I first discovered craft distilleries, also known as micro distilleries, in the summer of 2016. While on vacation in Cape May, NJ, I took the ferry over to Lewes, DE. There I discovered Beach Time Distilling. Since then, it has become a hobby within a hobby for me. I’ve visited over 30 of these businesses, across my home state and the 3 states that border it.
Although I’ve been to quite a few of these establishments, I haven’t written about very many. There are a few that I still want to cover, and I will try to get to them soon. But this Saturday, I visited one that I just had to write up as soon as I could.
For me to write about a distillery, there are two things I look for. First, since this is a whiskey blog, they must make whiskey. Second, they must be really good. I try to follow the rule “If you don’t have anything nice to say…” And I don’t just mean the product has to be good. Of course it does. But when I visit a distillery, I’m not just going to buy a bottle. I can get do that at a liquor store. I am going for the experience.
I’m happy to say, Tadmore Distilling Co. in Salem, NJ, meets the first requirement. As for the second, saying that they are “really good” just doesn’t do them justice. After just one visit, they are easily one of my favorites. I only wish they were closer to home. If you are in the area, or even if you have to drive a bit to get there, I highly recommend a visit.
Like any small business, craft distilleries each have their own personality. In my experience, these can be divided into three main “personality types”.
Some feel like they just want to be bars. The mandatory tour consists of “There’s the still. We use it to make alcohol. There’s the bar.” At the end of your visit, you’ve had some great cocktails, and probably a good time, but you really don’t feel like you’ve visited a distillery.
Next up are the places that do great tours, and are passionate about the art of distilling, but are lacking on the serving side. They will take the time to show you around and explain the process. You will probably learn quite a bit. But when it comes to trying the product, you will get a sample of each of their products in a small cup. I enjoy trying spirits neat, but not everyone does. I think to properly showcase your spirits, you need to have a decent cocktail program.
Lastly, there are the places, like Tadmore, that have achieved a perfect balance. An informative tour, given by someone who is proud of their art; a tasting flight of their products neat, for those who like to taste them for what they are, without any distractions; and a great cocktail menu for those who want to see what those products can do.
Tadmore is located on the edge of downtown Salem. They are right on Rt. 49 (aka West Broadway) in a historic house that was built in the 1790’s and once served as a Masonic lodge. The two front rooms are beautifully furnished to accommodate small groups. A little further back is the bar / tasting room. Here you will also find bottles for sale, as well as some merchandise. Enough that you can find a suitable memento, but not so much that you feel like you’re in a souvenir shop.
At the back of the building, in the addition added by the Masons as a meeting space, is the distillery. The still is a tiny little 26-gallon unit. If you want small batch, they have small batch. As owner Natasha Vitale puts it, “If other places are micro, we’re nano”.
Due to current Covid restrictions, capacity is limited, and reservations are recommended. I did not want to make a reservation online, since I was unsure of my arrival time until I was actually on my way. I called from the car and spoke to Natasha. I explained my situation and was told that they could indeed accommodate me.
When I arrived, I was greeted at the door by Natasha, who owns and operates the distillery along with her husband Steve. She showed me the layout of the house and provided a brief history of the building on our way back to the distilling floor. There, she showed me around and we had a great conversation about our shared passion for fine quality spirits, and what goes into making them. We talked about the fact that Bourbon is their true love, and the reason they started the business.
Next, we headed to the tasting room, where bartender Heather had already prepared my tasting flight of their 5 current offerings: Fledgling unaged whiskey, Bourbon, Bad Omen white rum, Aged rum, and their newest release, vodka. All are excellent quality.
The mash bill for both the Fledgling and the Bourbon is 63% corn, with the balance split evenly between malted barley and rye.
The nose of the Fledgling is surprisingly strong in corn, given the relatively low amount in the mash bill. I was told that many people mistake it for corn whiskey (which must be at least 80% corn). The flavor profile is very well balanced. There is a nice amount of rye spice, especially in the finish, but it is not overpowering.
The Bourbon, which is aged in 10-gallon barrels for at least 1 year, builds on the flavor profile of the new make, adding a nice layer of vanilla and other young wood flavors, along with just a hint of char towards the end. Each barrel is bottled and released as it is ready and sells out quickly. They were out of batch #2 for bottle sales when I visited but had saved enough for tastings and cocktails. I promised both Natasha and myself that I would be sure to get a bottle of batch #3.
I followed up my tasting with two cocktails. First, a delightfully well-balanced rum punch (which calls for the Bad Omen, but Heather offered to make it with the aged rum to add a little complexity and a hint of vanilla from the barrel). Next up, an Old Fashioned (my go-to cocktail), made with Batch #2 Bourbon (they also offer a New Fashioned made with Fledgling). This is my cocktail of choice, and one of my benchmarks for a good bar. Their rendition did not disappoint.
I ended up leaving with a bottle of Bad Omen, a shirt, a Glencairn glass for my collection, two barrel staves (I’m debating whether to use them for smoking or some as yet to be determined craft project), and best of all, one of my favorite memories. Out of over 30 craft distilleries that I have visited, this is without a doubt one of the best.