As co-author of American Weekender, a Friday newsletter for travelers of both the armchair and ticketed types, Amy Cavanaugh is well-versed in everything from Willamette Valley wine to non-alcoholic Penicillins in Philly. But as dining editor of Chicago magazine, she’s especially adept at explaining why it’s a shame that Malort is so hard to find in North Carolina ABC stores.
If you’ve been out to the bars in Chicago, you are familiar with Jeppson’s Malört. It’s a locally made wormwood liqueur and the city’s go-to shot. Famous for its intense bitterness, Malört has recently gone from an only-in-Chicago wink and a nod to a back-bar staple seen everywhere from California to Massachusetts. Or seemingly, everywhere except North Carolina, where most ABC stores don’t stock it.
