I spent the past week touring two craft distilleries – Carolina Distillery in Lenoir, North Carolina (makers of Carriage House brandies) and Southern Artisan Spirits of King’s Mountain, North Carolina (makers of Cardinal Gin). Obviously, it’s wildly interesting to see a distillery in action no matter the fact it’s an ordinary day at work for the distillers. But, I’d overlooked the fact that economic changes of the last decade had severely changed the employment picture, and not for the better.
Most of the people I met for my reporting, all partners in their respective distilleries, entered the industry after watching a previous career path vanish. How often would meet people who lose their jobs and careers and then determine they’ll get back on their feet by making craft spirits for the retail liquor market? It’s amazing dreaming and makes me proud that such “wild” and outside-the-box thinking exists and can prosper.
Back to the drinks. I found this review of Cardinal Gin by Southern Artisan Spirits, a company consisting of two twin brothers and their father. This gin has won medals and one review lists it as one of the top five gins in the WORLD. It’s not a dry gin. It’s not a traditional recipe in the truest sense and drinkers are approving of it.
I didn’t find an online review for Carolina Distillery’s Carriage House brandies but must share my appreciation for co-owners Kenny, Keith and Chris for having myself and videographer Alan Brown on their premises for a story. They’re offering a traditional recipe of brandy, focusing on apple brandy but now have rolled out a smooth strawberry brandy.
