Rating 95
Produced In New York
United States
ABV 40%
Availability Year Round
Price $55.00 
Reviewed By
Reviewed 2025-12-02

Matchbook Distilling Co. Late Embers Smoked Sunchokes + Honey Spirit Review

From our 2025 Next Wave Awards Distiller of the Year Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski comes this truly sui generis offering. Merinoff Kwasnieski takes locally-grown North Fork sunchokes and cooks them in an earthen oven in a method similar to the agaves used in mezcal. They are then fermented with koji and local honey prior to distillation, creating a spirit that feels uniquely of the land, with notes of campfire, soil, dewy grass, green peppers, and an underlying hint of fresh pears. How do you even judge something that has no other comparison in the world? We judge it: delicious.

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95
POINTS
Matchbook Distilling Co. Late Embers Smoked Sunchokes + Honey Spirit
From our 2025 Next Wave Awards Distiller of the Year Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski comes this truly sui generis offering. Merinoff Kwasnieski takes locally-grown North Fork sunchokes and cooks them in an earthen oven in a method similar to the agaves used in mezcal. They are then fermented with koji and local honey prior to distillation, creating a spirit that feels uniquely of the land, with notes of campfire, soil, dewy grass, green peppers, and an underlying hint of fresh pears. How do you even judge something that has no other comparison in the world? We judge it: delicious.

Reviewed On: 12-02-2025
95
POINTS
Matchbook Distilling Co. Late Embers Smoked Sunchokes + Honey Spirit
From our 2025 Next Wave Awards Distiller of the Year Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski comes this truly sui generis offering. Merinoff Kwasnieski takes locally-grown North Fork sunchokes and cooks them in an earthen oven in a method similar to the agaves used in mezcal. They are then fermented with koji and local honey prior to distillation, creating a spirit that feels uniquely of the land, with notes of campfire, soil, dewy grass, green peppers, and an underlying hint of fresh pears. How do you even judge something that has no other comparison in the world? We judge it: delicious.

Reviewed On: 12-02-2025