For the Love of Spirits: Jersey Spirits Distilling Company

Business partners John Granata, Susan Lord and Elizabeth MacDonald are pleased to announce the opening of (Jersey Spirits), a craft distillery in Fairfield, New Jersey. Jersey Spirits has developed their own custom still system and the entire process of mashing, fermenting and distilling is done in-house. Their first two distilled spirits products launching are Main Street Vodka and Barnegat White Whiskey. New Jersey natives John and Susan are the distiller and manager of tasting room respectively. Jersey Spirits offer tours and tastings Wednesday-Sundays and can accommodate 35 plus people in the industrial chic tasting room where their hand-crafted spirits are available in signature specialty cocktails and shots, along with full-size bottles available for purchase. They are offering hands on classes and a barrel sharing program will also be available to customers which started in October.

One of only a handful of craft distilleries in New Jersey, Jersey Spirits Distilling Co. is founded by John and Sue, a passionate couple whose love for travel and visiting distilleries and breweries got them toying with the idea of creating their own. On trips to two smaller distilleries in Park City, Utah and Vermont the thought clicked, “we could really do this” and set the wheels in motion to pursue their dream more seriously. By end of 2013, as they were researching it, the laws were just changing in NJ to allow craft distilleries again and just two short years later they are opening Jersey Spirits. The essence of New Jersey is in all they do – from ingredients used in the distilling process to the reclaimed items from 1800’s NJ farm barns used to craft their bar and tables to the names of all their products. Even a local NJ artist, Brett Strother, is engaged to illustrate their product labels.

John, a professional video producer and former restaurant owner (Evergreen, Montclair NJ) finds distilling a natural extension of his creative side. Some of the processes he uses date back to colonial times. He is a firm advocate of sourcing all natural (and organic when possible) ingredients from the corn, rye, wheat and even the tomatoes, fruits and honey, used to flavor products, from local New Jersey and regional farmers (NY & PA). Using these quality ingredients helps them obtain the smooth character in their spirits.

All the Jersey Spirits products are created using the base grain of corn except for the rum which uses Grade A fancy table molasses (not black strap). The Bourbon/Whiskeys incorporate rye, barley malt, and wheat accordingly. Jersey Spirits spent grain goes to a local farm to feed 70 (very happy) head of cattle.   Everything is created small batch by hand with very little machinery outside of the still and transfer pumps. The American Whiskey and Bourbon are aged in new, charred American oak barrels. Rum and single malt whiskies will be aged in those same barrels on their second and third generations. Jersey Spirits is using an assortment of 5, 10 and 30 gallon barrels that are carefully monitored and blended where necessary to get their specific taste profiles.

In addition to the Main Street Vodka and Barnegat White Whiskey, they plan to launch several other spirits before end of 2015 including DSP.7 Gin (infused with 13 different botanicals); Jersey Apple Hooch; Jersey Pumpkin Hooch; and Boardwalk White Rum. Limoncello and Orangecello are planned for release in time for this holiday season. Custom wood Jersey Spirits flight holders with 3 glasses are available ($50) as well as shot glasses ($5 ea.) and T-shirts ($20). Their product will be also be found in local New Jersey bars, restaurants and liquor stores by October.

Jersey Spirits Distilling Co. is located at 1275 Bloomfield Avenue, Building 7, Unit 40B, Fairfield, NJ 07004 (973-441-0947). The distillery is open Wednesday & Thursday 4-7pm, Friday 4-9pm, Saturday 1-9pm and Sunday 1-5pm. Private tours are available by appointment. Jersey Spirits is conveniently located just off of Route 46 and near Routes 80, 280, 287 and 3. Parking is available.