Friends had told me about the stellar wine and whiskey selection at Swing Bridge Wine in East Haddam so I buzzed in last time I was in town. The owner, Drew Yurasek, was happy to give me a tour. Fitting for a liquor store, the 1807 building was once a speakeasy and the newish owners have big plans to return it to a community gathering spot. Fun to see the original sliding speakeasy window on the third floor and the secret barrel-vaulted room. Downstairs and through the main entrance you’ll find an ancient lovely space, filled with over 400 varieties of whiskeys. I’m not much of a whiskey drinker (I may start), but the amber bottles lining shelves propped up by birch logs are quite alluring. Along with a vast selection of well-priced wine, Swing Bridge stocks a variety of magnums and decent box wines. I had no idea that my go-to (and inexpensive) summer party wine, La Vieille Ferme was available boxed, and I’ll be stocking up this season with a $6 savings over the magnum.

Wine tastings are a weekly event on Fridays from 5 – 7pm and plans are in the works for wine classes. Keep an eye on their facebook page for updates.  

www.facebook.com/SwingBridgeSpirits

Swing Bridge Tasting Room

Vintage radios in the Speakeasy