Georgia Magazine - November 2020 - 19

TOPS IN RUM

Last year, the Georgia Trustees Wine & Spirits Challenge included spirits for the first
time. Decatur's Independent Distilling Co. took the top spirits award for its Independent Barrel Aged Rum. Poured over a large rock of ice for slow sipping may be the best
way to discern the complex bourbon-rum flavors with spice, vanilla and honey notes.
The distillery's other spirits are worthy of exploration as well. Price: $35 for 750 milliliters.
Independent Distilling Co., 731 E. College Ave., Decatur; (678) 576-3804;
independentdistilling.com

A HAPPIER HUNTER

CASEY TEAGUE

Buena Vista resident Justin Smith likes to
hunt deer, but he disliked the available deer
blinds and thought he could do better. He
and his father, Dennis Smith, started
A Grumpy Buck Hunting Blind. From Justin
Smith's perspective, the ideal blind offers
good visibility, conceals the hunter and keeps
him or her comfortable. "The more comfortable you are, the longer you'll stay. The more
time you spend, the more successful you'll be,"
he says. The company turns out seven standard blinds as well as custom-made blinds,
requiring about a three-week turnaround.
Prices: $900 to $3,500, depending on what a
customer is looking for.

STEVAN KRHUT

FOR THE BOOKWORM

The Georgia Writers Association
selected Decatur novelist
Zoe Fishman for its 2020
Georgia Author of the Year
Award in the literary fiction
category for "Invisible as
Air" (HarperCollins/William
Morrow, 2019). Her novels
explore complex female
characters challenged by the
rigors of contemporary life.
When not busy crafting
stellar fiction, she teaches
others about writing.
Price: $16.
Other Georgia Author of
the Year Awards categories include poetry, history, cooking, children's literature,
biography, mystery, romance and young
adult writing. All are superb gift options.
authoroftheyear.org

ORROW
WILLIAM M
COURTESY

Hightower Creek Vineyards,
7150 Canaan Drive, Hiawassee;
(706) 896-8963; stevan@
hightowercreekvineyards.com;
hightowercreekvineyards.com

A Grumpy Buck Hunting Blind,
366 Geneva Road, Buena Vista; (229) 3311655; agrumpybuckhuntingblind.com

KAREN SHACHAM

Stevan Krhut, winemaker at
Hightower Creek Vineyards near
Hiawassee, likes to make things using
wood. Wine bottle holders crafted from
Leyland cypress are one of his specialties, but you'll also find key holders made
from repurposed barrel staves and other
wooden items. The tables that he makes
hold four bottles of wine each under the
tops-"perfect for when you don't want to
get off the couch and need that next bottle of wine," he says. Krhut's creations are
available at the winery, along with some
very tasty wine. Prices: $20 for key holders;
$200 for tables.

JUSTIN SMITH

AT THE TABLE

"Invisible as Air" by Zoe Fishman,
HarperCollins/William Morrow, 2019. Available
through local and online booksellers.
Jane F. Garvey is a travel, food and wine
freelance writer from Decatur.
www.georgiamagazine.org

http://www.independentdistilling.com http://www.agrumpybuckhuntingblind.com http://www.hightowercreekvineyards.com http://www.authoroftheyear.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - November 2020