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Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Spring flowers are an eternal reminder that all things have beginnings. This Mother’s Day, give the gift of flowers because that’s where you began. Tamworth Garden Gin is better than a bouquet, it’s a garden in a glass.

Visit us at Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile to shop our exclusive Mother’s Day picks listed below, or order Tamworth Garden Flora Gin online by clicking here.

Tamworth Garden Flora Gin – $45 ($59.99 online)

Royal Rose Lavender Lemon Simple Syrup – $14

P&H Hibiscus Syrup – $12

Fentiman’s Rose Lemonade – $8

Scrappy’s Lavender – $19

Peg & Awl Maple Cutting Board – $34

Heirloom Porcelain Berry Baskets – $15

Kelly Cain Handmade Stoneware Juicer – $60

Enjoy a Flora & Tonic for Mother’s Day Brunch:

1 1/2 oz Tamworth Garden Flora Gin
Tonic water
Lime wedge

Pour Flora Gin into an ice-filled glass, top with tonic water and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with lime wedge or a sprig of fresh blooms.

CREATING THE PERFECT VODKA

Water is one of the most effectual ingredients in distillation. Like grain and yeast, water lends its specific flavors and qualities to all spirits as they are created.

Some spirits, like whiskey, are less affected by these nuances. The barrel aging process can account for up to 60 percent of the whiskey’s final character. Vodka however, must persevere on its own. What you begin with is what you get – which is why we use the finest water and grain for our White Mountain Vodka.

Our water is sourced from the Ossipee Aquifer, providing the purest flavor untouched by industrial fracking pollution. Though our water is pure at the source, we’re also equipped with at Reverse Osmosis Water Filter, which eliminates any residual elements in the water we use.

Unlike many distilleries that purchase their pre-made spirit base in bulk, we also mill all of our grains in-house to ensure the freshest flavors possible. Milling grains in-house provides us with control over the particle’s size, which consequently controls the flavor. To better explain this, we can compare it to a more familiar process, such as grinding coffee beans. Like grains, coffee beans that are pre-ground lack rich flavors and aromatics. A ground bean has more surface area exposed to oxygen, and excess oxygen results in staling and flavor loss.

The end result is smooth and distinct. You can taste the sweetness of the corn and the slight grassy bite of the rye. White Mountain Vodka tastes different, because it is the way vodka is supposed to taste.

We say it’s handmade, because it truly is.

On The Rise: Distiller’s Bread

There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing that you’re part of a very long tradition and at Sunnyfield Brick Oven Bakery, they’re making bread the way it’s been done since the beginning.

You’ll find Sunnyfield Brick Oven Bakery tucked along Chinook Trail, just 10 minutes away from Tamworth Distilling. Before entering the bakery you’ll notice neatly stacked cords of fire wood, sustainably harvested from the Ossipee Mountain Land Company, which quite literally fuels their entire operation. Inside you’ll be greeted by Peg and Allie, the masterminds behind it all. The bakery is quaint, warm, and above all simplistic. Aside from the organized surplus of organic grains and ingredients, there’s a giant brick oven, and their most trusted tools – their hands.

They hand mix their bread in small batches, starting early in the morning. After that, the dough is turned, folding over on itself again and again. The dough rises for two or three hours before being weighed and shaped, then it’s set aside to rise in the appropriate vessels. Soon the loaves are loaded into the oven, where they bake for 30 minutes to an hour.

Peg and Allie refer to baking as “both a science and an art.”, but at Sunnyfield Brick Oven Bakery you’ll witness a little bit of both. Their approach relies on technicality and instinct. Temperature, hydration, and protein levels are heavily considered, but when it comes down to it they’re also able to provide the bread with whatever else it needs at each stage. With all that said, they’re not purists. They’re always developing new recipes, perfecting classics, and even making use of our spent distiller’s grains.

After our organic corn mash works it’s magic on our whiskey, it’s sent through a centrifugal separator that efficiently separates grains from liquids. Our spent grains are often used as warm cow feed and compost at local farms. Other times, when those farms are stocked, our grains are sent to local bakers who work to recycle the nutrient rich spent grains.

Upon delivery at Sunnyfield, the spent whiskey grains are combined with their organic flours, cornmeal, blackstrap molasses, yeast, sea salt, and malted barley. The result is a deliciously unique bread, wholesome in both origin and flavor.

Loaves are delivered fresh to the distillery each week and are available for purchase in our retail space. Stay updated on Sunnyfield Brick Oven Bakery’s latest creations by following them on their Facebook page or visting their website.

Baldwin Apple Harvest

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” ― Thoreau

Although we’ll make any excuse to hop in the 1933 Ford pickup, we’re loading it up with our last autumn bounty of baldwin apples.

