Local Libations: A Delmarvalous Delight

August 6, 2021

 Up until the past few years, I used to travel frequently for work, and my travels would take me all over the country (as well as into different countries). One of my favorite things to do when I travel is try different local beers. I used to always joke, though, that no matter where I went, there was always a Dogfish Head IPA on draft, much to my chagrin, since I’m not an IPA fan (or really a Dogfish Head fan, if I’m being honest). Sometimes, I could be across the country and that would be the *only* craft beer they’d have available. What’s up with that?

So I know we’re all pretty well aware of that local libation offering, but Delmarva actually has an incredible range of great, and unique, locally crafted alcohol to boast of.

Seacrets Distillery Spiced Rum

I get it, everyone is familiar with Seacrets, but I’m still surprised by how few people have sampled the liquor they produce or have taken the distillery tour. And let me tell you—they make the absolute best—and I do mean best spiced rum I’ve ever tasted. It is so smooth, perfectly spiced and just daggone good that you can drink it straight. I personally like it in a Tom & Jerry (it’s a Midwest thing) but it’s also delicious in other mixed drinks or in a rum & coke. Honestly, we’ve taken this spiced rum across country with us on a few long road trips and introduced many new fans to it.

Mispillion River Brewing War Series

My husband, who is not a beer drinker, loves the Mispillion War Series. From War Rhino to War Goose to War Llama, this fruity, sweet, sour beer is made from electrolyte drink and not only has awesome labels, but it is awesomely drinkable. I’m happy to see it appearing in more taprooms in the local area and if you ever get a chance to pick up a four pack, let me recommend you do so!

Backshore Brewing Hoop Tea

A local favorite but I would be remiss in not mentioning them because they’re also spreading to more nationwide attention. It used to be that you could only buy Hoop Tea a few places locally in the big pouches, but they’ve not only expanded their flavors, they also offer it in cans, and it’s widely available in the area. Plus, imagine my surprise when arriving at a Sammy Hagar concert in Key West this past May to discover they were serving Hoop Tea at the beer tents, and Hoop Tea had top billing on those tents! I personally like my Hoop Tea with a shot of vodka, to rough it up a little and cut the sweet, but it’s a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. Plus, if you’ve never visited Backshore Brewing, they have prime real estate for drinking beer on the boardwalk!

Dewey Crush

This is a new-to-me discovery as of this summer and I suspect something they just started producing. According the the About Us page, they originated thanks to The Starboard in Dewey Beach!

Available in a variety pack of cans of orange, grapefruit and watermelon, I took these back to North Dakota for my family to try and they were an instant hit. Obviously not quite as good as drinking a fresh crush on the water, but absolutely perfect for packing in the cooler to enjoy on the beach, boat or at a backyard bbq. My personal favorite was still the orange, but if you like grapefruit crushes, you’d probably enjoy these!

St. Michael’s Winery Gollywobbler Peach wine

I do like wine but less and less am I a fan of sweet wines. I make an exception for this wine from St. Michael’s because it’s so refreshing and delightful—a bit of juicy, fruity goodness in a glass that brings a smile to my face and feels just so perfectly local. This is one of the first local wines I can ever remember trying and it remains one of my favorites! The Gollywobbler wines come in a few other flavors, and they are all worth raising a toast to!

This is just a sampling of some of the unique libations-to-go that our local area has to offer, and I’m sure there’s others that belong on this list. If there’s something you think I missed or think I should try that’s locally produced, I hope you’ll let me know! 

These businesses are a Shop Local Delmarvalous Delight and I highly recommend them! 

Business Details:

Please click on the individual headers for more information about each business and where to purchase.

Angela James is a resident of Salisbury, MD and active in the Delmarva community through volunteer work for organizations such as National Folk Festival, Humane Society of Wicomico, Salisbury Pride Parade and more. A fiction editor, author career consultant and public speaker, she’s a small business owner who understands the power of word of mouth and customer reviews.

Delmarvalous Delights highlights the best of Delmarva, along with hidden gems, and shines a spotlight on those businesses that stand out consistently as Delmarvalous Delights.

If you’d like to invite Angela to visit your business, or try your products, please email angie@delmarvalousdelights.com