We named Split Rock Distillery for a dirt road we travel often—the shortcut between our two homes. It’s the only shortcut we’ve ever taken to bring you Maine’s first organic spirits. When we founded Split Rock, we promised ourselves we would handcraft our spirits the right way. That meant the long way: authentic, small batch grain to glass, selling no spirit not our own. We spent evenings and weekends building a distillery and tasting room by hand in an old barn on historic Route One. We sourced organic grains and fruits from the fields of farmers we count as friends. We demanded organic sugars and drew waters so pure locals still harvest winter ice. We refined our fermentations again and again to showcase the unique signatures of our still. And through it all, we gathered knowledge, inspiration, a helping hand and an honest opinion from other distillers, family and friends, and every stranger fairly met. There is a real split rock on Split Rock Road and we still drive past it almost every day—a rough plug of granite, cracked open long ago by time or skill (or a little of both) to reveal an unexpected smoothness within. That is the spirit of Split Rock. —MATT AND TOPHER
Split Rock Horseradish Vodka Cocktails
Red Barn
1.5 oz of Split Rock Distilling Horseradish Vodka
¾ oz unsweetened cranberry juice
¾ oz honey syrup (1 part honey, 1 part water)
Shake until shaker frosts up
Horseradish Basil
2 oz Split Rock Horseradish Vodka
¾ oz simple syrup
¾ oz lemon juice
Basil (6 leaves)
Cucumber (⅓ of a cucumber, 2 tbsp)
Chill glass
Muddle all ingredients, Shake with ice, Strain twice