You would think with the frigid temperatures this Winter that I would have had all the time in the world to keep this page current!  I think I expended so much energy trying to stay warm that it just didn't happen.  I did spend a few moments this Winter warming my hands by the Potstill--how many people can say that?

Tom was busy, busy, busy and we are looking forward to some really exciting events at the distillery in the next few months. 

Batch #1 is almost gone!  Minotti's in Fairview Park has about 4 cases left...

Batch #2 is aging quite nicely. The barrel is doing its part and the spirit is full and flavorful!  We have been experimenting with an Eau-de-Vie, which is a clear spirit right off the still and cut to proof. Tom has been triple distilling this product. It is quite fruity and has a lovely nose.   It can be used to mixed drinks or even just for sipping after dinner. 

We also burned some maple sugar this Winter.  We had a great batch!  And it was nice to be outside as we were around a fire.  I am going to try the Applejack Rabbit that Joe Deluca suggested on our Facebook page: Maple Syrup, Applejack, Orange Juice and Lemon Juice....

Here's hoping for warmer weather so we can return to the exterior world comfortably.  But it sure has been uplifting to see the sun...

Cheers!

Well, 2011 has arrived.  We celebrated Christmas with lots of family and brought in the New Year with great friends.  And the kids went back to school today after a long, but much needed, break. 

I am sure you can imagine what Tom was doing on his days off over the Holiday.  You would be right if you suspect he distilled and distilled and distilled. 

Each fermentation has its own unique quality and we are still testing out various theories or fermentation until we can settle on the best process for our Applejack--part of the fun of being an artisan in this craft!  But we are so excited about the quality of what is has been coming off the stills and being entered into the barrels.  It will be hard to remain patient, but the wood needs time to do its thing.

So, Happy New Year!  Cheers!

Well, it has only been a month since we shipped (or carried!) our 40 cases  to the warehouse in Northeast Ohio. 

We have received lots of love from the community and wonderful compliments....both things that will keep the stills running!

Another thing that will keep the stills running is that we just got word that our stock has been depleted from the warehouse: ZERO inventory!  I am in shock!  And incredibly delighted and humbled. 

The downside to that is that batch #2 is not likely to be ready for another 6-12 months!  We are busy creating the base layer of clear, aromatic applejack for batches 2, 3, 4 and beyond.....but we must be patient with the aging process. 

So, bear with us!  We will keep you posted on the progress--especially regarding the release of Batch #2. 

Cheers!

Tom’s Foolery is in the heart of some of the best apple farms in the world. Our apples come from the south east corner of the great lakes region, stretching from Michigan to New York, which has the perfect conditions for growing apples: plenty of sun, water, and fertile soil left behind by the glaciers.

Many credit Johnny Appleseed, who planted trees here in the late 1700’s, for establishing the area’s apple tradition. While he may have started the tradition, it is the combination of weather and soil in our region give a unique quality to the apples grown here. They taste different from apples grown in France, Chile or even apples from Washington State.

Whether you are making cheese, maple syrup, honey, wine or applejack, soil and weather is where it all starts. We are blessed with weather and soil which give a wonderfully unique, unbelievably tasty quality to our Applejack.
 

October 22, 2010

The last few weeks have been quite busy in the distillery.  Tom has been fermenting new batches of cider and we have a lot of distilling to do this weekend!

Batch 1 is almost on its way to your house!  We have been filling bottles, corking bottles, waxing bottles, and labeling bottles. It has been quite an arduous process as we are doing it all by hand. 

First we need to air out the bottles

Then we fill them.  Once they are full, we place our bartoppers securely in the bottles and then wrap the tape so you will be able to open the bottle and enjoy the fine libation inside...

We thought the bottles looked so beautiful--and they weren't even done!

Now they are ready for the gorgeous red covering that will top them off!

Well, we thought they looked pretty lovely.  But let me tell you, working with wax proved  more difficult that we thought!  We had some pretty funky looking tops and we decided to keep them all. Well, maybe not ALL of them....

But we did keep most.  I wonder if you'll find one on your local Liquor Store shelf????

Once we got the waxing a little more consistent, we labeled the bottles and placed them in their boxes. 

Wouldn't you know that the extra topping of wax made the bottles just a titch too high to fit in the boxes! 

So, new boxes are being made as we speak and the delivery to the warehouse will be on the 29th of October!

November will be the month, Applejack is definitely the drink.......I have my glass ready....I hope you do, too!

I spent some time going through old photos today from the birth of the distillery.  Wow, how she has grown! And changed!  And what character she possesses--an independent little lady who has grabbed her daddy by the heartstrings.  His dream come true. 

Here is a photo of our first set up with the original prohibition still:

We soon learned that this was not going to be anywhere near a large enough capacity, even for our small batch production.

I often refer to Tom as Mcgyver.  I had no idea he had such skills!  Welding, soldering, designing--pretty much everything.  He has done the majority of the work on the stills, condensers, reflux columns, worms and parrots himself.  He has found a way to problem solve and marry the old technology with the new.  It took more than a few tries with some items, but he has become quite proficient with his skills...well, except the cleaning part.

We have gorgeous crabapple trees around the distillery and we utilize their fruits in our process when we can. 

And then we have the new stills.....

our original prohibition pot still is in permanent retirement.

And here is why we are not so much looking forward to the coming winter:
 

I hope we have a LONG and beautiful Fall filled with apples, apples, apples...I can almost hear the bubbling yeast as the cider ferments out.  I can see golden juice going in the pot, heat churning molecules until they let themselves go to meet their destiny on the other end of the copper. The sweet-dry fluid becomes crystal clear, ready to receive the color and flavors of their wooden beds...the angels are waiting. We are waiting.  Maybe even the world is waiting.

Tom had a great day today with the State presentation: our Applejack is approved!!!!

We were hoping for "special order" status, and we got it!  This means that our cases will be stored in the State Warehouse until State Store owners call up and order a case!  That is great for us as we are truly small batch artisans!

And that means we are closer and closer to reaching YOUR palate!!!!  You know you are getting thirsty just thinking about it......

While Tom was in Columbus, he also took the opportunity to meet with the guys at Middle West Spirits.  They are running a micro-distillery crafting Vodka from locally grown wheat.  Very nice guys, very good product.

Check out their website sometime: http://www.middlewestspirits.com/

Cheers

p> What a gorgeous weekend we just had!  I am not looking forward to the coming Winter, but I LOVE the Fall!!!  And the apples are here: from the really local golden delicious from Poppy's house to the luscious yellow and red crabapples growing in our yard, and everything in between.

Well, as the Plant Manager of this little venture, I guess I am the one who will be keeping you all posted on the goings-on at Tomsfoolery.  So far, things are moving in the forward direction, but they are also taking so much longer than we had originally planned.

This has been a GOOD thing.  The extra time has taught us that we need to be patient: let the wood do its job and impart the qualities we really want in our Applejack. 

We are getting close to our listing presentation with the State of Ohio, which puts us closer to market time!  We are so excited to share this truly American Spirit and help to re-introduce it to distilled spirits connoisseurs.  We have been using very traditional techniques and have not added anything to our product.  No sugar, no caramel, no color.  Just Ohio apples, cold fermented until dry.  Then carefully stripped to the delicious heart through a double distillation. Once placed into the oak barrels ,the liquid is slowly infused by the flavors of the wood and colored with the amber signs of aging. 

It is like heaven to wander in to the Rack House and smell the angel's share--we think they are pleased with our efforts!  We hope you will be, too.

This page is devoted to following our journey into Sour Mash Bourbon.