Farm to Barrel: Bringing the Flavors of the Northern Terroir to Whiskey
It’s a tale as old as time: two old friends (a local farmer and an experienced brewer) get to talking about their passions over a couple beers. By the end of the night, they’ve decided to set off on a new business venture, soon to be known as Black Frost Distilling.
When we began discussing this project, one of the areas we both agreed upon was bringing the taste of the north to the whiskey and bourbon world. Many are familiar with Kentucky whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and even Scottish and Irish whiskeys. It’s time to bring the flavors of the Midwest to the mix. This all starts with, you guessed it, the ingredients. Over the last six months, we’ve been planting the base ingredients that will put our spirits on the map.
Planting began last fall, as we got our winter crops in the ground (what’s more northern than that?) With the help of the University of Minnesota, we chose to plant a new red winter wheat called "Winner," and an older Polish rye bread variety called "Danko." Both are well suited to grow in our unique climate and offer distinct qualities that will contribute to the unique flavor profile of our whiskies.
This spring, we took to the fields again and began sowing seeds for our two-rowed Pinnacle barley. A North Dakota variety, we chose this barley for its ability to grow in a warmer, wetter climate like Southern Minnesota. This crop will be ready for harvest at the end of July and will be used to develop our base malt along with some of our specialty malts.
Given our location in the heart of the Corn Belt, it was natural to plant our own corn to utilize in our bourbons. Corn is a key ingredient for bourbon makers, considering that in order for a whiskey to be considered a bourbon, the mash has to be at least 51% corn based. [American Bourbon Association.] Last, but certainly not least, this was the final ingredient to hit the ground this spring.
Taking advantage of these distinct ingredients in every batch, you’ll be able to taste the terroir of the North in each sip. As we complete the final touches at the distillery, we look forward to sharing our story with our guests through our spirits. Follow along with us as we strive to help our region make a name for itself in the whiskey world.
