Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services

WTOP

After getting hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and enduring such a tragic and trying year, business owners in Maryland are hoping for a bright start in 2021 as consumers recover, look to the future and use their dollars to lift up entrepreneurs in their communities.

There are a lot of opportunities for shoppers to make that their New Year’s resolution in Montgomery County, which is home to 19 local breweries, wineries and distilleries.

“Making a New Year’s resolution to shop ‘Maryland Made’ and keeping that money right here in the local community is really quite powerful,” said Melissa Davis, senior marketing officer for Alcohol Beverage Services, the department that is responsible for wholesale distribution of alcohol, operates more than two dozen retail stores that sell alcohol and manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses in Montgomery County.

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Maryland Department of Agriculture via EINPressWire

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The holidays are here! While seasonal celebrations will be smaller this year, it is still a perfect time to include local seafood and farm products on your table. To showcase the best of Maryland’s local bounty, Maryland’s Best will host an exclusive Facebook Live recipe demonstration with Chef John Shields on Tuesday, December 15, at 4 p.m. Follow Maryland’s Best on Facebook.

“This is a holiday season unlike any other, and it is more important than ever that we continue to support the men and women who have worked throughout the pandemic to provide fresh, local food products,” said Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder. “There is plenty of local meat, seafood, dairy products and hardy winter vegetables available for your holiday meal. Visit MarylandsBest.net to find local products near you.”

“It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, not only because of the holidays, but also for fresh Maryland oysters – which are at their best right now,” said Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “While this has been a tough year for many of us, we can support the men and women in our communities who produce and catch our food while celebrating with our families by choosing locally grown and locally caught items this holiday season.”

“Chesapeake cuisine makes Maryland a very special place to be for the holidays,” said Chef John Shields, author of several books on the region’s cuisine. “Think local oysters, Old Bay and fresh veggies, and you can’t go wrong.”

Chef Shields will prepare his recipe for “Maryland Oyster and Baby Kale Pudding” (listed below) during the Facebook Live event hosted by Maryland’s Best. This is a hearty, traditional Maryland holiday recipe for families to try at home this year.

This time of year is peak season for Maryland oysters. Both wild caught and farm raised oysters bring the Chesapeake to your table. Try some oysters on the half shell at home. Check out this shucking tutorial for helpful tips on opening fresh oysters at home.

Visit MarylandsBest.net for more recipes that highlight local agricultural and seafood products, including rockfish, blue catfish, poultry, and fresh local produce.

Looking for local beverages to pair with your meal? Visit Maryland Wineries Association, Brewers Association of Maryland, and Maryland Distillers Guild.

December 14, 2020
Amanda Yeager
Baltimore Business Journal

Josh and Brad Vecchiolla have spent the balance of their culinary careers thus far in fine dining, but their next project will have a decidedly more casual feel.

The brothers are preparing to launch a ghost kitchen selling burgers and fries from the courtyard of Old Line Spirits near Highlandtown. Fuzzies, a concept that hearkens back to the diners and delis they enjoyed growing up, will take up residency at the distillery starting Dec. 19.

“I’ve done the whole white tablecloth thing, and plating up foods with tweezers and things like that,” said Josh, who most recently served as the executive chef at Michael’s Café in Baltimore County. (Brad, meanwhile, worked as the director of operations for the LeBlanc + Smith restaurant group down in New Orleans.) “It’s really fun, and it’s really a style that we’re passionate about, but there’s just something more raw and classic about cooking more casual foods.”

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Members of the Maryland Distillers Guild are participating in this year’s 12 Days of Holiday Spirits Gifting Guide. Each day we’ll announce a new gift idea for the spirits lover in your life!

Check out the 12 Days of Holiday Spirits Gifting Guide here.

Tenth Ward Distilling Company is expanding their product offering to now include ready-to-drink craft cocktails for retail and wholesale purchase.

For Immediate Release

Frederick County, MD (November 2020) Tenth Ward Distilling Company launches new ready-to-drink craft canned cocktails for retail and wholesale purchase.

Tenth Ward Distilling Company has entered the world of ready-to-drink beverages with the release of two new canned cocktails: The Corpse Reviver No. 10 and the Smoked Whiskey Sour. Both flavors will be available for retail purchase at Tenth Ward’s Cocktail Lab located in Downtown Frederick, Maryland and for wholesale purchase to liquor stores and restaurants throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Both the Corpse Reviver No. 10 and Smoked Whiskey Sour started out as popular year-round cocktails on Tenth Ward’s Cocktail Lab menu. “The introduction of canned cocktails could not have come at a better time, when so many people are choosing to stay at home, away from COVID-19 threats, rather than venturing out to bars and restaurants,” said Monica Pearce, Tenth Ward’s founder/owner.

The Corpse Reviver No. 10 is made with Tenth Ward’s double-gold winning Genever Inspired Gin and gold medal winning Absinthe Nouvelle, lemon, chai vanilla bean syrup, and lavender bitters. At 10% ABV, the Corpse Reviver No. 10 boasts soft herbal notes bolstered by balanced notes of vanilla and chai tea. The Smoked Whiskey Sour is made with Tenth Ward’s signature Smoked Corn Whiskey, lemon, honey, ginger and ancient bitters. At 8% ABV, the cocktail is slightly smokey, with a burst of fresh ginger and citrus. Customers can easily pick up a 4-pack of both cocktails at Tenth Ward’s Cocktail Lab located at 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick, Md. or order them on Tenth Ward’s online store for in-store or curbside pickup. 

Alcohol distributor, Legends Ltd., will be managing Tenth Ward’s canned cocktail distribution throughout Maryland and DC. Stores will be able to purchase the cocktails by the case, each case housing six 4-packs.

“This coming spring you can anticipate our massively popular Smoked Jalapeno Margarita and maybe even a seasonal mule or two” said head distiller Mark A. Vierthaler. “We’re looking forward to growing our canned cocktail collection, offering a large variety of flavors showcasing our diverse spirit portfolio.”