I only discovered the tasting room at Westport Whiskey and Wine last summer, and along with it I discovered some great events and good friends. There are many different kinds of events held there, but I go for the bourbon events. That’s where I got started with the Kentucky Whisky Chicks during last year’s Kentucky Sampler, and that’s where I will be this Saturday for the Team Bourbon Book Signing Fundraiser for Silver Trail Distillery.
Last night I had the opportunity to meet Mary Beth Tomaszewski, co-founder of MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, Kentucky. MB Roland is a grain to bottle craft distillery that makes a wide range of products, from Kentucky Pink Lemonade to a very young but interesting bourbon with a beautiful nose. Perhaps the most interesting product in last night’s lineup was the “Black Dog” whiskey, a quasi-white dog product made with smoked corn. I was immediately intrigued by this product when Mary Beth began talking about “barn smoking,” because it’s the same process that makes one of my favorite lines of cigars- the Kentucky Fire Cured MUWAT by Drew Estate. The corn is smoked by a similar process as fire cured tobacco- it’s put in a barn with smoldering charcoal covered in sawdust for three days. The end product is smoky like a peated scotch. Look for a barrel aged version in several years.
It’s always nice learning about smaller distilleries, because there’s just not a lot of information out there about them. Perhaps the best story Mary Beth told was of how the distillery got its name. Her husband came to her and said he wanted to name it after her- MB for Mary Beth and Roland for her maiden name. She was initially blown away by his kind gesture until he added that no one would know how to say “Tomaszewski.”
Tours of the distillery are available Monday-Saturday from 10-5 Central time and are free to the public. As always, I recommend calling ahead for any tours.
There will also be an Old Fashioned cocktail class with Joy Perrine at Westport Whiskey and Wine Mon, June 15, 7:00pm – 8:30pm. Click here to view the events calendar.
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
