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

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.

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.

The following pictures were captured by Pete Rodman during a recent visit to our Bowling Green Distillery.

Corsair Gin

Alcohol begins to boil off during a test run of the 240 gallon wash still.

Ben pours Corsair's first aged whiskey: 100% Rye

Corsair currently has 6 spirits aging including rum, bourbon and several experimental whiskeys.

Rod fills the still for a new whiskey run.

Ben keeps an eye on the condensing coils.

Brady checks on the small still.

Corsair Artisan Distillery has just released our first aged products to the market including an aged whiskey.

After much anticipation, an aged version of the 100% rye mash bill was released.  This spirit spent over 4 months in a 5 gallon charred barrel during which time it picked up deep vanilla and caramel flavors to add to the rich grain notes and dark fruit sweetness that were present in the unaged version (previously released as Wry Moon).  Because of its limited release (only 67 bottles) this spirit is only available at the Corsair Distillery Giftshop for a retail price of $35.00.  It is currently only available in 375ml bottles.

The second product to be released is a unique Barrel Aged Gin, which has received rave reviews from test groups across the country.  We began with our standard gin and upped the juniper content to add some boldness to the final product.  We then aged it for 6 months in used barrels which previously held our Spiced Rum.  The result is a warming drink ideal for sipping.  The first flavors are peppery and bold that then transition to a refreshing finish with obvious evergreen and citrus notes.  A perfect winter drink.  Corsair Barrel Aged Gin is currently available at the Giftshop and in Washington State.  Further distribution is slated to begin soon.  Suggest retail price is $35.00 for 750ml.

WKYU, the local PBS affiliate spent many hours in July filming the inner workings of Corsair.  Here is the 6 minute video they produced, which will be featured on the program Mainstreet