J. Carver Distillery Launches Etiquette Whiskey Distilled From A Single Malt

J. Carver Distillery Launches Etiquette Whiskey Distilled From A Single Malt

After aging more than four years in new and used charred oak barrels, J. Carver Distillery of Waconia is proud to announce the limited release of its first whiskey distilled from a single strain of malted barley - Etiquette Whiskey.

“The overwhelming majority of whiskey produced and consumed in America is based on non-malted grains such as corn, rye and wheat. Bourbon dominates the market, although the rye whiskey category is growing very rapidly and wheat whiskies are just starting to catch fire. The emerging market for craft distilleries in America is single malt whiskey, which is based exclusively on malted barley and produced on-site by a single distillery”, stated Bill Miller, a Founder of J. Carver Distillery. “This single malt whiskey was developed in collaboration with our friends at BSG, a subsidiary of Rahr Malting based in Shakopee, Minnesota”, continued Miller, “is based on a single strain of malted barley, was aged in new and used J. Carver Bourbon barrels, has not been chill-filtered, and has been bottled at cask strength. The combination of these factors assures that this single malt whiskey maximizes the richness and complexity of the malted barley and J. Carver Bourbon barrels, and the uniqueness of our distillation techniques.”

 “We are very excited to be entering the single malt whiskey category”, followed Gina Holman, Founder and Managing Partner of J. Carver Distillery. “Many of our customers have been asking us when we will introduce this product, and although production is limited to fewer than 500 bottles, they will be available to scotch-lovers and whiskey aficionados for the holidays. Etiquette is a distinctive whiskey with flavors of dried fruit, red currant, bright citrus, spices, malted cereal, butterscotch, and nougat. The unique character of this whiskey is heavily influenced by hand-selected oak barrels from our barrel room in Waconia, MN. When drinking with friends, make sure to pour their drink first. It’s proper etiquette understood by connoisseurs throughout the world.”

Etiquette Whiskey - Distilled From A Single Malt Tasting Notes:

Color: Mahogany

Aroma: Sweet nose, butterscotch, toffee, citrus, and dried fruits.

Mouth-Feel: Smooth and balanced, elegant for a Cask Strength Whiskey.

Flavor: An amazing balance of sweetness and spice. Rich with intriguing flavors of dried fruit, red currant, bright citrus, spices, malted cereal, butterscotch, caramel, and nougat. 

Finish: Long, elegant finish.  

Newly released J. Carver Distillery Etiquette Whiskey - Distilled From A Single Malt is available for wholesale purchase exclusively through St. Paul-based distributor The Wine Company Minnesota. Consumers can search the store finder at www.jcarverdistillery.com for retailers by city or zip code available mid-November including South Lyndale Liquors, Zipps Liquors, Hennepin Lake, Solo Vino Bottle Shop, The Vintage Chanhassen, Shorewood Liquor, Dolce Vita, MGM Waconia, North Loop Wine & Spirits, Wayzata Wine & Spirits, Marshall Liquors, Harbor Wine & Spirits, Lowry Hill Liquors, Lakeside Wine + Spirits, Liquor Hutch, Delano Wine & Spirits, Lake Wine & Spirits, Good Time Liquors, Lunds & Byerlys Wines & Spirits – Woodbury, Northbound and Westbound Liquor Stores in Elk River, Brooklyn Center Liquor Store #1 and other fine spirit shops across the state as well as these fine restaurants including Sockdollager, Volstead House, Whiskey Inferno, Bourbon Butcher, Match Stix Restaurant & Spirits, Nicollet Diner, and Winchester & Rye Whiskey Lounge.

Welcoming Autumn With A J. Carver Barrel Gin Old Fashioned

Autumn is definitely in the air. The gorgeous sunny days dance their way into cool, inviting nights. I look back and ask, “How did summer come and go so quickly?” The last three months have flown by and again, so much has happened at the distillery.  We started the summer months with tours and tastings on Saturdays and over the past few months added Fridays and special events during the week to the mix. It has been incredible meeting so many of you from across the state, even across the border, as your interest in the art and science of the distillation process at J. Carver Distillery brought you to our door. Who knew a re-purposed Pontiac Car dealership, where so many locals bought their first car, would now be the spot to enjoy a specialty cocktail with grains grown from just down the road. 

We started slowly with our cocktail offerings and quickly became inspired to add to our specialty cocktail list. You asked and we created. From the Basil Cucumbertini to the Blackberry Bramble, local fruit, herbs, and infused simple syrup inspired the many specialty cocktails created in the tasting room for you to enjoy.

J. Carver Blackberry Bramble

We wanted to highlight the J. Carver spirit in each specialty cocktail created. The Minnesota Mule using J. Carver Premium Vodka instantly became a crowd favorite as did the Lake House Lemonade and the Venetian. Okay, to all my gin lover’s, you have to know how happy I was to hear you say that Grimm Farm Gin made the best gin and tonic you ever had. Hats off to the history books and Wendin Grimm for bring everlasting clover to the Grimm Farm in Victoria, the botanical that inspired that gin. I’ll personally raise a glass to that. But honestly, the best ever has been the sheer enjoyment of those of you who sat back and relished every sip of your J. Carver Barrel Gin Old Fashioned. As promised, I believe to about 15 of you last Saturday alone, (wink, wink) here is the recipe to make the Old Fashioned simple syrup so you can enjoy a J. Carver Barrel Gin Old Fashioned at home. Just promise me you won’t be a stranger and come in for one at the tasting room every now and again. We love love when you stop in. Here it goes. I told you it was not that complicated, it just takes some time. I would be remiss if I did not give props to Robb Jones from Spoon and Stable in Minneapolis for the inspiration behind the simple syrup in this classic cocktail. Making this simple syrup upfront makes the actual task of making the cocktail a breeze.

