Episode Overview
What happens when you mix a 20-year friendship, a family history of Prohibition bootlegging, and a fantasy-themed tavern? In Episode 09 of From Bottle to Bar, host Dino heads to Akron, Ohio, to explore a craft spirits and bar scene that refuses to be put into a box.
We begin at Towpath Distillery, where owners David and Anthony approach gin as a spirit of infinite possibilities. Dino explores Anthony’s ancestral bootlegging roots before diving into their award-winning lineup—including a seasonal classic gin that uses rosemary to evoke a warm kitchen, and an American-style gin aged for 19 months in used bourbon barrels that completely wins over Dino’s whiskey-loving palate.
The trip wraps up at Green Dragon, a wildly unique bar featuring original fantasy artwork, short stories built right into the menu, and a massive library of board games. Dino samples a hot honey ham and cheese sandwich sourced with local Akron Honey, learns the proper technique for drinking a “Halflings Pint” shot, and faces down the flaming, exotic “Green Dragon” cocktail. It’s a masterful blend of local history, creative mixology, and unpretentious fun.
Episode Features
The Full Bottle
Towpath Distillery
In this episode of The Full Bottle, we visit Towpath Distillery in Akron, Ohio—a meticulously crafted operation where gin is treated as a spirit of infinite possibilities. We hunker down for a raw look at their “wide approach” to distilling, from running dozens of micro-distillations to blending spirits that blur the lines between traditional categories.
Learn the Build
Featured Cocktail
The Halfling’s Pint
A clever, multi-layered shot that transforms with every degree you tilt the glass. Built around Towpath Distillery’s crisp, botanical gin, this modern take on a classic Clover Club is layered beneath a rich, decadent “flan foam” top. Instead of knocking it back all at once, the trick is to tilt the glass deep as you drink, forcing the tart, fruit-forward gin to punch right through the creamy foam layer. It’s sweet, theatrical, and perfectly sized for a tavern adventure.
0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Raspberry Liqueur
Top with Flan Foam