Brooklyn is having its “It” moment in the culinary sun lately; some critics have hinted that the borough is poised to supplant Manhattan as New York’s locus of gastronomic cachet. A perfect storm of the Brooklyn hipster, do-it-yourself aesthetic and a general locavore spirit has given rise to an increasing number of artisanal food and drink makers. From homebrewers and jam canneries to pickle peddlers and old-fashioned candy makers, America’s fourth-largest city is turning into a utopia of small-batch everything.
The latest offerings have been on display at numerous food festivals in the area, including the Paris-based Le Fooding, Smorgasburg and Googa Mooga, as are often chronicled by the new glossy Brooklyn Bound and food magazine Edible Brooklyn. “Made in Brooklyn” is now a badge of honor for its purveyors as well as a respected mark of authenticity for bearded, plaid shirt-wearing customers.
Accordingly, community boozehounds may have noticed an uptick in homegrown alcohol brands, many of which were featured at this week’s Brooklyn Shaken & Stirred, a showcase of artisanal spirits and specialty drinks. Here, TIME spotlights six of Brooklyn’s local favorites.