Essential Whiskey: A Tale of Love, Loss and Redemption
In the beginning, a little brewery named Switchback Brewing Co. started crafting delicious, unexpected and relatable beers. Vermonters decided they had a crush on their flagship Switchback Ale. Vermonters’ love of this beer grew over the years and over time it could be found on draught in watering holes across the land.
Switchback was the tender age of 18 when tragedy struck. A new and scary virus swept across the country and the very same bars and restaurants where Vermonters fell in love with this very special beer had to shutter their doors. Essential workers toiled on despite the risks and stress while thousands of kegs of Switchback, brewed to spread good cheer, languished with no home. And the clock was ticking…
The clever folks at Switchback had an idea - what starts its life as beer but never expires? WHISKEY! They had heard about a little upstart distillery in Middlebury that was known for making delicious and unconventional whiskey and gave them a call. So, instead of flowing down the drain, Switchback flowed into the stills at Appalachian Gap Distillery.
At first, the flow of beer into the stills created an overflow of foam but with the help of FermCap and elbow grease, the partnership was off to the races! With the still full of beer, it was time to step on the gas (renewable natural gas, that is, because App Gap is the country’s first climate neutral certified distillery ;). As temperatures in the stills rose, the ethanol and aromatic oils vaporized, leaving the water, protein and any solids behind, resulting in “low wines” (30-35% ABV).
These “low wines” were distilled again on App Gap’s finishing still where the heads, hearts and tails cuts are made. The “heads” contain small amounts of alcohols like acetone and methanol that are used for cleaning. The “hearts” come off the still at 160 proof / 80% ABV and are as clear as water but with a delicious malty flavor and essences of hops. The “tails” are redistilled and turned into hopped gin (shhh).
But how does this delicious beer whiskey take on that beautiful amber hue and delicate notes of caramel and butterscotch? A white oak barrel, of course! But before we had enough to fill our first barrel, we had to distill 90 kegs (~15,000 cans) of Switchback!
Finally, after about 3.5 years with COVID in the rear view mirror, the whiskey born of this essential partnership between Switchback Brewing and Appalachian Gap Distillery was ready to emerge like a phoenix from the ashes of hundreds of home test kits. And on Switchback’s 21 birthday, Essential Whiskey was unveiled to the world. And there was much rejoicing.
Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey Origin + Production:
Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey is made from Switchback Ale that was stranded at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The beer was distilled in the first weeks of lockdowns and is aged in new oak barrels for at least 3 years.
While the distillation process is not unique, the fact that Switchback beer was distilled by Appalachian Gap Distillery is quite unique and speaks to the collaborative and supportive nature of Vermont's craft food and beverage industry. Furthermore, the hop oils are concentrated during the distillation process making the hop character of this whiskey deliciously prominent.
92 proof / 46% ABV
$79.99 retail
Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey Tasting Notes:
Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey has a floral, citrusy aroma reminiscent of the hops used to make Switchback Ale. This aroma floats on top of notes of butterscotch, caramel and toasted marshmallow derived from the white oak barrel. Classic whiskey flavors are first on the pallet with malty and vanilla flavors giving way to herbaceous, citrusy and floral notes on the finish.
Hop & Stormy Cocktail:
● 3 parts OR 1.5 oz Essential
● 1 part OR 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur
● 1 part OR 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
● 2 part OR 1.0 oz ginger beer
● Garnish with a hop bud!
The “Switchback”
● 1 pint fresh Switchback on draught
● 1 shot of Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey
● ‘nuff said
