MB Roland distillery?

[bourbon-n00b]

Just read about these guys on Spirits Journal.

http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com/klwinescom-spirits-blog/2011/2/16/wacky-wednesday-tastings.html

Then I had to laugh because Val pulled out this set of products from the new, craft Kentucky distillery called MB Roland. They make some interesting spirits and when I saw the baked apple pie whiskey I just started laughing, thinking he can't be serious! But he was, and MAN! is that stuff good. It's like the Godiva chocolate vodka where if you act like you don't like it, you're obviously lying. Just admit that it's actually delicious! Here are my notes for the products I'll be bringing in:

MB Roland Distillery Apple Pie Kentucky Shine 375ml 16.99 - Made of corn and sugar cane distillate, apple cider, spices, and brown sugar (nothing synthetic), this is everything the name says it is and everything you hope it will be - baked apple pie flowing creamy smooth over your palate, not too sweet, not overly cloying. There's nothing more I can say other than this product is really really good. It's not something to breakdown flavorwise, or analyze the complexity. It's meant to drink as a dessert and to have fun with. If you let your guard down, you're in for a very tasty time.

MB Roland Distillery Black Dog Kentucky Corn Whiskey 375ml $19.99 - The white corn distillate from a small Kentucky distillery is made by roasting the white corn in a miniature tobacco barn, giving it smoky and spice flavor similar to an Islay-style whisky. Lots of toasty, earthy, concentrated flavor and very interesting. Great for sipping or for exotic cocktails.

MB Roland Distillery Kentucky Lemonade 375ml $16.99 - An all natural hard lemonade made from a sugar cane and corn distillate base with only lemon juice and sugar added to give it flavor. This is super high end stuff and packs a punch at 22% alcohol but you'd never know it. Watch out because this is a super party in a bottle that can really wallop an unsuspecting drinker!

MB Roland Distillery White Dog Kentucky Corn Whiskey 375ml $15.99 - Delicious corn white whiskey from all locally grown Kentucky white corn. Flavorful and more interesting than the standard white whiskies on the domestic market. Fun for sipping or for cocktail mixing. Can't wait until they start aging it!

And here is the distillery website:

http://mbrdistillery.com/default.aspx

Anyone know anything about this or maybe tried any of their products?

[DeanSheen]

Know nothing about the distillery but on the TV show Justified last night, which is based in KY, an underground shine maker was getting people to taste her apple pie shine.

I had never heard of that.

"Apple Pie Kentucky Shine"

[CaptainQ]

The Party Source carries a few of their products.

[bourbon-n00b]

The Party Source carries a few of their products.

Oh really? I just may have to explore this a little further...thanks!

[squire]

Seem genuine from the website, It just makes sense to first provide mixing whisky.

[cowdery]

Here's the link to what Jay wrote about them on the Party Source web site. I have a lot of respect for both Jay Erisman at Party Source and David Driscoll at K&L and I have had a little bit of contact with Paul Tomaszewski and his wife. I seem to recall seeing something about them in the Louisville paper or someplace like that. I have not tasted any of their products but they're a real microdistillery, not a Potemkin. I can verify that.

[callmeox]

These guys were at one of the tasting sessions at Liquor World during the festival last year. I tasted the black dog and white dog and my only recollection is that they gave me heartburn just like 99% of the other unaged whiskey that I have sampled.

[kickert]

Here's the link to what Jay wrote about them on the Party Source web site. I have a lot of respect for both Jay Erisman at Party Source and David Driscoll at K&L and I have had a little bit of contact with Paul Tomaszewski and his wife. I seem to recall seeing something about them in the Louisville paper or someplace like that. I have not tasted any of their products but they're a real microdistillery, not a Potemkin. I can verify that.

[squire]

And they are between here and the sampler, hmm.

[Lost Pollito]

Paul was in the store last week. Real nice guy, and solid juice IMO. Can't wait to taste some of the aged stuff.:grin:

[PaulT]

Thanks much for the positive remarks, I definitely take them as compliments considering the audience. Although I have gained a substantial appreciation for our white dog/black dog whiskies, I (like most of you) do get more excited about the aged products. Here's a quick rundown on our current projects, and the usual suspects (Party Source, Binny's, K&L, etc.) will be the first to get some once we begin distributing them:

Bourbon - made with white corn and some rye (sorry for you wheaters, but I like some spice in my bourbon).

Malt - A "backwards bourbon," basically our bourbon mash bill, corn and malt flipped, still aged in new, charred oak.

