PHOTO BY BRIAN HART/COURTESY OF FOOD GURUS
Hawai‘i’s rainwater is filtered through volcanic rock for decades before reaching the islands’ aquifers, making for some of the best-quality water in the world. It is precisely this pure artesian water from the windward O‘ahu well that inspired Ian Brooks and Eric and Ginger Dill to start the Ko‘olau Distillery at the foothills of the Ko‘olau mountains in Kailua. Ian and Eric are both Marine Corps veterans who met during their service, and decided to stay in Hawai‘i for “the lifestyle, the people and the surf.” Together the whiskey aficionados began making their high-quality Old Pali Road Whiskey one batch at a time, along with a bourbon they describe as having “all the great flavors of a bourbon (cinnamon, vanilla, caramel) with a nice, clean, smooth finish.” Stop by the distillery for the Whiskey 101 tour and tasting, which showcases the distilling process. Tradewind Gin and Mahealani Moonshine have since joined the offerings, and a vodka will be debuting in 2023. Bottoms up! koolaudistillery.com
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