Corsair Artisan Distillery

Check out this great video of Josh Habiger making one of our favorite cocktails, a flip with Corsair’s Pumpkin Spice Moonshine.
Corsair Pumpkin Moonshine Flip Cocktail by Mixologist Josh Habiger

Spirited
Corsair Artisan: unique liquors straight from Nashville.

There are no limits or constraints in the world of cocktails anymore. Both the traditional and the modern co-exist on countless cocktail lists. Across the country, bar chefs are concocting unique, handcrafted, and deliciously drinkable creations, and Memphis has by no means been passed over by this trend. We are seeing more and more artisanal spirits enter our market, giving both professional and amateur mixologists many options for their bar. House-made cordials, infusions, and spins on classics are popping up all over our city, but it’s still very much in its infancy.

Luckily, we have a full artillery of spirits to work with. Corsair Artisan, based in Nashville, produces an incredibly expressive battery of liquors, from absinthe to whiskey. It seems as though Corsair, founded in 2007, has come about in the very midst of the cocktail culture exploding across the country.

To read full article click here:  http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/spirited/Content?oid=2462821

The Artisans

The word handmade conjures up images of a warm apple pie made from scratch or your great-grandmother’s artfully sewn quilt. But handmade liquor? Just ask the folks behind Corsair Artisan Distillery, who are breaking the mold and bringing craft made spirits to Nashville. Childhood friends-cum-business partners Darek Bell and Andrew Webber are the masterminds behind this unique venture, which is on the fast track to becoming a world-renowned distillery, with products ranging from Vanilla Bean Vodka, Red Absinthe and their highly-recognized Gin-Head style Gin.

The idea hatched from Darek and Andrew’s shared enthusiasm for, of all things, biodeisel. While whipping up a batch of the eco-friendly fuel one day, Andrew expressed his desire to make whiskey instead. Darek had experience making wine, beer and sake and Andrew’s family was in the wine industry, so it seemed like a natural fit. Darek noticed there was a real need for bringing a high-caliber craft distillery to Tennessee. “I had been watching the artisan distilling movement in mostly the western states like California, Oregon and Washington. I was amazed that nothing was happening in the South. I didn’t want Tennessee to be left behind, given the wealth of distilling knowledge and lore here.”

Continue reading under ‘artisans’ here: http://nfocusmagazine.com/story/tastemakers

http://www.bourbonblog.com/blog/2010/06/16/corsair-pumpkin-spice-moonshine-review/

Corsair Pumpkin Spice Moonshine

Wry Moon reviewed on bourbonblog.com. They say “Touch of sweetness and rounded. Much better than many unaged whiskeys.”

http://www.bourbonblog.com/blog/2010/06/16/corsair-wry-moon-review/

Wry Moon

Bourbonblog.com reviews Corsair Triple Smoke Whiskey. Says Corsair has “some of the most innovative whiskeys we’ve ever tasted.”

http://www.bourbonblog.com/blog/2010/06/16/corsair-triple-smoke-whiskey-review/

Open for Business Article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2009/06/01/smallb2.html

Party Source in Northern Kentucky is currently the exclusive provider of Corsiar Spirits in the area.  Their wine and spirits manager Jay Erisman recently reviewed Corsair RED – our unique and popular red absinthe.  Here is an excerpt:

Red absinthe is a small tradition in historical European absinthe, rather more common in Spain or Czech Republic than France. Sadly, while there are a number of oustanding artisanal green and blanche absinthes from Europe and, increasingly, America, most of the rouges are disappointing to absinthe connoisseurs, tending to artificial color and shrill flavor. But Corsair Red is cut from different cloth. Distiller Andrew Webber packs this cute little bottle full of real wormwood, citrus, and tarragon. After a proper infusion and redistillation of these herbs, there is a final infusion with hibiscus flowers. Corsair Red can hold its head up as an honest and traditionally crafted absinthe…and hold its own with Bourbon as a soulful product of the Bluegrass State.

Corsair also makes a terrific gin, full of juniper notes but joined with postmodern gin flavors of citrus oil and grains of paradise. In addition to the eventual whiskeys, partners Webber and Darek Bell make a potent spiced rum for the best Coke mixer ever. But really, it’s this Red absinthe that takes the cake, and Corsair has beaten some people to the punch in bringing it to market. Other absinthe producers must be green red with envy.

http://partysourceeq.com/2009/05/29/corsair-red-absinthe-kentucky-brews-a-new-spirit/

nFocus Magazine tracks the social scene in Nashville. Corsair’s co-founder Darek Bell was recently featured in the magazine: http://nfocusmagazine.com/2009-05-01/columns/rum-runner/

The Intoxicologist is one of the premier bloggers in the spirits world.  She recently got her hands on some Corsair’s award-winning Gin.  This is what she had to say:

Corsair Artisan Gin excites me for a few reasons:

· The creators/owners, Darek and Andrew, are small batch micro-distillers making grass roots products right here in the United States born of passion, enthusiasm and desire to bring quality products to a new generation of spirits enthusiasts.

· The logo speaks to that vision with its black and white bold simplicity and the air of free style untouchable spirit. This is a new generation laying claim to a new era of imbibing.

· Gin: It is breaking all the rules by going beyond the traditional martini of generations past. Corsair Artisan Distillery lightens the load of heavily junipered gins and brings back a garden fresh, citrusy to vegetative quality with hints of floral. Unexpected. Light. Refreshing. Beautiful.

Read the full review here: Corsair Artisan: Redefining a New Gin’eration