spirits

Boston is constantly surprising me with new restaurants, new events, new friends, and new business opportunities. I complain about it once in awhile, but I am constantly pleased by its growth and the innovative people living and working here. (As long as winter stays warm, I might even stay awhile.)

Last night I attended an event organized by a blog friend, Lena at what I predict will be one of South Boston’s hottest new businesses, Grand Ten Distillery.  Just a short walk between the Broadway and Andrew red line stops, nestled in the complex with the famed Peter Welch’s gym that I fear, is a distillery, craftily cranking out some fantastic spirits.

Grand Ten’s location, once part of the ocean, went through an interesting history, once an iron foundry and then a wire making facility. Today it’s fairly industrial, but in a fun, clean, way, and the owners of Grand Ten, Matt and Spencer, really have put a lot of work into making it a great space.

I liked all of the nice touches, including this wooden sign and door. Rustic wood and clean white walls make for a nice contrast, and I can’t wait to see when the official tasting room is open.

Grand Ten had quite a few spirits up their sleeves for us to try.

First up was their Wire Works Gin. I am typically a little afraid of gin unless it’s mixed with a good bit of tonic and lime, but I was able to enjoy this very smooth gin, which gets a nice acidity from Massachusetts cranberries, on its own. It was also great in a gin and tonic, no lime, because the gin itself has enough acidity. I never really thought about it before, but it made sense.

While we sipped gin and tonics or martinis, we toured the distilling facility.

There’s a lot of fun stuff going on in this distillery and lots to see and smell. Most of all I loved the open top fermentation tank of molasses. In addition to gin, Grand Ten is making a ridiculously good vodka called Fire Puncher whose name has Southie roots and whose flavor is all smoke and spice, perfect on its own and ideal in a Bloody Mary. They’re using that molasses to make Medford Rum, an old style rum rumored to have been consumed by Paul Revere.

Everything at Grand Ten is hand made, hand bottled, hand labeled, and basically hand sold. The owners physically bring their product to stores and bars for bartenders and store owners to taste, and it has been a hit so far. The only other distillery I have visited was Bushmill’s in Northern Ireland which produces on an international scale. This time around it was neat to see a small and local production happening so close to home.

Grand Ten gin can currently be found in a bunch of bars and liquor stores in the Boston area, and once others taste these easy-to-drink, tasty spirits, I am sure they will be selling like wildfire. Here’s where to go to look for Grand Ten right now.

Grand Ten will be opening up to the public within the next few weeks for tasting and touring, and from the looks of it they have a bunch of delicious projects in the works. My husband will love the vodka, and we will definitely be making the short journey from our Dorchester home to visit.

Thanks to Grand Ten for hosting us and Lena for inviting me!

What’s your favorite cocktail/spirit?