"Gin Boom" - Tasty Creations with Minnesota Craft Spirits

There is a buzz around town with people excited about the booming Minnesota micro-distillery industry. It’s exciting to see these local spirits being produced, purchased and people creating tasty cocktails from them. I am heading to The Ritz Theater in Minneapolis next Tuesday for an event called "Tastemakers" hosted by Stephanie March & Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. This event will be attended by individuals passionate about the local spirits scene and the “Gin Boom”. I fall into that category, so I will be joining other gin lovers enjoying “a spirited discussion” about Minnesota gin and the Minnesota Craft Distillery industry. 

The timing couldn't be more perfect for today’s blog. As promised for those of you who subscribe to our newsletter, The Good Gossip, I am posting a refreshing gin cocktail recipe. Check it out and give it a whirl. It's nummy! Mix gin with blackcurrant liqueur (Crème de cassis), freshly squeezed lemon, a dash of simple syrup and garnish with a lemon peel. Serve with an appetizer made with slices of toasted banquette from your local bakery topped with a four pepper goat cheese and drizzled with black currant preserves. Don’t be afraid to zest lemon on top of the preserves for the finishing touch. The drink and appetizer recipes are easy to make and a perfect way to start an evening of fun. These are exciting times for the craft spirit industry, Minnesota Distilleries, and our future J. Carver Gin.

The Arrival of the Cupola – One Step Closer to Producing Spirits

The cupola is here! We are so excited for the arrival of this important 9 foot addition to the roof and building, as it will house the two sequential rectification columns which are 30 feet high with 21 bubbling plates each. (I know - say that three times in a row). These columns on our rectifying still are going to be gorgeous, impressive and efficient. Explaining the process of continuous distillation in a short blog is next to impossible, so we’ll save the in depth explanation when you visit for a distillery tour. But to take a shot at it, continuous distillation allows us to make our vodka and other J. Carver spirits efficiently. In fact, many distilleries use continuous distillation. Factors that make each distilleries products unique and taste differently comes from the raw materials used and the “proof” or the strength which their spirit is distilled. The raw material in our J. Carver vodka will be wheat, so the simplest explanation for the distillation process is the starch in the wheat must first be converted to fermentable sugars and those sugars are converted into alcohol through the distillation process. For those of you visiting all the local breweries, it’s all the same process except with distilleries, we are taking beer to the next level. We are so excited to be one step closer to producing and enjoying J. Carver spirits with you. Talking about our gin, whiskey and other products will have to wait for another day.

Meet a Future J. Carver Spirit – Minnesota Grain, Minnesota Grown, Minnesota Made

Last week I spoke about the building renovation project and the progress being made with the distillery and equipment schedule. On Monday, we received a sample of locally grown wheat which will be the grain we use to produce one of our first products, J. Carver Vodka. The wheels started turning as Matt and I poured the grains of wheat into the bottle imagining what it will be like to actually pour our vodka out in a few short months. We look forward to seeing you enjoying beverages with family and friends made with J. Carver spirits and we are proud to have our ingredients come from local Minnesota farmers. We are proud to work with these local farmers who are growing the grain so we can produce exceptional and distinctive spirits inspired by a tradition of craft and curiosity. Summer is finally here and we can’t wait for you to enjoy activities with family and friends with a libation made with J. Carver spirits in hand. Like you, we are proud to be a part of this Minnesota community supporting local businesses and local products. The future looks bright.

Taking Shape – Day 45

I was going through photos in my office yesterday to update the gallery page on our website when my friend John Hayes, owner of Enki Brewery in Victoria, stopped by to check out the distillery. As I took him around room by room, I stopped in amazement at how much progress we have made in only 45 days. Walls define new rooms where open space existed weeks ago. The sampling bar is taking shape and flooring, piping and lighting are on track for completion in the next couple of weeks. All of our equipment has been ordered and we wait with bated breath for the arrival of our stills, but that time will come soon enough. As John and I finished checking out every space, I smiled because of John’s excitement for our project. Having been through a process similar to ours, building Enki Brewery, he knows this part in the process, when everything takes shape and the finishing touches come together.  The renovation completion will be here soon enough and when it does, we can’t wait to celebrate it with all of you. Thanks for stopping by John and checking out the exciting progress. Next time as promised, we will make sure the sampling bar is open.

Schedules Are Filling Up - SAVE THE DATE!

We are looking forward to many distillery firsts this year. We are nearing the final stages of our renovation and are beginning to nail down our production schedule. The calendar is filling up so I want to get the word out to SAVE THE DATE for our first annual J. Carver Distillery Charity Golf Tournament on August 18th at Island View Golf Course in Waconia. A lot more details to follow but looking forward to a great day of golf and tasty libations made with some of our first J. Carver Minnesota Craft Spirits to hit the local market. Until then, get out your Big Bertha or your shot glass and start warming up.