The Commissioners of St. Michaels passed an ordinance last evening allowing distilleries in the St. Michaels historic redevelopment zone, opening the door for Ben Lyon to open a boutique distillery later this spring in the historic Mill complex on Talbot St. The Lyon Distilling Company will be located in the rear portion of the Mill complex (previously occupied by the St. Michaels Winery), and will include a tasting room.
Lyon hopes to open in time for Wine Fest weekend, April 27 – 28. He intends to bring back Maryland rye whiskey, as well as produce small batches of vodkas, whiskeys, rum, and eventually gin.
A growing trend, some 250 craft distilleries have emerged across the country in recent years, and are part of a resurgence of small producers, family farms, handmade and local products. According to Lyon, small-scale distillers are major innovators – the scale allows owners to be hands on in every part of the business, and small batches allow for creative inventions. Supporting even more small businesses such as equipment fabricators and farmers, Lyon plans to close the loop with his products, from purchasing to recycling his waste products locally.
Lyon gained experience in distilling at a craft brewery and distillery in Nantucket; he was also a New York lobbyist and public relations professional. He spent the past several weeks touring small distilleries in the southeast and Louisiana, forging relationships and networking with other leaders in this new industry… and tasting, as well.
We can expect to see… and taste, state-of-the-art small-scale spirits in St. Michaels by summer.
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