Corsair Artisan Distillery

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1829220/Regional/At.a.Bowling.Green.distillery..success.comes.from.experimental.spirits.and.sound.business.practices

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

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.