You will need two separate pots, sugar, water, rosemary, vanilla bean, bitters, cherries, wild flower honey, and oranges or orange marmalade. 
In one pot add:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 cup frozen organic cherries. (In season I used fresh cherries but hard to come by now)
¼ of a vanilla bean

Cherries in simple syrup

Stir the sugar until dissolved over medium heat. Wait for a slight boil and macerate the cherries until you get the color and flavor extracted from the cherry and skin. Add vanilla bean. Turn off the heat and let cool. Check the intensity of how much flavor the syrup is getting from the vanilla bean. Remove the vanilla bean when the vanilla is balanced with the cherries, about 30 minutes. Leave the cherries in the pot. 

In a second  pot add:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 Rosemary sprigs
1 teaspoon Wild Flower Honey
1 teaspoon Orange Marmalade (Homemade is best. I got my from a dear mentor this summer - Thanks Winnie!)
Bitters to taste – here is where you can be creative. You’ll see what I mean later in the blog.

Stir the sugar until dissolved over medium heat. Wait for a slight boil. Add Rosemary sprigs, Wild Flower Honey,  and the Orange Marmalade. Turn off the heat and let it cool. Check the intensity of how much flavor the syrup is getting from the Rosemary sprigs. Take out the sprigs when the rosemary is balanced with the other flavors in the pot, about 60 minutes. If you want a little more intensity, feel free to leave the rosemary in the pot for a longer period. 

Once the simple syrup has cooled, usually about 1 ½ hours, strain the simple syrup into separate mason jars to remove any particles from the cherries, marmalade, and rosemary. Here is where you can be creative with the amount and kind of bitters you want to add to create your final blend. If you want a little more cherry and vanilla, add cherry vanilla bark bitters. If you want a little more orange, add orange bitters to the rosemary simple syrup jar. When you are satisfied, Blend the two mason jars together into a larger container. Pour the final combined syrup into two separate mason jars, label and date. The simple syrup will keep in your refrigerator for up to a month - if it lasts that long - and the J. Carver Barrel Gin is available at local liquor stores in your area.

To make the J. Carver Barrel Gin Old Fashioned:
2 ounces J. Carver Barrel Gin
½ ounce Rosemary Scented Wild Flower Honey Simple Syrup
1 slice orange squeezed into glass
1 brandied cherry
Serve over ice, stir and ENJOY!

J. Carver Barrel Gin Old Fashioned. Available at J. Carver Distillery on the Specialty Cocktail Menu.

Enjoy the last weekend of summer and stop by the distillery for a tour and a taste or purchase one of of our specialty cocktails during our regularly scheduled tasting room hours. Cheers!

The Wait Is Over - It's Tour Time and So Much More

It has been a busy couple of months with lots of changes at the distillery. Historical photos adorn the walls in the tasting room and racks in the barrel room are filling up fast. Barrels, barrels, and more barrels. 

We opened our doors last week and were thrilled with all the distillery friends and fans, old and new alike, who stopped in for a tour and a taste.

Our tours provide a unique glimpse into the inner workings of our artisan distillery. You'll get a step by step overview of our grain to glass approach, from the mash tun to the custom copper stills to the barrel room. Our knowledgeable distillery staff will explain the differences between distilling brown spirits including our whiskey, rye, apple brandy, and grape brandy and white spirits like vodka, gin, and grappa. We are so proud of the collaborative work being done with our local wineries and breweries (more to come on that).

To top it off, you will enjoy a sampling of spirits or a tasting cocktail which is included in the tour. Stop in Saturdays in June from 12-5 pm for a Tour and Tasting or try a tasty J. Carver Specialty Cocktail. Tours start on the hour at 12, 1, 2, 3 pm. Book on-line at jcarverdistillery.com

Many have asked if the tasting room is open to stop in for a specialty cocktail made with our J. Carver Spirits. The answer is yes! Looking forward to seeing you!

Photo by J. Carver Distillery

All the action is not just here at the distillery.  J. Carver Barrel gin is taking the cocktail scene by storm and we couldn't be more proud!

Spoon and Stable

Robert Jones of Spoon and Stable is a spirits genius with the cocktails he is creating with private barrel #157 J. Carver Barrel Gin featured in Eater.com "Flower Power: 26 Rose Cocktails to Try This Summer - Eater". 

Photo by Spoon and Stable

Coalition Restaurant

Just down the road in Excelsior Coalition Restaurant has mastered amazing cocktails with J. Carver Barrel Gin. Andrew knocks it out of the park with his J. Carver creations and the last visit was as amazing as the first. Coalition is hitting high notes with J. Carver Barrel Gin Barrel #206. Yes! Andrew creates amazing libations that keeps customers coming back for more. One of his signature cocktails with the J. Carver Barrel Gin is called the Water Street Smash - it's a must try!

Photo by Coalition Restaurant

Photo by J. Carver Distillery

After all this, who's thirsty? Stay tuned and until next time, keep an eye out for these delicious libations and stop by the distillery for a tour and a taste! We'd love to see you and show you what we are up to! J. Carver Distillery - Spirits of Discovery. Cheers!