Food, Culture & Community: Hotel Tango Whiskey

Last Friday I got a call from one of my friends who had an itch for a bit of Fletcher Place nightlife. I, feeling the itch myself, agreed without any hesitation. My friend pulled up a few minutes later on his newly purchased Suzuki 350 motorcycle. He tossed me a helmet, I hopped on, and we cruised down College Ave. with a mission. It was time for what I was sure would be the first of many excursions to the premier disabled veteran owned artisan distillery in the United States. Hotel Tango Whiskey.

We pulled in the parking lot of a quaint brick building feeling like kings on our loyal steed. As we parked, a festive warm light emanating from the windows greeted us. Once inside, we made our way around the friendly patrons and seated ourselves at a corner table. This was the first time I had a chance to take it all in. The first thing that struck me was the shear friendliness of the atmosphere. Tables, chairs, and couches were incongruously positioned around a blazing fireplace which chimneyed up through the center of the building. The amiable lighting shining from rustic light fixtures showered everyone with hospitable vibes. To my very core, I felt warm… and I hadn’t even sampled the spirits yet!

Brian Willsey (who just so happened to be one of the owners) greeted us with a hearty handshake, as he personably asked for our names. Brian then moved to give us samples of their freshly distilled “Victor Vodka” and “Romeo Rum.” As we sampled, he, like a proud parent, took us through the distilling process for both spirits. While both spirits were extraordinary, we were both digging on the smoothness of the rum so we each ordered a neat, sat back, and took a little time for ourselves to catch up as we enjoyed the delicious complementary popcorn.

After about an hour and a half, we gathered our things and reluctantly made our exit, both of us with the certainty that our HTW hiatus would be short-lived. We would definitely be back soon.

If you love a warm and friendly weekend respite, I would highly recommend checking out Hotel Tango Whiskey…especially as the cool of fall approaches.