A couple of weeks ago, we told you all about our upcoming trip to take part in the New Holland TinMan Whiskey Lab. Well, the trip is complete, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.
The day started bright and early (very early, given how late we were at the pub the night before!) at 9am. We were greeted by Sean Stark, Pub Distiller and general Wizard of all things spirits at New Holland.
Sean showing us his distillers pose.
Sean started us off with a brief overview of the day, and then set us off to work. Throughout the day, he had us doing stripping runs, proofing, barreling, fermenting, and more. This was hard work – we were on our feet for nearly the full 8 hours, up and down the stairs, lifting and pouring and more. A lot of physical labor and patience go into making the spirits we love to enjoy – more than I imagined. I learned more about whiskey making than I ever thought possible in a single day – Sean was an excellent teacher. He was kind and patient, and his passion for his craft came through loud and clear. When I asked him why he chose to become a distiller, he responded,
“Distilling to me is an art, it’s about the process of producing something with your hands in an age where we are becoming more and more reliant on technology to do things for us. It’s an exploration of ourselves, our history, and our foundations. The whole DIY movement screams of self-reliance, self-discovery, and of a desire to reclaim ourselves in spite of technology. We have explored food and beer and the idea of local ingredients, why not distilling?”
Sean is right – we’ve heard similar sentiments expressed by craft brewers and winemakers across the state. They – brewers, winemakers, and distillers – are all artists. It’s what drew us to this world in the first place (well, that and Michigan makes pretty damn good booze!) – you can’t help but feel and taste the passion and love that goes into their work. There’s a satisfaction that comes with putting in the work and seeing your product fully realized and enjoyed by others – we call that heart, and New Holland has tons of it.
Whiskey Tasting
One of the best parts of the day for me was definitely the tasting. We were treated to New Holland spirits a few times throughout the day. First, mixology master Will made us a jalapeno-infused rum punch, a sweet and spicy concoction made with New Holland’s own Freshwater Amber Rum. The cocktail was bright and refreshing, and a great way to start the day, even at 10:30 in the morning!
Our pathetic attempt at fermentation. We have a lot to learn.
After lunch, we sat down to do some serious whiskey tasting. Sean taught us how to taste properly, by taking small sips and letting the whiskey envelope our tongues, hitting each tastebud, before swallowing slowly. This tasting technique allowed the whiskey to play across our full palates, and helped us avoid that burn that whiskey can often result in.
Finally, we wrapped up the day tasting from the barrels and tasting some small batch spirits. These are special projects that Sean has been working on in the pub distillery. They run the gamut – everything from liqueurs to absinthe to cask-strength whiskey. The chocolate and the coffee liqueurs were so good they made us want to get up and dance (that may have happened!), while the cask-strength Zeppelin Bend had me pondering if the bottle would fit in my purse (don’t worry, I didn’t actually steal it).
The highlight of the day was proofing and barreling our very own rye whiskey. This barrel will have to age for at least a year, but you can bet we’ll be back for it once it’s ready!
Our very own barrel of New Holland Rye Whiskey!
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better day, or a better introduction to distilling. When I first heard about the TinMan Whiskey Lab, I knew I wanted to take part, and once I got the invitation, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I had no idea what I was walking into. The day was long and informative and a lot of fun. I think the most solid lesson I walked away with was how hard the distilling process is – this isn’t for the faint of heart or weak of will. You have to be all in physically, mentally and emotionally to go into this business, and you have to possess endless amounts of patience. From the physical labor to the government regulations, if your heart isn’t in it, then you won’t survive.
The TinMan in the Wizard of Oz wished for a heart, and had to go all the way to the Emerald City to get one. For all of us here in Michigan, our Emerald City lies quietly on the west side of the state, and our Man Behind the Curtain is much more benevolent than the one in L. Frank Baum’s masterpiece. The TinMan has been given his heart, and we’re the ones who get reap the rewards.
Oh, and we walked away with a little more than knowledge…
