Happy Hour

Prohibition has been over for nearly 85 years, yet its effects have lingered. Estate wineries led the way in American terroir. Next came the resurgence of micro breweries. It’s only fitting that craft distilleries finally come to the party.Since the founding of America, distilleries have played a leading role in agriculture, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region where orchards and mills were prolific. Unfortunately, most regional distilleries were unable to survive the thirteen years in which the production and sales of alcohol were illegal. Even after the repeal of the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution, alcohol production and sales remained highly regulated resulting in the rise of mega-distilleries.Enter a group of tenacious entrepreneurs who wanted to bring small batch liquor production back to Maryland. Starting in 2008, Blackwater Distilling was the first to fire up a still in over forty years. Founding the Maryland Distillers Guild with five other members, their numbers have swelled to twenty-five and continue to grow.Blackwater Distilling's Andy Keller explained that getting the laws changed to allow sales and tasting at farmers markets only happened as recently as 2016, and the Guild continues to lobby state legislators for expanded sales opportunities. “We’re small businesses and community-focused,” said Keller stressing the fact that distilled spirits are an agricultural product.Also, in that first group of distillers was Edgardo Zuniga, founder of Twin Valley Distillers, who made it a point to use locally grown grains in his spirits. “There is plenty of grain in Maryland,” Zuniga said. When asked what impact being able to sample and sell spirits at farmers markets, Zuniga responded that market sales account for nearly half of their business.Distilled liquors are steeped in history and the third distillery found at Central Farm Markets, Tenth Ward Distilling Company is all about it. Taking its name from the industrial section designated in Frederick in the late 19^th century, owner/operator Monica Pearce has woven the rich regional history into her products. One of Tenth Ward’s most popular products (sorry, it’s sold out) was Brinton’s Brandy which was developed in collaboration with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to create a cherry-infused brandy popularized by Dr. John Brinton, a Civil War surgeon who used his concoction for medicinal purposes as well as bribery.Wanting to create a truly American product, Pearce sources all her grains, fruits and honey within thirty miles of the distillery and the bottles, labels and barrels are all American-made.Given the variety of distilled spirits available at Central Farm Markets from Maryland distilleries, one can easily stock a full bar with whiskey, bourbon, rum, liqueurs, vodka, brandy, and gin. And don’t forget other vendors, like Toigo Orchards, have pre-made mixes for your favorite cocktails such as their Birth of Pain Bloody Mary mix. Garnish and stir with a stalk of asparagus!And just in time for strawberry season…Strawberry Daiquiri

• 2 oz. rum
• 3 fresh strawberries, tops removed
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 oz.lime juice
• 1 cup crushed iced

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.