Guests of the Montezuma Winery will find a whole new reason to visit its tasting room with the grand opening of its new distillery.
Jill Connor / The CitizenA wine glass filled with vodka made from honey wine at the new still at the Montezuma Winery, sits in front of a bucket being filled with the freshly made liquor. This is the first of many test glasses smelled, swished and looked at to determine the alcohol content of the vodka. The first few gallons are too strong to be consumed safely.
Hidden Marsh Distillery opened last month with apple brandy, the first of many liquors to be distilled and distributed.
Made 100 percent from local apples, the apple brandy has been aged in American Oak Barrels for one year, according to wine maker and distiller, Bill Martin. Martin is also a co-owner of the Montezuma Winery and Hidden Marsh Distillery.
“We are very excited about the opening of the distillery,” Martin said. “The apple brandy has had a very warm reception in our tasting room.”
Although the new brandy product has been aged for one year, Martin said that he would like to see it aged for at least two years.
“The product is much smoother and takes on much more of the oak flavoring the longer it is aged,” he explained.
Hidden Marsh Distillery's apple brandy exhibits aromas of vanilla and butterscotch, with subtle apple character upfront and finishes with tones of caramel and oak.
Martin said that the uniqueness of the apple brandy, as well as other products to be available in late summer, is the hands-on process from start to finish.
“We use a 400-liter pot still,” he said. “In this way, we are making a single batch, which is more hands-on. It is because of this that the product takes on more of an artistic form.”
This hands-on closeness of the distilling process, according to Martin, gives him the opportunity to create a better liquor unlike those that are commercially processed.
In late August or early September, the distillery has plans of releasing other products as well, including a vodka made from honey and a honey brandy, among many others.
Martin said that the goal of the company is to remain just a little bit different than everyone else.
“We strive to be different,” he said. “That is where our roots are.”
Currently, the first and only liquor available is the apple brandy and can be sampled in the tasting room of the Montezuma Winery. Yet, guests can look forward to an opening reception for the complete product line in later this summer.
“We are very excited about the release of all of our liquors,” Martin said. “It is unique in that we are the only one of its kind in the area.”
On the Net
Watch as bottles of distilled liquor are filled online at auburnpub.com
Made 100 percent from local apples, the apple brandy has been aged in American Oak Barrels for one year, according to wine maker and distiller, Bill Martin. Martin is also a co-owner of the Montezuma Winery and Hidden Marsh Distillery.
“We are very excited about the opening of the distillery,” Martin said. “The apple brandy has had a very warm reception in our tasting room.”
Although the new brandy product has been aged for one year, Martin said that he would like to see it aged for at least two years.
“The product is much smoother and takes on much more of the oak flavoring the longer it is aged,” he explained.
Hidden Marsh Distillery's apple brandy exhibits aromas of vanilla and butterscotch, with subtle apple character upfront and finishes with tones of caramel and oak.
Martin said that the uniqueness of the apple brandy, as well as other products to be available in late summer, is the hands-on process from start to finish.
“We use a 400-liter pot still,” he said. “In this way, we are making a single batch, which is more hands-on. It is because of this that the product takes on more of an artistic form.”
This hands-on closeness of the distilling process, according to Martin, gives him the opportunity to create a better liquor unlike those that are commercially processed.
In late August or early September, the distillery has plans of releasing other products as well, including a vodka made from honey and a honey brandy, among many others.
Martin said that the goal of the company is to remain just a little bit different than everyone else.
“We strive to be different,” he said. “That is where our roots are.”
Currently, the first and only liquor available is the apple brandy and can be sampled in the tasting room of the Montezuma Winery. Yet, guests can look forward to an opening reception for the complete product line in later this summer.
“We are very excited about the release of all of our liquors,” Martin said. “It is unique in that we are the only one of its kind in the area.”
On the Net
Watch as bottles of distilled liquor are filled online at auburnpub.com
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Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:12 AM:
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