Corsair Artisan Distillery

Corsair Artisan spirits, brainchild of Nashvillians Derek Bell and Andrew Webber, is one of a growing number of microdistilleries representing the spiritual heirs of the small batch bourbons of the 1990s. For the moment, Corsair’s vanilla vodka, absinthe, spiced rum and small-batch gin are brewed in Bowling Green and marketed from 37205, but a recent change in state law reported in Nashvillepost.com will likely allow Bell and Webber to move production to Nashville.

Four Corsair quaffs made an appearance at a party. The bartender poured up a massive 3-to-1-ratio drink of the Red Absinthe and water. The absinthe has a huge nose of florals and licorice and a subtle taste alongside a mighty fist of alcohol. It wasn’t the Pernod or Ricard I expected–it’s a spirit for mixing. The 56 percent alcohol content confirms that you wouldn’t drink it neat. If you were normal.

With that in mind, my next order was the vanilla vodka with a Coke, for a double shot of vanilla (for that is Coke’s primary flavoring) that tasted like a grown-up Coke float. You know, minus the ice cream and plus the potential for saying something you regret later.

After reading the website’s description of the gin manufacturing, I regret not having tried it. It’s still possible, though: Corsair products are available at Midtown Wine and Spirits and CoolSprings Wine and Spirits.