For 14 years, Shore Discount Liquors in Deep River has been hosting a Holiday Tasting & Food Drive to benefit the local community in partnership with the Deep River Rotary Club. For the “fee” of a bag of non-perishable food items, attendees can taste a variety of wines, beers, and other beverages, including offerings from Connecticut and Deep River itself.

“The tasting began as a thank you for customers,” said Jill Merola, manager at Shore Discount Liquors and treasurer of the Deep River Rotary Club. “People asked the cost, and we weren’t planning on actually charging anything so we asked for donations instead. It was extremely successful, so we kept doing it.

This year, the event will be Thursday, Dec. 8 at Shore Discount Liquors, 211 Main Street, Deep River, from 6 to 9 p.m., so those wishing to attend can trickle through as they wish. Collected food will be donated to the Deep River Community Health Committee and Food Pantry.

“We wanted to keep it local,” said Merola. “It is nice for the community to know they are making an impact where they live, and there are a lot of seniors and others in different kinds of difficulties here.”

The Deep River Rotary Club became involved as a 5013c organization that could make charitable donations to the municipally run food bank without any legal obstructions, according to Merola, but it has also helped to strengthen the support for the drive within the community.

“Part of it is about helping the community, but people really make a night of it,” said Merola. “It is a fun, inexpensive evening out with friends and people from the community.”

“Parking is always a bit difficult, though,” said Merola.

While the event used to occur on both floors of the store, after a successful experiment last year, everything is going to be on the ground floor this year. For the price of a donated bag of perishable food, people can taste a selection of more than 100 sparkling wines, champagnes, wines, craft beers, cordials, Scotch, bourbon, and gin. Connecticut-made and brewed offerings include Wild Moon liqueurs from Hartford and Foggy Harbor spirits from Preston.

Also joining the tasting this year is Deep River Vinegar Works, also known as The Vinegary, a local producer of artisanal vinegars and shrubs, also known as sipping vinegars. These are a special kind of acidic additive used to infuse different liquors, much in the way a squeeze of lemon or lime could be used. The Vinegary has done several tastings with Shore Discount Liquors in the past to much success and positive reception, according to Merola.

Those who don’t partake in this particular sort of holiday spirit—or those who are not yet 21 years of age—are still invited to take part in the food drive.

“We have people dropping off food the week before the event,” said Merola, “and many times for the next couple weeks after. It really is very well supported by the community. We’ve been able to donate literally tons of food over the years.”

The strength of the effort has not gone unnoticed by the Food Pantry.

“It is a tremendous help,” said Rosie Bininger, social worker for Deep River. “It helps us to keep going through the long winter. Donation drives tend to drop off after the holidays and this helps us to stay stocked during that period.

“I hope I can attend it myself one of these years,” continued Bininger. “It always seems like such a great event.”