"nantucket" news and stories

We're a sucker for the culinary frenzy of seasonal items when they first hit local menus -- Chesapeake soft-shell crabs, wild Alaskan salmon or Louisiana crawfish. Here in New England, just when the weather turns cold and dreary, that happy tidbit of deliciousness comes in the form of sweet, succulent Nantucket bay scallops. Just don't confuse them with their larger sea-scallop cousins.

These morsels are about the size of the tip of your thumb. The native eelgrass that surrounds the island acts as a nursery for the tender scallops, making them the last substantial wild scallop population on the East Coast, according to Peter Boyce, chair of Nantucket's Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board. The commercial scallop season starts Nov. 1 and runs through the end of March, but most of the madness happens prior to New Year's, before the harbor freezes over and fishermen can still get their boats out on the water.

Gale Force Gin is 44% abv. / 88 proof. Gale Force was released in January 2005 and is made by Triple Eight Distillery in Nantucket, MA. which was created by Dean and Melissa Long in 1997 and located on Nantucket Island. It was the region's first craft distillery. The name comes from its ultra pure water source, well #888. Besides Gale Force Gin Triple Eight Distillery makes a variety of other premium spirits, all of which are hand crafted in small batches using only natural ingredients. It is finished with a slightly higher alcohol content than most gins made in the US, this gin goes back to its roots in the classic, older, London Dry style of 50-55% abv. / 100-110 proof gins.

The aroma is light and junipery, with a small presence of spices. A clean, dry smell that is invigorating, but not overwhelming. The taste is also very light and dry. A nice gin taste that is simple and uncomplicated, a bit peppery and hot but not unpleasantly so, with just a small bit of sweetness noticeable in the middle, and just a bare hint of citrus hiding in the background. The short finish is more peppery than anything else, with a slight spice in the close. It's clean, smooth, simple, and enjoyable.

Gale Force works well for those who don't want a real ginny gin. In general I find it a bit too light and simple for my tastes, but I do enjoy its clean taste and aroma. Its not so light that you will mistake it for a vodka in a cocktail, and is perfect for those who want just a little spicy juniper presence in your drink.