The back half of this week could be busy for local foodies and tipplers, with two special dinners and the annual release of Nelson Green Brier’s beloved Honey Cask Finish whiskey. Read on for the deets!
First off on Wednesday, May 22, chef Julia Sullivan will welcome acclaimed Seattle chef Travis Post of Plenty of Clouds into the kitchen at Henrietta Red for a collaboration supper. The four-course dinner will combine the bold flavors of Post’s cuisine, inspired by the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces of China, with the casual elegance of Henrietta Red to create a unique one-night experience.
The two chefs met while working at Franny’s in Brooklyn, so it’s no surprise that they’ve come up with this imaginative menu:
First
- Roasted Oyster: ginger, garlic, chive, spring pickles, crispy steamed bun
- Beef Tartare: water chestnut, cabbage, chili oil, puffed rice
Second
- Pea Shoot Salad: bird's eye chilies, fresh herbs, crunchy fava, dried beef
- Sichuan Pork Dumplings: chili oil, cilantro, sesame
Third
- Baby Back Ribs: Shao Kao spice, crunchy green tomatoes
- Sour Fish Stew: preserved vegetables, fennel
- Pork-Stuffed Eggplant: pickled chilies, Yu Xiang sauce
- Chinese Greens: dried chilies, garlic
Fourth
- Panna Cotta Hawthorn: peach gum, honey toast
- White Rabbit Semifreddo: chili oil, sesame-soybean crunch
In addition to the dinner, Henrietta Red will host an extended happy hour in its bar room featuring Henrietta Red classics alongside some Washington-based spirits and beer, benefiting World Central Kitchen. The prix-fixe dinner will be served all night starting at 5 p.m., and the $95 tickets are available at Henrietta Red’s reservation page.
As part of Tennessee Whiskey Trail’s Whiskey Week, the organization is partnering with Lodge Cast Iron and Jack Daniel’s Distillery to host a “Sip and Shop” event at the new Lodge Factory Store in Lynchburg on Thursday, May 23. Shoppers can enjoy refreshments, mocktails (it’s a dry county, remember?) and special deals while browsing the shelves of cast iron.
Following the shopping event, guests are invited to purchase tickets for a really special experience: an exclusive master distiller/chef collaboration dinner on top of Barbecue Hill overlooking the holler that’s home to Jack’s distillery. Since that’s private property, the Jack will be pouring at this spirits-infused dinner, and both the Lodge chefs and Jack Daniel’s master distiller will address the assembled crowd. The Tennessee Bluegrass Band and Rock Creek Bluegrass Band will provide the background music at the event.
Tickets are $75 for general admission and $95 for VIP (which includes a souvenir T-shirt and shot glass), and all tickets come with round-trip shuttle service from the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead at 133 Lynchburg Highway to Barbecue Hill. This event is selling out quickly, so grab your seat at the Tennessee Whiskey Trail website.
Finally, whiskey lovers and collectors should circle Friday, May 24, on their calendars, because that's the date of the annual Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Finish release at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery.
“We are thrilled to bring back the Honey Cask Finish, and we look forward to sharing this product with our loyal distillery community each year,” says Ed Kolb, head distiller at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. “To create this distinctive flavor profile, the spirit is thoughtfully curated through a unique process with the help of our friends at TruBee Honey, making it a truly special local collaboration.”
The highly anticipated Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Finish will be unveiled at the Marathon Village Distillery Mercantile and Restaurant. This year’s sweet edition is bottled at a rousing 112.4 proof and promises notes of orange blossom and sandalwood along with a long finish with hints of hazelnut, nutmeg, and of course, honey. Beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Finish will be available at the distillery at 1414 Clinton St. for $199. Customers are encouraged to arrive early to hold their place in line for the limited-quantity product.
While you wait, the Nelson folks will entertain you with live music, specialty cocktails, food from The Restaurant and more. After release day, Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Finish will be available in select markets and around Nashville.
