🍸 Hartford Gets New Food Fest

End of the week check-in Hartford County!

Thursday is the “eve” of the weekend and it’s the homestretch from here.

You’ve made it through the hard part of the week!

So, let’s grab a coffee and get you prepped for what has become a rather action-packed weekend.

Now, in today’s edition of The Hartford Pour:

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun fact: I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 7)

P.S.: We are looking for sponsors for The Hartford Pour. If you are interested (or know someone that is) please forward this email or let me know and I can reach out.

(Fun tip you won’t find anywhere else)

I used to think Max Fish was super expensive…. but I was wrong.

Mrs. Hartford Pour and I were able to check out the happy hour over at Max Fish in West Hartford this week.

We sat at the bar next to another couple and struck up a conversation, so it was a good time all around.

What you see in the picture is an Old Fashioned, but not made with bourbon. It's made with Rittenhouse rye.

When I sat down at the bar, I told the bartender that I wanted an old-fashioned with a whiskey that had at least 100 proof. I was expecting a higher-end bourbon or something, but then she came back with the rye, I was floored by how amazing it tasted.

After doing a little bit of research, I realized that ryes originally were in old fashions. Bourbons came later…

The food was good too, we had the clam chowder and fish and chips and because it was happy hour, we didn’t break the bank.

Kudos Max Fish, we will be back!

Check out the Max Fish Happy Hour Menu right here

The Hartford Pour is fast approaching its first 1,000 subscribers across Instagram and this digital publication and it almost brings a tear to my eye.

It was just a few weeks ago we hit send on an email hoping that a few people would read it.

Now we have nearly enough people to fill FOUR Boeing 737 commercial jets.

WOW.

But believe me, I am NOT taking this for granted.

Our hope is to become the daily guide to Hartford for over 100,000 Nutmeggers in the next year or two. It’s a big goal, but having YOU along for the ride means the world.

None of this happens without you. The ones who open it or refer to a friend… you are the real ones.

So please do me a favor and hit reply right now. Tell us how you’ve been liking the newsletter, whether you’ve shared it with a friend, and what you’d like to see more of.

Even a quick line makes our day because I have no life… I respond to every email I get. Every one, and would love to hear from you.

OK, enough teary eyed optimism, let’s get to fun.

(Enfield hole in the wall)

Honestly, from the outside looking in, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

If you're looking for an affordable restaurant with a hometown feel, then Yarde Tavern in Enfield.

The bar is nice and spacious and their whiskey selection is very good.

I was able to try their Burger and Quesadilla and it was tasty through and through.

The standout was dessert.

As you see below, we tried their Oreo Cheesecake. Sometimes cheesecakes can be dry, but this one was scrumptious.

I will be putting together a reel on Instagram whenever I get time to post it, haha.

Click here: to check out Yarde Tavern in Enfield!

Distilled by: Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, NY
Mashbill: 80% corn, 20% malted barley
Age: 4 years
Proof: 129
Findability in Hartford: 5 out of 10
MSRP: $90

Remember fig newtons? Well this nose is all about it. I don’t even know if they make fig newtons anymore, but it doesn’t matter because I love it.

There is some ethanol burn, which makes sense due to the proofiness (totally just made that word up, but all words are made up). But at 129 proof, there will be some burn.

Regardless, the burn is not bad, but makes it edgier. However, the nose is complex as I pick up dark fruits like raisins and even a milk chocolate note which I love!

It tastes the proof, but not in an intimidating way. The palate matches the nose as I get dried fruits like fig, raisin, and dates.

They all come across immediately and I’m here for it. Lots of sweet oak on the backend and oily. The mouth feel is freaking FANTASTIC.

Medium to long (more long than medium) with a strong Kentucky Hug. If it’s cold outside, this will warm you up!

I found this store pick from Signature Wine and Spirits in Simsbury. They frequently do barrel picks and hopefully one day when our audience gets big enough, we can do one as well.

The color of the whiskey is dark and beautiful.

This bottle has opened up spectacularly since first crack and it’s WAY better now than it was then. A tad grainy, but not in a bad way. 



From what I understand, Kings County ages whiskey primarily in 15 gallon barrels and a few years ago switched to standard 53 gallon. They carefully blend to make their version of straight bourbon whiskey.

They are definitely master blenders because those smaller barrels will make the whiskey too oak-forward at 4 years, but that explains how they can produce amazing juice so far from the southern heat.

T8KE Rating: 8/10 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

Things to do in Hartford County

If you like fancy hors d'oeuvres and vintage French wines, then the Litchfield Jazz Fest is going to be the perfect spot for you.

The Litchfield Distillery is going to be serving cocktails while the jazz begins playing around 5:30 p.m.

By about 7:45 p.m., the main event actually begins, where industry-legend Don Braden is bringing a ridiculous 10-piece ensemble to bring down the house at this jazz fest.

This is an entire weekend event, so if you're into jazz, this might be something that you can look into.

Ok, this is an easy one. You have to go check out the Caribbean Rum and Food Festival in New Britain at the Grand Alure Banquet Hall.

We are a “drinks” media company and this one hits all the right notes for what I like in an event.

All types of Caribbean products are going to be showcased, including cocktails, foods, specialty arts, music and entertainment.

Some of the featured cocktails are going to include, a Ti Punch, a Hurricane, The Painkiller, and something interesting they're calling a Barbados Surprise

This is a paid event at about $40 and includes 2 complimentary rum punches from 12pm to 9pm.

However, if Caribbean food is not your thing, you can check out the Summer 2026 tour over at The Meadows Music Theater in Hartford.

They're going to have Dave Matthews Band. It starts at 7:30 and if you remember these guys, they will be playing all the hits.

So, the previous events have been paid events, so let me get you something that's free here: Glenn Hanson's Orchestra at Elizabeth Park starting at 6:30pm.

It is Elizabeth Park, so you will need to bring your own lawn chair and probably a picnic blanket (as well as any libations you might want to bring with you as well).

You're going to be able to enjoy a huge 18-piece orchestra that's going to be cranking out vintage selections from Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, and even Stevie Wonder.

Not a bad way to end the weekend in this historic botanical park.

Do you know of an AWESOME restaurant or bar? Or something not included in this email you’d like to see?

REPLY to this email and let me know!