Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery + Evolution Food Group
For: Virginia-made ‘tequila’
Tequila can only be made in the Mexican state of Jalisco, so anytime blue agave is used elsewhere, it’s given a different name. Mt. Defiance teamed up with Evolution Food Group for the release of Dos Gringos Agave Spirit, available in drinks at EFG’s Mexican-inspired Cocina on Market and ABC stores. The distillery also uses vidal blanc from Middleburg’s 50 West Vineyards for its sweet vermouth. // Cocina on Market: 7 W. Market St., Leesburg
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company + Port City Brewing Company
For: Delicious waiting game
A pioneer in the recent craft spirits boom, Catoctin regularly works with local breweries and restaurants on collaborations and private-label spirits. (And, for about $8,000, you can have 30 gallons of personalized whiskey.)
Booze-making is long-term planning: Port City Brewing Company is sending a pilot batch of Colossal 10, a barley wine, for Catoctin to turn into a single-malt whiskey, which will age and release in time for the brewery’s 10-year anniversary in 2021. Until then, find Catoctin spirits with partners Ford’s Fish Shack, Coton & Rye (inside Lansdowne Resort and Spa) and Jackson 20 and The Study (inside The Alexandrian). // Multiple locations
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits + Sinistral Brewing Company
For: Chocolatey brews
With an infused-whiskey program, MurLarkey sends out flavored barrels, and local breweries are taking advantage. Sinistral Brewing Company is letting Camryn’s Poker-Faced Porter age for six months in MurLarkey’s Cocoa Whiskey (winter release). // Sinistral: 9419 Main St., Manassas
KO Distilling + A. Smith Bowman Distillery + BadWolf Brewing Company
For: Sour pursuits
Though BadWolf Brewing Company founder, Jeremy Meyers, sold his company, he continues as lead brewer, playing with souring beers in used barrels. The goal of Meyers’ sours, called the Solara Project, is not to pick up the boozy notes of KO’s gin or Bowman’s bourbons, but letting live wild yeasts and bacteria in the barrels sour the beer for a controlled, funky flavor. // BadWolf: 9776 Center St., Manassas
This post originally appeared in our September 2019 issue. To get more food news straight to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.
