Did you know that there are more than 60 distilleries in New England right now? Many of these distilleries will be pouring their products at the upcoming Local Craft Spirits Festival, so you can meet the distillers face-to-face, and get the scoop on their vision and how they produce their craft spirits.
Take your learning a step further after the Local Craft Spirits Festival and visit these distilleries in person, as many of the distilleries open their facilities for public tours and tastings. In fact, Bostonians can take a road trip up to Maine and get a taste of what the New England craft spirits community has to offer. Starting from Dorchester to Portland, Maine, you can visit eight distilleries in 100 miles.
Start in Dorchester at Boston Harbor Distillery, which just opened last summer. They’ve transformed part of the 19th century waterfront warehouse that the distillery is housed in into a beautiful bar and tasting area, complete with leather couches and bar stools. In addition to the rum and whisky you may expect from most distilleries, they also make a line of spirits called Spirit of Boston, made by distilling Samuel Adams beers.
While in Dorchester, continue on to Bully Boy, Boston’s first craft distillery. Their rum, whiskey, and vodka have won multiple awards and they have expanded their line with the Hub Punch, based on a recipe from the 1800s and bottled cocktails.
Round out your Boston distillery tour at GrandTen Distilling, which recently opened a bar on site, complete with cocktails made from their extensive lineup along with games
and thematic events.
Head up north to Salem, MA and visit Deacon Giles, which only opened only last year and named after a fictional demon-infused distillery in Salem as told in a story from 1835. Their Liquid Damnation Rum is the first rum to be distilled in Salem for over 100 years. Continue on to Ipswich for Privateer Rum. Their top-shelf rums are award-winning and have propelled them to double their production. Although they focus on rum, if you are lucky enough to come across their limited batch gin, be sure to grab a bottle of two.
Cross the state borders into Maine and stop at Wiggly Bridge Distillery in York, started by a father and son pair. Try their award-winning small barrel bourbon and rum. Up in Portland, refuel at Liquid Riot, which acts as a brewery, distillery, and restaurant-bar, all in one. The distillery side produces the usual suspects, but also steps it up with oat whiskey, and a Bierschnaps and Bonfire Spirit distilled from grain and hops. They also make their own Fernet. Finish up at New England Distilling. The distillery may only be 5 years old but the legacy started with the owner’s great-great-great-grandfather who owned a distillery sometime in the 1850s. Their gin is distilled in the style of 18th and 19th century gin.
This post was brought to you by Fiona Chandra of Gourmet Pigs blog, go check her out!
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