What the Concord is among grapes, what the Bartlett has been among pears, the Baldwin is among apples. The Baldwin apple was once the most praised fruit in New England, but after a harsh winter in 1934, Baldwin apple trees sadly perished.

This of course would not discourage us from finding them for our brandy.

Luckily, our friends at Applehurst Farm Vegetables have one of the oldest surviving Baldwin orchards in the area. We arrived at the farm, eager with empty baskets. They lead us down a beautiful pasture which lead to what we considered to be the Baldwin apple jackpot. We set giant blue tarps down on the grass to minimize bruising, and to keep the fresh apples separate from spoiled ones that have already fallen. The old trees were heavy with fruit so a few good shakes sent apples raining down on the tarps.

After a few hours, and of course some heavy taste testing, we managed to harvest nine bushels. These coveted Baldwin apples will be making their way to the cider house to be pressed, and then turned into the next Tamworth Distilling apple spirit.

Make Your Spirits Even Brighter

There’s a perfect gift for everyone on your list at Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile. Shop our bottles, bitters, and bar tools for unique gifts that make spirits even brighter.

Find a perfect gift within our guides, or build an eclectic gift set on your own!

For the Old Soul – The perfect gift for the Old Fashioned cocktail enthusiast

Tamworth Garden Eau De Vie – A sweet unaged brandy made solely from Cortland & McIntosh apples. Enjoy it in place of whiskey and brandy in your favorite classic cocktails.
Tamworth Distilling Monogram Rocks Glass – The perfect vessel for slow sipping cocktails.
Urban Moonshine Orange Bitters – A two in one bitter and citrus potion, great for when you don’t have fresh citrus on hand.
Jack Rudy ROOT Cocktail Cherries – These cherries infused with Art in the Age ROOT add a happy ending to every cocktail.

For the Gardener – Fresh picked gifts for the green thumb on your list

Tamworth Garden Apiary Gin – A unique gin that pays homage to our local bees, infused with poplar buds, clover, and local raw honey.
The Drunk Botanist by Amy Stewart – A New York Time’s Bestseller about the plants that create our favorite drinks.
Local Honey – A sweet taste of New Hampshire. Try sweetening your cocktails with honey, instead of simple syrup!
Creamore Mill Gardening Tools – Successfully begin every garden with Creamore Mill’s quality plant dibber, garden line, & pot press.

For the Adventurer – Cocktail gifts inspired by the great outdoors

White Mountain Vodka – A smooth mild vodka with a subtle corn sweetness.
Dram Pine Syrup – Deliciously unusual, this cocktail syrup is made form foraged pine, organic sugar, and a medley of herbs & spices.
Tamworth Distilling Monogram Whiskey Disks – Why add water to whiskey if it’s already wet? Keep your drinks cold without dilution.
Art in the Age Enamel Mug – From the campfire to your fireplace, this enamel mug will be your next favorite to cozy up with.

For the Creator – For creatives who like to do it themselves

The Good Reverend’s Universal Spirit – Our 150 proof neutral grain spirit that drinks as a high quality, high proof vodka, or acts as the magic ingredient to creating cordials, infusions, tinctures, and extractions.
Organic Dried Herbs – Our Distillery is stocked with a library of dried herbs to bring all of your ideas to life. Fill up a few bags to inspire new flavor profiles, or try our pre-packaged solutions that are tried and true.
Infuse by Eric Prum & Josh Williams – A recipe book filled with fresh and flavorful oil, spirit, and water infusions.
Stainless Steel Infusion Tools – Create your own recipes with ease using our strainers, muddlers, filters, and funnels.

The Gift of Creativity

Everyone’s heard of the gift that keeps on giving…to you. But what about the gift that keeps on giving to others? The Reverend’s Universal Spirit Gift Set contains everything you’ll need to create your own cordials, bitters, or infused spirits, all of which make the perfect gifts for any sensible booze-loving loved one. You can even give the Gift Set…consider it the gift of Creativity Itself!

(If you must keep it for yourself, we can’t fault you. As Oscar Wilde once said, “to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance…”)

Enjoy these Holiday recipes. And remember, the possibilities are endless.

The Reverend’s Remedy

A wellness solution and cold preventative. When you start to feel unwell, take 1 tsp of The Reverend’s Remedy to ward off winter ailments.

2 tbsp elderberries

2 tbsp dried mullien

2 tbsp yarrow

2 tbsp echinacea

3 sprigs fresh rosemary

3 sprigs fresh sage

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Cover herbs in equal parts of RUS and water. Make sure all ingredients are submerged in liquid. Store in a cool, dark location for 4 weeks, shaking it lightly every day. Strain infusion with a coffee filter until all impurities and solids are removed. Funnel infusion into a small glass dropper bottle.

