I had the scoop on this news several months ago, when the priest who married Megan and me provided us with a bottle of Sun Liquor’s Hedge Trimmer Gin. You gotta love the Catholic Church — no rules against drinking there! It turns out one of his parishioners is the owner of Sun Liquor and was celebrating a new contract with Alaska Airlines.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we love our local businesses, and the next time you fly Alaska you should try out some of these Sun Liquor spirits.
- Hedge Trimmer Gin
- UNXLD Vodka
- Sun Rum Silver
On two recent flights I tried the gin and rum — a small sip by themselves and with mixers — and found them pretty good. The gin was very floral with a strong juniper flavor. It had a little more character than Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray. The rum was harder to place. It was very smooth and just a little sweet. I must admit I normally prefer my rum to be aged like bourbon though I didn’t mind my rum and Diet Coke.
I drink vodka only when it’s unavoidable in a cocktail (a Vesper is permissible, but my Martinis are always made with gin and screwdrivers are just a waste of orange juice). I can’t provide much comment there.
If you have MVP Gold or MVP Gold 75 status, consider trying one of these options on your next flight using your complimentary beverage benefit. I was originally offered Bacardi when I asked for rum, so some flights are apparently stocked with both old and new selections. Be sure to ask for the new stuff.
For those who want to visit Sun Liquor on your next trip to Seattle, there are two locations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
The Sun Liquor Lounge is off the beaten path in a residential area at 607 Summit Avenue E, right next-door to Top Pot Doughnuts (another place you should try, and started by the same person). It’s my preferred choice for when I want to sip a drink during quiet conversation.
Another location is the Sun Liquor Distillery on one of the main drags, at 512 E Pike Street. This has more space but also a more utilitarian feel. It gets lots of crowds and often reaches its maximum capacity. More than once I’ve had to run out and talk the bouncer into letting in a friend.
