PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Craft Distilling (MCD), the small batch, farm to flask craft distiller in East Bayside Portland, celebrates its one-year anniversary this month. In less than 12 months, MCD has become a well-regarded creator of seven unique spirits ranging from traditional vodka and dry gin to Chesuncook a botanical spirit using a carrot distillate. Its first batch of Fifty Stone single malt whiskey has completely sold out. According to Distillery Manager and Owner Luke Davidson, MCD’s second batch should be available for the winter holidays. “We’ve now run a number of batches of Maine grown barley through our floor malting process and new kiln. We think our customers will be just as enthusiastic about Fifty Stone in its second iteration as they were about the first.”
Davidson, who hails from Jefferson, ME, is committed to supporting Maine’s farms and businesses. “We are working with a local cooper and have our first batch of barrel aged Ration Rum in a Maine-made barrel. This may be the first such barrel made in Maine in over 100 years. The maple syrup used in Queequeg Spiced Rum and Blueshine Blueberry Moonshine is definitely from Maine—and of course, Blueshine’s blueberries are too.”
The company has significant support in Maine—all but two of its investors reside here.
MCD’s spirits are currently available to all Maine agency liquor stores. MCD is also exploring expansion opportunities in Massachusetts and Quebec. Over the course of the last 12 months, the MCD team has grown from just Davidson to adding two full-time and four part-time employees. This summer, MCD is open to the public for tastings and tours Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (tours at 4 p.m.), Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (tour at 4 p.m.), and Fridayand Saturday noon to 6 p.m. (tours at 2 p.m.).