Persimmon Cordial

A sweet unique cordial to enjoy persimmons all year long. Sip with rum and ginger beer, or add it to fizzy water for a refreshing fruit soda.

3 ripened persimmons

1 whole cinnamon stick

1/2 c The Reverend’s Universal Spirit

1 c filtered water

1 c maple syrup

Skin and dice persimmons. Combine persimmons, RUS, and cinnamon into a 1 quart mason jar. Make sure all ingredients are submerged in liquid. Store in a cool, dark location for 1 week, shaking it lightly every day. After 1 week has passed, filter out all the solid ingredients with a fine mesh strainer. In a small saucepan, combine maple syrup and 1 c of water to make a maple simple syrup. Allow syrup to cool and slowly whisk the maple simple syrup and persimmon infusion together. Funnel the cordial into a glass bottle and refrigerate to store.

Overnight Spiced Vodka

A quick and easy vodka infusion perfect for holiday parties or as a thoughtful homemade gift.

10 oz The Reverend’s Universal Spirit

10 oz filtered water

4 oz simple syrup

6 satsumas

1 tsp cloves

4 cardamom pods

1 vanilla bean

Remove all zests from satsumas and dice into cubes. Combine zest, vanilla bean, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick and RUS in a large, sealable jar. Allow mixture to steep in a cool, dark place for 24 hours. Filter mixture with a cheese cloth and again with a coffee filter to make sure that all impurities and solids have been removed. Funnel vodka into a glass bottle with water and sweeten with syrup.

Thanksgiving In A Bottle

We joined forces with Dale Bragdon of Highland House to create a couple of unique recipes to bring to the table this Thanksgiving. After an evening of cranberry foraging and apple picking, we found the perfect booze to bounty ratios for these traditional Thanksgiving staples.

Enjoy a drizzle of Art in the Age Chicory Root in Dale’s signature baked apples or a boozy twist on a classic side dish with Beet Root Cranberry Relish.

Chicory Baked Apples

4 oz Chicory Root

4 cored apples

1/2 c brown sugar

4 tbsp butter

1 tsp cinnamon

fresh lemon zest

Heat oven at 375º. While your oven heats clean & core each apple. Combine cinnamon, sugar, & butter in a bowl. Fill each apple with the mixture. Add 3/4 cups of water to the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange apples upright and bake for 45 minutes, or until apples are tender. Plate each apple and drizzle with 1 oz of Chicory Root. Garnish with fresh lemon zest.

Beet Root Cranberry Relish

2 oz Art in the Age Beet Root

12 oz fresh cranberries

1 c natural sugar

1 c water

1 full orange, sliced

In a saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in water. Stir in cranberries and orange pieces. Cook for about 10 minutes, until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and allow sauce to thicken as it cools. Remove orange pieces. Stir in 2 oz of Beet Root and serve.

An Autumnal Walk Through Tamworth

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here in Tamworth, we like to think of our spirits in terms of stories. We draw our inspiration from actual places, and every bottle we create tells a specific story. Every glass is a journey you can take.

Here’s one of our favorite journeys.

From the panoramic vistas of Great Hill Fire Tower to the calming edges of Chocorua Lake, we invite you to take a walk with us through our favorite spots in Tamworth, wearing the shades of Autumn,

As with everything we create, we’ve cleared a path, but it’s up to you to take it.

The Reverend’s Revenge

One usually associates Halloween imbibing with strange potions, potent grogs, and the eyes of newts. No so here at the Good Reverend’s! This bright punch will enliven any ghoulish get together, reducing all vibes to the essential. Why wear a costume when you can drink one?

Enjoy the Reverend’s Revenge!

1 cup RUS

2 cups orange juice

1 cup pomegranate juice

1/3 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lime or lemon juice

1 cup seltzer

30 dashes cardamom bitters

Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl. Stir well. Garnish with fresh orange slices and pomegranate seeds. Serve up in a chilled cocktail glass.

Finding the Balance in Beet Root

Deep in the middle of summer, you’ll find honeybees hard at work pollinating wild cranberry plants, transforming their beautiful white flowers into small green berries. As autumn rolls in, these berries mature into plump red cranberries, vibrant in both color and flavor.

With cranberries sprouting wildly in New England, we grabbed our rakes and sought out the perfect ingredient to bring balance to our Beet Root vodka.

Only 15 minutes outside of town is a cranberry bog where we hand picked the very cranberries that go straight into our spirits. Here’s a look at our plentiful forage.