The Bourbon Flight is reporting from the South to the North and everywhere in between. These two distilleries could not be any farther apart in miles or style. The Bayou state features a different aging process focused on high humidity and gut-wrenching heat, while Maine’s lower temperatures produce a smooth and full-bodied dram.
We continue with Part 11 of The Bourbon Flight’s Bourbon Distilleries Across America series, which explores distilleries throughout the United States. This series will introduce bourbon lovers to both known and unknown distilleries.
This is simply an informative piece, not a review since we have yet to sample the bourbons. We want to inform readers that distilling bourbon is a nationwide love. Tradition and passion run through each bottle of bourbon, from Elmer T. Lee to the unknown distiller.
We cannot highlight every distillery in a state, but we will certainly try to bring the most helpful information to you. We plan on highlighting two states in each Original Pour.
Keep checking back to see when your state is highlighted. We are going in alphabetical order.
Louisiana
Baton Rouge Distillery—Baton Rouge, Louisiana
batonrougebourbon.com
The distillery was founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Ricci Hull and Natacha Krzesaj. Recently, they have expanded their production and distribution throughout Louisiana and other states. The distillery is the first in the capital city since prohibition.
Baton Rouge Distillery’s products are made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and their distillation process combines traditional and modern techniques. Their first whiskies were produced in 2021. They currently have 20 batches of bourbon ranging from the “first bourbon” to the most recent “wheated bourbon.” The distillery’s goal and hope are to craft unique spirits people will enjoy and share with friends as they do.
Baton Rouge Distillery’s tasting room is a great place to learn more about the craft distilling industry and to sample some high-quality, locally produced spirits. Whether you’re a spirit connoisseur or just looking for a fun and educational outing, visiting the tasting room at Baton Rouge Distillery will surely be a memorable experience.
Seven Three Distilling Co.—New Orleans, Louisiana
cfdistillery.com
Seven Three Distilling Co is a craft distillery located in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana. The distillery was founded in 2016 by two friends, Skip Cortese and Sean Josephs, who wanted to create a brand celebrating the city’s rich culture and history. The name “Seven Three” refers to 1973, when the city celebrated its 200th anniversary.
The company is in a historic building in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, once a hub of jazz music and African American culture. One of its featured spirits is the Bywater Straight Bourbon. The Louisiana heat ages the whiskey fast and hard, giving it’s signature honey-crimson flavor.
The tasting room is open seven days a week and offers guided tours, cocktail classes, and other special events. Visitors can also purchase bottles of Seven Three’s spirits to take home. The distillery also supports the local community by donating proceeds to charities and organizations promoting the arts, education, and social justice.
Maine
New England Distilling—Portland, Maine
newenglanddistilling.com
The distillery is focused on producing high-quality, small-batch spirits using locally sourced ingredients, established in 2011 by Ned Wight, a former lawyer who decided to pursue his passion for distilling and create a business that would showcase the unique flavors and traditions of New England.
One of the flagship products of New England Distilling is their Tidewater Bourbon, which is made from caramel malt, corn, and wheat. Visitors can see the whiskey being made from start to finish during one of the many tours the distillery offers. Although there is no tasting room at the location, many locations around Portland sell the distillery’s spirits.
Split Rock Distilling—Newcastle, Maine
splitrockdistilling.com
Matt Page and Topher Mallory founded the distillery in 2013, located in the Maine wilderness. They were inspired by their love of the outdoors and a desire to create spirits that reflected the unique flavors and character of the Maine landscape.
The red barn-style distillery offers two bourbons, straight and Bottle-in-Bond. Both spirits are made entirely using Maine products which can be picked up curbside or in the tasting room. Inside you will find merchandise, stemware, and other Split Rock swag. Picnic tables allow visitors a place to sit down and enjoy a burger from a food truck or a cocktail from the distillery.
Wiggly Bridge Distillery—York, Maine
wigglybridgedistillery.com
It all started during a family dinner with a joking statement, “Let’s make our own whisky.” Founded in 2013 by father and son team David Woods and David Woods Jr. Their passion for handcrafting high-quality spirits led them to create a custom-designed still to produce their award-winning spirits.
The distillery is named after the historic Wiggly Bridge, a nearby York River footbridge. The bridge was built in the late 1800s and is known for its unique, undulating design.
The pair distilled a Bottled-in-Bond and small-barrel bourbon that has won many awards. What is unique is their special projects named Dave’s Special Releases. Mostly sold out, but the Orphan, Wine (Project 2), and Wine (Project 3) blends everything together to make Wiggly Bridge Distillery a must-visit destination for anyone interested in craft spirits and local Maine culture.
Wild Bevy Distillery
wildbevy.com
Michael and Mae Littlefield, a husband-and-wife team. They produce a variety of small-batch, handcrafted spirits using locally sourced and organic ingredients.
One of the unique aspects of Wild Bevy Distilling is their use of a custom-designed still, which they call “Hazel.” Hazel is a hybrid still combining the best features of a traditional pot still and a column still named after Mae’s grandmother. This still allows them to produce high-quality, flavorful spirits with a smooth finish.
Its TopKnot Summer Bourbon uses double-barrel aging. After two years in new charred American Oak barrels, TopKnot is then rested in repurposed Vanilla extract barrels. Each spirit can be enjoyed relaxing by a roaring fire on the patio or in their bar/lounge.
Wild Bevy Distilling is a small but highly-regarded distillery that has gained a loyal following for its dedication to quality and use of locally-sourced ingredients.
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