Rum Enthusiasts Rejoice! Savor Small-Batch Rum at Dachshund Distilling in Neptune, NJ
Located on the border of Bradley Beach and Neptune (by the train tracks) is a new rum distillery started by Tim and Sue Sexsmith called Dachshund Distilling. I took a visit there with my dachshund mix and unofficial NJIB mascot Peppy to try some small-batch rum.
With an interest in craft distilling as a hobby, Tim formally worked two jobs as a marine service engineer and has a performance improvement contractor in the commercial nuclear power industry. After a lifetime of endless travel and one particularly horrible flight home, Sue looked him in the eye and only half-jokingly said he should quit his job and open a distillery.
The family had made distilleries and craft breweries part of their vacation plans in the past, and Tim found Fred Foley of River Hill Distillery in Luray, VA to be the most inspiring. When he first met Fred, he was distilling using 8-gallon milk cans for his boilers and was making some amazing small-batch whiskey which tasted better than other distilleries he visited in the past.
Utilizing the concept of a small-batch distillery, Daschund Distilling focuses on three to four different kinds of rum. Their flagship spirits are their Silver Rum, Spiced Rum, and a Coffee Rum. Coming soon is a Gold Rum which is their Silver Rum aged to perfection in new oak barrels.
And at Dachshund Distilling, it is ALL about the rum. They do not add any sweeteners or artificial colors to any of their rums which very few fellow rum distilleries can say. Because their distilling is done on a small scale means that Tim and Sue are involved in every detail, from preparing the infusion blends to proofing and bottling. This attention to detail ensures a consistently amazing product from batch to batch.
View this post on Instagram
Their Silver Rum is made with the finest Amish molasses, sugar, and yeast. The double-distilled rum is smooth enough to drink by itself on the rocks or with any of your favorite mixes. Their Spice Rum is their Silver Rum infused with vanilla beans, ginger, orange peel, and their own spice blend, and their Coffee Rum is their Silver Rum infused with organic fair-trade coffee beans.
Opening during a pandemic isn’t easy, but Dachshund Distilling had its grand opening in August of 2020. The couple has lived in the area for over 20 years and wanted to create their business in the area to build and support their local economy. As a new business close to downtown Bradley Beach, they have been successful in attracting local and visiting customers.
What to expect when visiting:
- Dachshund Distilling offers a brief tour and a free tasting of their products
- As long as the weather holds, they will be hosting tastings in their outdoor tent(per Covid rules)
- Once the weather gets colder, they will be able to serve indoors at 25% capacity. (per Covid rules)
- They do not offer a cocktail menu, but they sell their rum by the bottle and give great recommendations on how to mix it at home.
Although Time and Sue do not have any dachshunds of their own, customers have loved bringing in their own plus showing off their dachshund tattoos!
View this post on Instagram
Myself and Peppy had a great time visiting, and we took a bottle of Spiced Rum to take home.
For more information on Dachshund Distilling visit their Website, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information on NJ Distilleries, click here.
