Five names in Charlotte’s drinks scene you need to know

Written by Lauren Blake and Sarah Crosland

This city is soaked in a creative culture for imbibing. So get to know some of the people shaping the way Charlotte drinks.

Brian Lorusso, Dogwood Southern Table & Bar

Brian Lorusso is the epitome of a Southern gentleman: soft-spoken, unassuming, and humble. Though he’s definitely churning out some of the best cocktails in town—using ultra-local ingredients and classic recipes—he’s not focused on the pomp and circumstance. Between his bar’s endless bourbon selection, his 30-plus homemade syrups, and his thoughtful accoutrements like house-cured cherries and candied orange bitters, Lorusso’s drinks leave quite the impression. He says, “You’re a guest in my house when you come here.”

Tabu Terrell, Three Spirits Brewery

During his medical residency, Tabu Terrell, above was told to pick a hobby; something he could rely on to get him through the stresses of practicing medicine. It happened to be beer. After spending years as an emergency-room physician, Terrell quit his day job for his hobby. The high-stress late nights and missed holidays just weren’t working for a family man with a wife and two kids. To make the switch from beer as a pastime to a profession, he enrolled at Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology, the country’s oldest brewing school. In 2015, after years of physical and mental labor, Terrell opened Three Spirits Brewery. This year, the brewery won three silver medals at the 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Josh Villapando, Assorted Table Wine Shoppe

For almost 20 years, Josh Villapando has been a mainstay in Charlotte’s food and wine industry—with past titles including wine buyer for Common Market and general manager for Pasta & Provisions. When 7th Street Public Market opened in 2011, he made the transition from running mom-and-pop shops to owning one. Since then, Assorted Table evolved from two 8-feet-by-8-feet cubes in the market to more than double that. Villapando calls the quirky space the “Sanford & Son” of wine shops. Antique bikes hang from the rafters. Glass displays overflow with tiny R2-D2 figurines and Hot Wheel Matchbox cars. The wine selection is even unusual: bottles range in price from $6 to $1,100 and come from all over, including unsuspecting places like Macedonia, Lebanon, New Mexico, and Idaho. “Whatever it is that’s in Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, we’re an authority on that subject,” says Villapando. “If we’re not, then we’re not going to have it here.”

Andrew and Liz Porter, Doc Porter’s Distillery

This husband-and-wife team, above, say that when it comes to the spirits at their lower South End distillery, vodka and gin are just the beginning. The distillery recently released a bourbon (and here’s how to get your hands on some). They’re also aging Rye whiskey and have plans for absinthe, an amaro liqueur, and a barrel-aged gin. Their distillery, which is named after Andrew’s grandfather, is the city’s first grain-to-glass distillery, using grains from a local farmer. Those interested can tour the distillery, sample its current gin and vodka offerings, and learn more about its work with farmers. “The fact that our process supports the growth of local farmers is resonating with people and is a sign of a bigger drink-local revolution that’s happening,” says Liz.

Find the full article and list at SouthParkMagazine.com.

Photos: Justin Driscoll

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Five names in Charlotte’s drinks scene you need to know."