CHARITY BOTTLE in a
Celebrate the spirit of giving when you purchase from distilleries that believe in giving back to others – as well as making wonderful spirits.
ome American distilleries are finding creative ways to pour back into their communities. Whether through coveted bourbon sets or grassroots partnerships, these producers are raising funds and spirits well beyond
Buffalo Trace Distillery, in Frankfort, Kentucky, has long donated special bottles to nonprofits for fundraisers, and in 2024 launched the “100 Bourbon Sets for 100 Charities” initiative. Each year, the distillery invites organizations nationwide to apply for one of 100 curated sets, ranging from two to six bottles. Nonprofits have used rare lineups such as Weller’s Special Reserve through Full Proof, E.H. Taylor’s Single Barrel and Barrel Proof, and Blanton’s Gold and Straight from the Barrel to raise thousands of dollars at fundraisers. Applications open for 100 days, and selected charities keep every dollar they raise.
Over the past two years, Buffalo Trace’s parent company, Sazerac, has donated more than $10.4 million to community causes, from cancer care to animal welfare.
In Pittsburgh, Wigle Whiskey has woven philanthropy into its identity, supporting more than 300 civic and nonprofit organizations. The distillery has backed causes as varied as the American Cancer Society, Girls Rock!, the Carnegie Library and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Wigle frames its mission not only as crafting award-winning spirits but as being, in its words, “an economically vital and compassionate part of our community.”
Pictured: Wigle Whiskey is all about fun and supporting others. INSet: Weller is popular with nonprofit fundraisers.
By Doug Motz
hen you mention the Kahiki to folks in Ohio, images of Columbus’ once grand fivestory Polynesian palace are immediately conjured up. From its opening in 1961 as one of the largest tiki-themed restaurants in the U.S, the Kahiki was where promgoers, families and the rich and famous went to dine and celebrate until its closure in 2000.
Before you even walked into the Kahiki, it made a big impression. The front door was flanked by two towering Moai sculptures with flames shooting out of the top. Once an iconic symbol of the Aloha spirit in Central Ohio, one of the two famed Kahiki Moai has now been restored and greets patrons outside Huli Huli Tiki Lounge in Powell.
The two Moai were originally sculpted by Columbus artist and stonemason Philip E. Kientz and designed to be replicas of the Easter Island Moai carved by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500. They are believed to be the living faces of their deified ancestors, and many archaeologists feel the Moai were not only symbols of power but were actual repositories of sacred spirit.
Here’s a sneak peek from the upcoming book Kahiki: Behind the Bar. This is the actual recipe for the Headhunter crafted by the Kahiki’s original bartender Sandro Conti. It was served in this tiki mug, shaped like the Moai and made in Columbus by Hoffman Pottery.
FIRED UP(Again) W Headhunter
Huli Huli acquired the Kahiki Moai from John “Tiki Skip” Holt in 2023, and in April 2024 conducted a fundraiser that generated $13,000 — enough to make the restoration a reality.
Huli Huli’s contractor, designer Rick Huffman, worked painstakingly over the course of a year to make certain every detail was meticulously rebuilt to be as close a match as possible to the original. The Moai was rebuilt from the original rebar so it could proudly stand once more as guardian of Central Ohio’s tiki legacy.
“I know the importance of maintaining the legacy of this iconic piece of Columbus history,” says Rick Ryan, Huli Huli manager and project lead on the restoration. “We felt that our customers and the patrons of the Kahiki would need to be involved, and we have done that throughout the restoration.”
As for me, having this piece of the Kahiki return to prominence makes my inner 7-year-old jump for joy in remembrance of my mom taking me to the Kahiki with my Reynoldsburg cub scout troop back in 1972. I had never seen anything so fantastic and magical in the Columbus of my childhood.
3 oz. Orange juice
3 oz. Pineapple juice
1½ oz. Guanabana juice
½ oz. Rock candy syrup
1 oz. Orange Curaçao
1 oz. Barbancourt
2 oz. Bacardi 4
Blend and pour unstrained into a glass. Add 1 scoop of cracked ice to fill.
Decorate with a fruit stick and mint. Makes 12 oz., enough for three to four drinks.
Doug Motz is co-author of Kahiki Supper Club: A Polynesian Palace in Columbus Ohio as well as the Kahiki Scrapbook: Relic’s of Ohio’s Lost Tiki Palace. He and his husband Todd Popp are working on a third book tentatively titled, Kahiki: Behind the Bar, which will showcase more than 200 recipes from Sandro Conti’s Kahiki notebooks that were saved by his son Franco.
Crafty Crafty
DISTILLERS
Escape to Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa in Canton. Sip craft drinks in the elegant Still House, relax with spa treatments or spend the night in their plush Tuscaninspired accommodations. Cocktail classes, distillery tours and tastings complete your getaway trip.
Raise a glass to these Ohio craft distilleries, where they serve up fun with live music and unique experiences. It’s the perfect gift of togetherness.
BY ASHLEY BLAES
From trivia games and craft nights to frequent food trucks and live music, there’s always something happening at Name Brandt Distilling in Middletown. Their spacious tasting room is an ideal spot for gatherings, and you can even design your own custom spirit — a unique holiday gift.
Every night’s a party at Western Reserve Distillers in Lakewood with Tequila & Trivia Tuesday, Whiskey, Wine & Wings Wednesday, Friday happy hour and more! Learn mixology in their cocktail masterclasses or take a Couples & Tequila or Couples & Bourbon class.
Shake things up at Dayton Barrel Works’ signature Booze & Boards classes, pairing cocktails with charcuterie. Join fun seasonal events, sip a drink in their cocktail bar or rent the space for your next celebration.
Dive into distilling at Echo Spirits Distilling Co. in Columbus with guided tours, bourbon bottling and cocktail classes. Their lively bar hosts trivia, ramen pop-ups and frequent food trucks, making it the perfect hangout spot.
Creativity flows at Whitehouse’s Adventure Spirits Distilling with mixology lessons, Tipsy Terrarium classes, painting events and custom whiskey blending. Add barrel tastings, live music and walls covered with artwork by local artist Teri Lee, and you’ve got an awardwinning spot full of charm.
Athen’s West End Ciderhouse and Distillery pairs creative craft cocktails with a welcoming vibe — ideal for an evening out on the town with friends. Visit the Ciderhouse to enjoy live music or play your own instrument at their open mic nights.
TOP: Stay the night at Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa. Inset: Sip on spirits and cider at West End Ciderhouse and Distillery. Above: Sample the rum and whiskey at Echo Spirits Distilling Co.
