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Best Food & Drink Maker in the USA: Tennessee Moonshine Cakes

Terrane Glass Designs, Strongwater, Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn and Jamnation – Damn Good Jam in top five

Gathering with friends and family around a plate of food or a cold drink has universal appeal – a fact that these 10 food & drink makers in the USA have tapped into. Whether baking cookies or hand-etching glassware, these creatives – curated by a panel of makers movement insiders and voted the best in the nation by 10Best readers – craft items worthy of any foodie's wish list. 

  • Tennessee Moonshine Cakes
    Made-From-Scratch Cakes

    Each Tennessee Moonshine Cake is made from scratch using potent moonshine in a Chattanooga bakery. These gift-able cakes last for five months (or indefinitely in the freezer).
    Photo courtesy of Tennessee Moonshine Cakes

  • Terrane Glass Designs
    Glassware

    Colin O'Reilly founded Terrane Glass Designs in 2016 to fulfill his desire to create simple, elegant whiskey sets and snifters perfect for a home bar.
    Photo courtesy of Terrane Glass Designs

  • Strongwater
    Bitters, Shrubs and Cocktail Kits

    Inspired by the apothecaries of the 16th century, Strongwater adds a dash of botanical integrity to cocktails through their line of herb-infused bitters and shrubs. 
    Photo courtesy of Strongwater Bitters

  • Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn
    Popcorn

    The story of Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn began with two popcorn-loving kids. Today, the Asheville-based makers pop their corn with simple, natural ingredients and bold flavor combinations, like cotton candy, garlic parmesan, gingerbread, jalapeno cheddar and Thai spice.
    Photo courtesy of Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn

  • Jamnation – Damn Good Jam
    Jams

    The Jamnation line of jams are cooked in small batches without any pectin and with 20 to 40 percent less sugar than your typical grocery store jam. The result is an intensely flavored and better textured spread.
    Photo courtesy of Jamnation – Damn Good Jam

  • Black Swan Handmade
    Sustainable Kitchen Heirlooms

    Park Swan designs, tests and crafts each Black Swan Handmade piece himself from start to finish. The result is a line of beautiful heirloom-quality spoons, scoops, spatulas and bowls that can be passed down from kitchen to kitchen.
    Photo courtesy of BLACK SWAN HANDMADE

  • Charles Chocolates
    Chocolates

    Chuck Siegel's high standards for what makes good chocolate led him to found his own chocolate company, Charles Chocolates. His sweet treats are made from the best ingredients – cream, butter, fresh herbs, fruits and nuts – without any artificial flavors or preservatives.
    Photo courtesy of Charles Chocolates

  • Shira Forge
    Forged Kitchenware

    Matthew Shirey, the man behind the fire at Shira Forge, creates forged iron kitchenware and heirloom knives that are simple, functional and durable enough to stay in the family for generations.
    Photo courtesy of Shira Forge / Etsy

  • Bert's Bites
    Chunky Snack Granola

    Handmade in small batches in San Francisco, Bert's Bites is an addictively delicious granola that can be eaten as is or sprinkled on top of yogurt or a bowl of ice cream. 
    Photo courtesy of Bert's Bites

  • W&P Design
    Food & Beverage Accessories

    Based in Brooklyn, W&P Design was founded by Eric Prum and Josh Williams with the mission of bringing new ideas to life in the food and drink-verse. W&P Design has an array of products like Carry On Cocktail Kits, pineapple brass tumblers, ice trays, baking blankets and a collection of multi-functional knives including The Bartender's Knife for peeling and slicing cocktail ingredients.
    Photo courtesy of W&P Design

The top 10 winners in the category Best Food & Drink Maker are as follows:

  1. Tennessee Moonshine Cakes - Made-From-Scratch Cakes
  2. Terrane Glass Designs - Glassware
  3. Strongwater - Bitters, Shrubs and Cocktail Kits
  4. Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn - Popcorn
  5. Jamnation – Damn Good Jam - Jams
  6. Black Swan Handmade - Sustainable Kitchen Heirlooms
  7. Charles Chocolates - Chocolate
  8. Shira Forge - Forged Kitchenware
  9. Bert's Bites - Chunky Snack Granola
  10. W&P Design - Food & Beverage Accessories

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Suzy Ekman (Makers Market), Erin Godbey (Makers Collective) and Mike Senese (Make: magazine) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of maker movement in the USA.

Congratulations to all these winning American makers!

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AlertThe Experts

Suzy Ekman

Suzy Ekman

Suzy Ekman has dedicated her career to American-made products. Raised in the Deep South, she spent precious time in her father’s workshop learning, making and listening to stories. Trips through the countryside discovering potters, blacksmiths and textile weavers, instilled a deep appreciation for makers who create beautiful product with their hands. This early-life exposure, combined with decades of Executive management in US Manufacturing companies led to the launch of Makers Market. Makers Market was founded on the idea of modernizing and keeping American-made goods alive for a new generation: goods that are authentic, well-designed and sustainably produced. 

Erin Godbey

Erin Godbey

Erin Godbey is the co-founder of the Makers Collective, a non-profit arts organization. The Makers Collective exists to support and empower creative entrepreneurs, and works to further the makers movement through events like Indie Craft Parade and the Makers Summit. When she's not directing these initiatives, Erin can be found hosting an impromptu party, perfecting her chocolate cookie recipe or relaxing at home with her husband, baby and their pack of stray cats.

Mike Senese

Mike Senese

Mike Senese is the executive editor of Make: magazine.