Corsair Artisan Distillery

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

A few months ago Corsair expanded distribution into the California market.  That is great news for several reasons.  First, there are some spirits connoisseurs who are stoked to be able to get our products locally and we certainly want to share the love.  It also means that Internet sales of some Corsair bottlings are now available!  So now, people in the progressive states that allow the shipping of spirits can also enjoy our award winning libations.

Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa California has picked up our products and also has a very well established mail order business (They also featured our Absinthe in the July newsletter).  If you are interested in trying our products, but you don’t live in one of the states we currently distribute to, try Hi-Times.  We will keep you posted of other internet vendors as they become available.
In other News…

Corsair’s unaged whiskey was recently covered in an article in The Tennessean: Moonshine Goes Mainstream

Sometimes you hit a homerun on your first at-bat.  That is how we felt at Corsair we opened our first experimental barrel of aged 100% Rye whiskey.  Our customers seemed to like it too since they bought up the (unannounced) initial release in 10 days.

It seems there are other fans out there as well.  The spirits department at K and L Wines in California was so excited they ordered a future barrel’s worth of product.  Here is an except of their review:

Yesterday I got a sneak peak of what to expect when Corsair releases their 1 year old 100% rye this Fall.  One word – amazing! … I really like this new Corsair, even though it is a meager year in age, because they somehow managed to get it fairly rich to balance out the spice.  I had to taste it about three times to make sure I wasn’t missing something.  This has all the spice that you expect from rye, a suprisingly smooth entry, plenty of kick, and a long finish that doesn’t spit grain alcohol back into your tonsils.

You can read the whole review here.

Photo courtesy of K and L Wines.

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/

It has only been a few years since absinthe was legalized in the United States.  In that time several distilleries have scrambled to put products on the market.  But instead of being just a trendy addition to a line of spirits, Corsair has been intentional about presenting our RED absinthe as one of our mainstays.  It is in our DNA.  It is a spirit that is complex and challenging, but always refreshing and satisfying.  Its not for everyone, but those who take the time to appreciate it are hooked.

Absinthe is regaining a following and Corsair is being noticed.  Check out this article from Nashville Metromix:

Absinthe is back at the bar

Here is a bit of what they have to say:

Corsair Artisan Distillery has been selling RED absinthe, which is colored and slightly flavored with hibiscus, for about nine months, making it the only rose absinthe manufactured and distributed in the U.S.

“Our company got going about the same time the U.S. ban was lifted, so it was one of those things where we said we could make a little and people would come and want to know about it,” says Andrew Webber, co-founder of Corsair, which is based in Nashville and has its current production facility in Bowling Green, Ky. (They’ll soon be moving into Marathon Village.) “It’s one of the most uncommon absinthes made in the world, so people have found use for our product, and it has its own uses in mixology.

“It’s been a stronger product than we expected,” Webber adds, citing traction for RED in cities such as Louisville, Ky., Atlanta and Seattle. “Mainly we made it because we could and it was fun.”

So, next time you’re feeling adventurous and looking for a new beverage experience, take the leap and give absinthe a spin. Reality will not morph uncontrollably around you.

The American Distilling Institute (ADI) recently held their annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  A major part of the event was a tasting competition that included over 65 small and mid-sized whiskey producers.  Corsair’s upcoming and experimental whiskeys made a strong showing by bringing home 5 medals (more than any other distillery).  The awards are as follows:

Gold Medal

• Cask Strength – Corsair Wormwood Wit Barrel Strength

Silver Medal

• Unaged Whiskey – Corsair Wry Moon
• Cask Strength – Triple Smoke

Bronze Medal

• Rye Whiskey – Corsair 100% Aged Rye
• Whiskey Idiosyncratic – Corsair Rasputin (Hopped Whiskey)

Corsair Artisan, the Nashville-based microdistillery has officially come home with the opening of its Nashville location in the Marathon Motorworks Village.  This historic building, located at 1200 Clinton St, is the former home of Yazoo Brewery.  This facility will provide the setting to brew all of the whiskey mash for Corsair’s mainstream and experimental whiskeys (By the way, we just filled 7 barrels with our forthcoming Triple Smoke Whiskey).  Our 240 gallon antique still is also on site and will allow us to distill in Nashville as well as in Bowling Green.

Photo courtesy of Nashville Restaurants

This new location will continue the taproom tradition set by Yazoo.  Stop by on Thursday (4-8), Friday (4-8) or Saturday (2-8) to try one our 16 regional craft beers and our appetizers, sandwiches and wraps.  (Click here for the full menu)

Here is what is currently being poured:

• Yazoo
  • Pale Ale
  • Hefeweizen
  • Dos Perros
  • Wassail
  • Sly Rye Porter
  • Onward Stout
• Abita Purple Haze
• BBC Nut Brown Ale
• Coney Island Lager (Kosher)
• Highland Kashmir IPA
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Scrimshaw Pilsner
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• Terrapin Hop Karma
• Woodchuck Draft Cider

All beers and available by the pint or as a growler. (Click here for a detailed beer list)

Tours of the facility will be available in the near future.

For a great article on the opening of the taproom, check out the Nashville Restaurants blog.

That’s right!  People in the most populous state in the union now have access to Corsair’s fine line of spirits.  Thanks to a partnership with JVS imports, we are distributing our unaged spirits and whiskey in California.  Within weeks of arriving, we are already receiving great reviews.  Check out this piece from a San Fransisco blogger:

Appetite: 3 non-whisk(e)y highlights from Whiskies of the World

California is not the only West Coast state we are sharing the love with.  Thanks to J&C International, our Washington State brand managers, we have also expanded into the Oregon market and our spirits are now available there through special order.

Corsair continues to expand its distribution so you can have access to the best craft spirits available.