Philadelphia Distilling

Philadelphia Distilling
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founded March 2005
Founder Robert Cassell, Andrew Auwerda, Timothy Yarnall
Status Active
Website www.philadelphiadistilling.com

Philadelphia Distilling is a microdistillery founded in March 2005 in the Byberry neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the first craft distillery to open in Pennsylvania since before Prohibition.[1]

History

Robert Cassell got the idea to begin distilling in 2003, while working as director of quality assurance at Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. During his time there, he took courses on distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2005, he partnered with his uncle, Andrew Auwerda, and a former Bloomberg LP sales manager, Timothy Yarnall, to launch Philadelphia Distilling in a facility located in an industrial office park in Northeast Philadelphia.[2]

When Cassell first attempted to apply for a Pennsylvania distillery license, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board officials had to create an application form for him, because none existed.[3]

By 2011, the company ranked in the top 10 of 300 smaller distilleries operating nationwide, and shipped nearly 120,000 bottles of gin.[4]

Facility

The company uses a hand-hammered copper still from A. Forsythe & Son, of Rothes, Scotland.[5]

Advocacy

In September 2011, Cassell gave testimony to the Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee arguing for reform of Pennsylvania's 1951 liquor code, which bans craft distilleries from selling their products on-site, unlike wineries and breweries that also operate in the state. He has also advocated for lower federal excise taxes on small distilleries.[4]

Products

The company has five core spirits brands. Bluecoat American Dry Gin, introduced in 2006, is an "American-style" gin that emphasizes citrus over juniper berries.[1][2] As of 2011, this gin was being sold in 37 U.S. states.[4] Penn 1681 vodka was introduced in 2008; unlike typical vodkas made from potatoes or wheat, it is made from rye grown in Pennsylvania.[1][4] Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure was introduced in 2009. According to the company, it was the first absinthe to be legally distilled, bottled and sold on the U.S. east coast in nearly a century.[6] XXX Shine corn whiskey, introduced in 2011, is a family of high-proof white whiskeys in the style of moonshine.[4] In addition to the original, this group includes Salted Caramel and LiberTea (black tea, lemon, honey) versions of the whiskey.[7][8] The Bay, introduced in 2013, is a vodka seasoned with Chesapeake Bay seasoning.

In 2012, the company introduced a bitters called Bartram's Bitters, recreating a recipe for "Bartram's Homestead Bitters" that was found in a book that belonged to the family of 18th-century botanist John Bartram. The botanicals used in the making bitters include prickly ash bark from a tree in Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia.[9]

Awards

The company's Bluecoat American Dry Gin won a double Gold Medal for Best Gin at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It also won a Gold Medal and the Best In Class award for Best Gin at the 2007 International Wine & Spirits Competition.[2][10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mendelson, Abby (January 15, 2009). "The New Distillers: A Pair of Startups Help Reestablish a PA Industry Dormant Since Prohibition". Keystone Edge. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  2. 1 2 3 Hinz, Christopher (2007). "Berks County native creates award-winning gin". American Distiller. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  3. ↑ Vee, El (July 26, 2012). "Profile: Philadelphia Distilling". The El Vee. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Fiorillo, Victor (December 2011). "Buy Local Booze (Philadelphia Distilling Can Help)". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  5. ↑ Bryson, Lew (April 13, 2006). "Red, White and Bluecoat". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  6. ↑ "Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure". Philadelphia Distilling. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  7. ↑ "XXX Shine Salted Caramel". Philadelphia Distilling. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  8. ↑ "XXX Shine LiberTea". Philadelphia Distilling. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  9. ↑ Nichols, Rick (May 25, 2012). "The resurrection of Bartram's Bitters". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  10. ↑ "Philadelphia Distilling". Facebook. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
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