Durham's Second Liquor Producer Launches Product

Durham continues to grow as a major US food destination, and two entrepreneurs have chosen it to launch Mystic Bourbon Liqueur, a new specialty beverage company here. Mystic is second only to The Brother's Vilgalys who make Krupnikas in Durham.

Mystic began as a way for company founders Jonathan Blitz and Michael Sinclair to pursue their passion for fine spirits. “We both love bourbon,” said Blitz. Sinclair, a former professional brewer, had discovered a unique and easy-to-drink Scotch liqueur when he was tracing his family’s roots on the coast of Scotland.

The pair decided to bring a version of the product to market. With his wife, Sinclair refined the recipe instead using American bourbon whiskey, and incorporating more exotic botanicals.  “I knew they had created something really special, and I immediately wanted to share it with everyone,” Blitz said of his first taste of the result.

Blitz and Sinclair, who named their venture Barrister & Brewer after their professions, knew they needed help to get the business rolling. Luckily, they found a friend and mentor in Rimas Vilgalys at The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company in Durham. Vilgalys had a licensed facility, experience in obtaining approvals for the formulation and labeling of a new liquor, and he was happy to help. “Durham has been a great place for me to get started, so I wanted to pay that forward and help get Mystic off the ground,” Vilgalys said.

"Durham is such a vibrant start up community, and its food scene is just about the worst kept secret on earth," said Sam Poley, a retired chef who works for Durham's marketing agency. "Food entrepreneurs find a pretty welcoming crowd in Durham," Poley added.

Blitz and Sinclair have been humbled by the reception Triangle-wide, but apparently Durham has given them an exceptional welcome. "Frankly, we're kind of blown away by the reception in Durham. AlI I have to do is go into a restaurant and tell them I have a new, locally-made spirit, and they make a few minutes to speak with me. They are also usually willing to work with us to arrange a tasting so their customers can try it, too. That doesn't happen everywhere. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and helpful," Blitz said.

Blitz and Sinclair got their recipe federally approved, and the North Carolina ABC Commission indicated an interest in carrying the product in the state warehouse.  “We’re working full-time to keep the ABC Stores in the Triangle stocked,” said Sinclair.  The two are already working on approval for interstate sales, as well. “Now we’re working on building and audience by getting people to try it. We’d love for people to contact us on our Facebook page to give us ideas,” Blitz said.  The company’s Facebook page will be where they announce tasting events, too. The product is currently available in Durham, Franklin, Onslow, Orange and some Wake county ABC stores.

“It’s amazing how willing people are to try something new and local, and how fast their friends become customers as well,” Blitz added.  “We feel really lucky that people are enjoying the product. We’re going to make sure that we keep the same quality in every bottle.”

Check out the Durham Stuff website for other products made in Durham - a site on which Mystic will appear soon.

Krupnikas! A Durham-Made Spiced Honey Liqueur comes to Durham ABC Stores on Thursday

The Brothers Vilgalys Krupnikas, a widely-anticipated spiced honey liqueur made by Durham's first legal distilled spirits plant, will debut on Durham County ABC shelves this Thursday, the 17th of January. This timing is especially important given that Durham is currently vying for the top spot in Southern Living's Tastiest Town in the South promotion in which Durham was named a top ten contender alongside powerhouse destinations like Charleston, Miami, and New Orleans.

The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company was started by Rimas Vilgalys, a Lithuanian-American and Durham native. Vilgalys started with a homemade recipe that he and his father had been making for friends and family for years. Inspired by the popularity of the liqueur at parties, as well as the strong support for locally owned businesses in Durham, Vilgalys began researching and writing a business plan in 2011. In April 2012, he leased a commercial space on Ramseur St and began the process of applying for permits, buying equipment, and setting up a space to blend the drink.

To fund the project, Vilgalys used money he'd inherited, and also started the Brothers Vilgalys Founder's Club, selling lifetime club memberships to friends, family, and community members who wanted to support the project. At the time of this writing, the Founder's Club has sold 125 memberships.

"The Founder's Club really embodies my reasons for starting this company," says Vilgalys. "When I started making Krupnikas, I just wanted to make something delicious and share it with my friends. And after the first batch, it seems like people just kept asking where they could get more."

