on April 26 with a menu that will include—and I hate myself for falling for this clear headline bait—“edible 24k gold risotto carbonara.” There’s also less brow-raising stuff like a pappardelle with ragu, but the Goldschläger on a plate should give you an idea of what they’re going for here. It’ll be dinner only, Monday–Sunday, 4–10 p.m.

As someone who watched the AIDS crisis decimate the Indianapolis gay scene in the 1980s and ’90s, the one bright light I recall through it all was the Damien Center, which cared for the ill and raised awareness even as our leaders turned their backs on the devastating epidemic. Three decades later, they’re still supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. Now we can support them back with their 30th Annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser on April 25. Over 70 area bars and restaurants will be donating a notable chunk of that night’s proceeds to the center, boosting its work to end HIV in Central Indiana. A list of participating venues is online and includes many of our city’s greatest restaurants.

Downtown Indy tap room Guggman Haus Brewing Co. (1701 Gent Ave., 317-602-6131) is hitting the water next month with Boats ’n Brews, a collab with people-powered watercraft rental company Frank’s Livery. On May 4, enjoy a day “of paddling, camaraderie, and the signature taste of Guggman’s Riverside New England IPA.” Participants get a four-pack of brews and a Guggmann Haus koozie, as well as a canoe or kayak trip up the White River. Call 260-226-3075 to reserve a spot.

The events keep coming with Bluebeard’s (653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580) guest chef evening with Dayton rising star chef Dane Shipp, whose Culture is the first restaurant people bring up when I say my dad’s family lives in the gem city. Shipp and the current Bluebeard team will serve up a five-course paired menu on Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m. Only 18 seats are available, with tickets for sale online.

But life can’t be all tasting menus and boldfaced chef names. Here’s a roundup of some fast casual news we’ve spotted around town:

· Boba chain Harmony Tea Shoppe is promising a new location in the Yard at Fishers District (9719 E. 116th St.). Opening date is unclear, but photos suggest they’ve got a ways to go.

· Twenty Two Juice Bar, a popular Garage food hall stop for folks seeking lighter options, has expanded to a Fishers strip mall. The new 11670 Commercial Dr. location opened Monday with a menu of açaí bowls, smoothies, and shots.

· Since 1984, Cath Coffee and Tea was a City Market favorite, but development at the downtown site prompted a move up north. WISH reports that Cath is now serving up its Turkish and Egyptian beverages and pastries at Castleton Square Mall, near the Macy’s.

Have a local dining tip, hint, or question? The line is always open at ebatey@indianapolismonthly.com.

The post The Feed: Gold Risotto, Latte Throwdown, Boats ’n Brews appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

• Buy tickets at least a week in advance.
• This year’s Belgian-style stout, Deadline, will be released in four variants. They’re exclusive to the festival, so sample them all.
• Splurge on Experience tickets for a two-pack of the new stout to take home. The upgrade also gets you a snifter glass.
• A portion of the proceeds supports the Bargersville Farmers Market, so pick up a hat or tee at the swag booth.
• Grab-and-go lunches at the Main Street eateries are your fastest options.
• Arrive early to secure a street-parking spot near the festival.
• Stay late for the live musical performances by local artists, including The 78’s and Dean Martini.

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(1) Hawthorne Strainer
Steelite International’s essential cocktail strainer comes in handy when making citrus-based drinks, such as the Early Riser. $24. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(2) Shaker Kit
This classic stainless steel two-piece set from Barfly Mixology Gear shakes things up in style. $26. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(3) Glencairn Glass
The shape of this whiskey-tasting glass is the gold standard for sipping. The narrow rim is designed to concentrate the spirit’s aroma. West Fork Whiskey Co., 10 E. 191st St., Westfield

(4) Nick & Nora Glass
Elegant and dainty, this long-stemmed martini glass from Steelite takes its name from the stylish characters in the 1934 book, The Thin Man. $240 for a case of 24. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(5) Martini Glass
Inspired by the 1920s glamour of American jazz bars, this elegant Steelite stemware is a beauty to behold. $139 for a case of 12. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(6) Mixing Glass
Featuring a heavy base and narrow spout, Steelite’s 27-ounce mixer looks deceivingly delicate, but it’s a solid go-to for stirred cocktails. $305 for a case of six. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(7) Twisted Bar Spoon
With a corkscrew shape that allows for smooth, splash-less stirring, this 12-inch utensil from Steelite is the magic wand of the bar cart. $18. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(8) Japanese Jigger
This stainless steel tool from Barfly measures out 1- and 2-ounce pours. $12. Zesco Foodservice Design & Supply, 640 N. Capitol Ave.

(9) Whiskey Decanter
A gorgeous Viski Irish-cut decanter preserves the quality of the spirit. $35. Kahn’s Fine Wines & Spirits, 5341 N. Keystone Ave.

The post The Barware Essential Still Life appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

Built in the hills of the Brown County woods, Hard Truth Distilling Co. (418 Old State Rd. 46, Nashville, 812-720-4840) features a two-story craftsman-style overnight cabin made especially for the outdoorsy whiskey enthusiast. There, you can enjoy fine libations as you spot deer meandering the tree line. If that isn’t the perfect fusion of the great outdoors and whiskey heaven, guests to the cabin are also guaranteed a weekend distillery tour.

The distillery is located on a 325-acre wooded campus. Not even a third of the property is developed, which is just the way founders Ed Ryan, Jeff McCabe, and Tim O’Bryan like it. As the story goes, early in 2015, Dunbar and McCabe, with whiskey glasses in hand, explored the property, marking off areas they wanted to keep true to nature. Only the tallest rolling hills would host the timber frame buildings of the restaurant and distillery. Then, the pair planned the ground’s walking paths, some of which lead down to a pond where the “world’s smallest rackhouse” now bobs on the water and where guests can feed fish (machines nearby dispense food). The same trails host runs like the Frosty Trails and the Whiskey Chaser races.

If exploring on four wheels is more your thing, the Get Lost ATV tour (you drink, they drive) provides some rugged backwoods scenery. In summer and fall, visitors can imagine the woods taking on an island vibe during Hard Truth’s Tiki Cruises, when party pontoons transport guests, tropical drinks in hand, across a man-made lake.

Even when you go indoors, there’s no avoiding Hard Truth’s obsession with the surrounding natural beauty. During one of several mixology classes, you can craft your own bespoke couple’s cocktail beneath the taxidermy turkey hanging out in the rafters. Afterward, head to the distillery restaurant for a menu featuring, among other signature inventions, the Lost in the Woods cocktail made with

Hard Truth Vodka and citrus juices. For an entree, opt for the Campfire Roast Beef: red skin potatoes, pot roast covered in beef gravy, carrots, and corn on the cob, all wrapped in aluminum for that around-the-fire touch. From spring through fall, check out live music at Hard Truth on the Rocks, a large outdoor sitting area complete with personal campfire pits.

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