Making Nocino

Last July, my friend Kate of Snowflake Kitchen, put a call out to us locals about her abundance of green walnuts from the tree on her property. She had plans to make Nocino and thought we may want to give it a try. Yes, please! I was in her neighborhood when she wasn’t home, so I felt like a bit of thief as I foraged a bag of the green nuts, but homemade booze is worth the possible embarrassment of her neighbors calling the police.

Nocino! 🌰 🌿

A photo posted by Kate (@snowflakekitchen) on Jul 28, 2015 at 8:41am PDT

I used David Lebovitz’s recipe, minus the cloves, and shook my jars once a day for about three months. It looks like witches’ brew at first, very green and possible toxic, but then changes to a rich brown, deep green.

I strained the liquid from the jars and it has the consistency of a light syrup and smells nutty and warm. I sampled a small glass and it’s definitely potent. I like Mr. Lebovitz’s idea of a topping for ice cream… that will definitely be in my future.

There is something about creating an enjoyable drink or food from items you gather from your yard, a friend’s yard, local farmers, or the woods (if you’re daring and safe) that feels inevitable and right. I’ll have a part two of the walnut saga as I attempt to make black walnut bitters from the same nuts that have completely ripened. My goal is to make something like this. It’s good to have goals…

Cyn Thomas is the illustrator, designer and pattern maker of RiverDog Prints. Her paper goods and gifts are guided by earth, animals, function, food and cocktails. You can also find Cyn canning in her kitchen, walking her dog, being outnumbered by her boys and husband or reading herself to sleep.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | woof@riverdogprints.com

Local Love: Connecticut Spirits

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There are so many options cropping up in Connecticut to imbibe with local spirits and mixers this holiday season and beyond.  Check our list (you can check it twice!) of local and delicious choices for creating the perfect cocktail.

Onyx Moonshine creates varieties of moonshine and Connecticut's first whiskey with a speakeasy for tastings.   64 Oakland Ave, East Hartford


Hartford Flavor Company has six flavors in its Wild Moon line of liqueurs and a tasting room open on weekends in Hartford.   30 Arbor St Suites 107-108, Hartford

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Litchfield Distillery crafts gin and two varieties of bourbon whiskey. Tours and tastings are available on weekends and check their Events Page frequently for local tastings in your area.  569 Bantam Road, Litchfield

Westford Hill Distillers create eau-de-vie, a variant of brandy, from the fruit of local orchards.   196 Chatey Road, Ashford


Elm City Distillery offers handcrafted Velocipede Vodka or Nine Square Rye. Check for local tastings and tours here.   53 Capital Drive, Wallingford

RIPE Craft Bar Juice is the nation's first cold-pressed, fresh juice bar mixer that is never heated or frozen.   26 Kendall Street, New Haven

Waypoint Spirits creates Labrador Noon Vodka and Wintonbury Gin with distillery visits open on Fridays and Saturdays.   410 Woodland Ave, Bloomfield

Peel Liqueur makes fine Italian Liqueurs, Limoncello, Bananacello and Cremoncello, handmade in small batches.   Ashford

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The Farmer's Cow Egg Nog is made with cream, milk, egg yolks, cane sugar and just the right amount of nutmeg from six local Connecticut farms.  You can find this limited edition holiday beverage here or visit The Farmer's Cow Calfe at 86 Storrs Road, Mansfield.

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Cyn Thomas is the illustrator, designer and pattern maker of RiverDog Prints. Her paper goods and gifts are guided by earth, animals, function, food and cocktails. You can also find Cyn canning in her kitchen, walking her dog, being outnumbered by her boys and husband or reading herself to sleep.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | woof@riverdogprints.com

410 Woodland Ave.
Bloomfield

410 Woodland Ave.
Bloomfield

410 Woodland Ave.
Bloomfield