Brothers Vilgalys Krupnikas, which is already on shelves in some Wake and Orange County ABC stores, is made from a recipe using whole spices, North Carolina wildflower honey, and a neutral spirit base distilled from corn. Vilgalys has started out purchasing the alcohol from a supplier, but hopes to transition to distilling his own spirits in the future.

"The truth is the equipment for a full distillery is just too expensive right now," says Vilgalys. "But sourcing everything locally is an important priority to me. As we expand, I'm hoping to start distilling our own alcohol and also run everything on sustainable energy. I'm particularly interested in a technology called wood-gasification, which would let us turn timber residues like sawdust or wood chips into clean-burning, locally sourced, and fossil-fuel free energy."

The drink itself is described by Vilgalys as a smooth sipping liqueur that is very tasty on its own, or can be mixed in many different cocktails. It starts out with a sweet honey taste, and finishes with a pleasantly spicy warmth along with a lasting flavor. Some of the stronger spices include cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and star anise, but with 16 different botanicals used, the drink has a very layered taste without any single spice dominating the pallette.

"Compared to other honey spirits, our drink has more complexity and depth to its flavor," notes Vilgalys. "Other honey spirits use clover or agave honey, which is cheaper, but not as flavorful. We don't compromise on any part of this spirit. I use only whole spices and raw wildflower honey. Even the commercial brands of Krupnikas in Lithuania and Poland don't do that."

The Brothers Vilgalys Krupnikas retails at $29.95 for a 750 ml bottle. The product is 40% alcohol by volume, and should always be enjoyed responsibly. More information, including a directory of liquor stores, bars, and restaurants carrying the product are available on their website. News and updates related to the product are published on their Facebook and Twitter (@BrosVilgalys).

"I really think this is a great drink that almost any adult can enjoy," concludes Vilgalys. "Whether you usually drink spirits, beer, wine, or cocktails, this is something accessible and pleasing to almost anyone. It's great to bring to parties or give as a gift. I wouldn't say it's only for special occasions, but it would make any occasion a special one."

Learn more about Durham-made goods online.

A Distillery in Durham

It's true that Durham is where great things happen. Great food, great beer, great art, and so many more things that the list could get obnoxiously long. However, one thing that Durham does not have is great liquor. Yet.

Domino, meet finger.

Coming soon, The Brothers Vilgalys Baltic-Style Spirits will be bottling a product called krupnikas, a Lithuanian honey and spice liquor. While there are many variations of this in the world, Rimas Vilgalys thinks his balanced and complex rendition will be popular when folks get to taste it. "There's a lot to like in this drink -- it's strong, but also very sweet and smooth going down, without any alcohol 'bite' to speak of. After a sip, the spices come to life and linger as the drink leaves a gentle and warm burn behind. It has enough complexity, sweetness, and smoothness that almost anyone can enjoy it," he says.

Still in the early stages of development, but at least now with a home on Ramseur Street to begin producing this beverage, the company is still procuring permits (they're close, Vilgalys says) and has a great vision that puts the company well in line with Durham's values. Local sourcing, sustainability at every turn, and carbon neutrality are all part of the grand scheme.

Durham is just the right place to launch this business, according to Vilgalys. "I really think that Durham is the perfect place for Brothers Vilgalys. I've been very impressed with how much the downtown area has changed since growing up here. The atmosphere in Durham is hugely supportive towards small start-ups like this, and there's a lot of success stories that I draw inspiration from. The Durham business owners I've spoken to have been enormously helpful and supportive, as have the local officials that I've dealt with so far."

Until they start making their own alcohol, they won't technically be a distillery, but that will hopefully come soon, according to Vilgaly.  To help with funding, the company has formed the Founders Club for those who want to support the effort monetarily.  Another form of support is the interest and ear of the public.  To that end, in addition the website, they have a blog and a Facebook page whereon updates will be placed.

12/9/12 UPDATE:  This product is close to launch and is only waiting on it's label approval.  Rimas Vilgalys posted this video today of the company's new bottling machine at work.