🔒Friday Food Insider: Maine businesses roll out fresh products from avocado oil to boozy snacks

Maine food and drink businesses are on a roll with product innovation and industry recognition, including new packaged products and World Beer Cup honors for two Portland brewers to kick off a new month of fresh flavors.

Avocado oil with a kick

Portland taco shop Bird & Co. is spreading its wings into retail with the launch of an avocado oil-based cooking blend for home kitchens. The product, called Taco oil, is made with avocado oil infused with spices and herbs and is designed primarily for pan-frying tortillas. The company says it can also be used for a range of cooking applications, including grilling vegetables, braising proteins and preparing sauces and dressings. Owners Wills Dowd and Jared Dinsmore, who opened Bird & Co. in 2019 in the city's Woodfords Corner neighborhood at 539 Deering Ave., developed the product to bring the restaurant's flavors into home kitchens. The oil is available in two varieties: Roja, featuring chipotle, chili and garlic; and Verde, made with cilantro, jalapeno and lime. It is sold online and at the restaurant, with nationwide shipping available.

Nibbles that pack a punch

Double Neat, a Portland-based brand, has launched a line of whiskey-inspired snacks and coffee, expanding into a niche that blends bar culture with packaged foods.

Aimed at whiskey enthusiasts, products feature smoky, sweet and spiced flavors designed to complement a drink or to be enjoyed on their own. The new products range from bourbon-glazed beef jerky and cinnamon whiskey pecans to whiskey-infused coffee available in whole bean, ground and single servings. The company is also offering a bourbon brownie. "To me, whiskey was never just a drink; it's the excuse to slow down with the right people," Taylor told Mainebiz. "That's the idea behind Double Neat. The best part of a great pour isn't what's in the glass; it's the conversation around it. Our whiskey-infused snacks are built for the same idea: good stuff, shared with the right people, that turns into something you actually remember." Double Neat snacks are carried in several Portland beverage stores, including Bow Street Beverage and RSVP Discount Beverage. The products are also sold online.

World Beer Cup glory

Allagash Brewing Co. and Orange Bike Brewing took home awards from last week's World Beer Cup.

Allagash, located at 50 Industrial Way in Portland and led by founder Rob Tod, was awarded bronze in the Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale category for its Ski House beer and gold in the Belgian-Style Witbier category for its famous Allagash White. Tod was honored as a  Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year in 2025. Orange Bike, located at 31 Diamond St. and led by Tom Ruff, was awarded bronze for its Guava sour beer in the Gluten-Free Beer category.

Reader feedback

What new Maine food products are tickling your taste buds? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to hear from you! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.