Black Patch - my personal favorite, think American Scotch (if that's not a contradiction!), but no peat. It's the Black Dog aged in well-used barrels, providing a wonderful balance of the smoke and some not-too strong honey influences from the oak. We did a "Black Dog Bourbon," but it was a bit too much competition between the smoke and the new, charred oak imho.

Barrel Aged Kentucky Shine - this is the "moonshine" aged in used bourbon barrels, so it's technically not a whiskey as we use sugar in the mash. Locals around here call it "Christmas Whiskey." The nose is of apple peels and cotton candy... still waiting on the feds to approve the particulars before we can sell it.

Finally, for those who are in the area, come by the distillery and have a taste, we are a pretty simple operation and it's mainly me and the wife running things. We are doing a tasting at The Party Source on 4 March with Andrew Webber from Corsair, should be a good time and I'm hoping to bring by some aged product to sample.

[PaulT]

Thanks much for the positive remarks, I definitely take them as compliments considering the audience. Although I have gained a substantial appreciation for our white dog/black dog whiskies, I (like most of you) do get more excited about the aged products. Here's a quick rundown on our current projects, and the usual suspects (Party Source, Binny's, K&L, etc.) will be the first to get some once we begin distributing them:

Bourbon - made with white corn and some rye (sorry for you wheaters, but I like some spice in my bourbon).

Malt - A "backwards bourbon," basically our bourbon mash bill, corn and malt flipped, still aged in new, charred oak.

Black Patch - my personal favorite, think American Scotch (if that's not a contradiction!), but no peat. It's the Black Dog aged in well-used barrels, providing a wonderful balance of the smoke and some not-too strong honey influences from the oak. We did a "Black Dog Bourbon," but it was a bit too much competition between the smoke and the new, charred oak imho.

Barrel Aged Kentucky Shine - this is the "moonshine" aged in used bourbon barrels, so it's technically not a whiskey as we use sugar in the mash. Locals around here call it "Christmas Whiskey." The nose is of apple peels and cotton candy... still waiting on the feds to approve the particulars before we can sell it.

Finally, for those who are in the area, come by the distillery and have a taste, we are a pretty simple operation and it's mainly me and the wife running things. We are doing a tasting at The Party Source on 4 March with Andrew Webber from Corsair, should be a good time and I'm hoping to bring by some aged product to sample.

[nblair]

Thanks for stopping by and giving us the scoop, Paul! I was in Hopkinsville for work last month and did not learn about MBR until the week after. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll have to stop in. Best of luck and welcome to the board!

[Inthewater]

Sounds awesome, Paul.

I know we're always happy here to have distillers drop by for inside info.

[p_elliott]

Thanks much for the positive remarks, I definitely take them as compliments considering the audience. Although I have gained a substantial appreciation for our white dog/black dog whiskies, I (like most of you) do get more excited about the aged products. Here's a quick rundown on our current projects, and the usual suspects (Party Source, Binny's, K&L, etc.) will be the first to get some once we begin distributing them:

Bourbon - made with white corn and some rye (sorry for you wheaters, but I like some spice in my bourbon).

Malt - A "backwards bourbon," basically our bourbon mash bill, corn and malt flipped, still aged in new, charred oak.

Black Patch - my personal favorite, think American Scotch (if that's not a contradiction!), but no peat. It's the Black Dog aged in well-used barrels, providing a wonderful balance of the smoke and some not-too strong honey influences from the oak. We did a "Black Dog Bourbon," but it was a bit too much competition between the smoke and the new, charred oak imho.

Barrel Aged Kentucky Shine - this is the "moonshine" aged in used bourbon barrels, so it's technically not a whiskey as we use sugar in the mash. Locals around here call it "Christmas Whiskey." The nose is of apple peels and cotton candy... still waiting on the feds to approve the particulars before we can sell it.

Finally, for those who are in the area, come by the distillery and have a taste, we are a pretty simple operation and it's mainly me and the wife running things. We are doing a tasting at The Party Source on 4 March with Andrew Webber from Corsair, should be a good time and I'm hoping to bring by some aged product to sample.

[tmckenzie]

I have been in contact with paul and can say they are truly what a craft distillery should be, and are on the right track.

[squire]

Welcome aboard Paul, both your presence and input are appreciated.

[kyrocklover]

Thanks for the feedback. The "Black Patch" sounds very interesting.

[jburlowski]

What I like about MBR and the few tastes I've had of their products is that they are trying different things... not just producing under-aged, "me-too" products. I'm looking forward to meeting Paul and tasting more of his wares at the PS tasting on 3/4.

[Josh]

Thanks for posting, Paul! Keep up the good work and I look forward to tasting your stuff!