Blackwater Distilling—Maryland’s first craft distillery in 35 years—is now open for complimentary tours and tastings Friday through Sunday from 12-6 p.m.
The tours educate visitors about the history of distilling in Maryland; the science of fermentation, distillation, and barrel-aging; and the production processes of vodka, rum, and whiskey. Like any good tour, it concludes by having visitors taste Blackwater’s flagship Sloop Betty vodka and Sloop Betty Honey, and also get a sneak peek at their upcoming rum (to be released by the end of the year).
Another element to the tour is Blackwater’s weekly infusion of its products, allowing visitors to sample flavored spirits like apple pie, blueberry pie, and peach-ginger and sending them home with a mason jar and featured recipe kit to try out the infusions at home.
“There’s so much that goes into a handcrafted, small-batch spirit,” says Blackwater CEO Christopher Cook. “We want people to be able to come in and see the entire process from start to finish. But the process doesn’t end at the distillery, and we want to show off the things people can do at home, like make your own delicious natural flavors rather than going to the store and buying a vodka or moonshine flavored with mass-market essential oils or some chemical creation.”
So, next time you’re crossing the Bay Bridge headed for a beach weekend, get a break from traffic and stop off at the Kent Island distillery for knowledge, samples, and a recipe to take home.
You can read more about Blackwater and its flagship Sloop Betty vodka in the August issue, on newsstands now!