Seacrets distillery to open spring 2016

Well, the secret's out.

Ocean City’s largest restaurant, bar and nightclub is going to get even bigger.

On Monday, Oct. 26, owner Leighton Moore officially broke ground on the construction of Ocean City’s first on-site distillery, to be located on 49th Street, next to Seacrets’ Morley Hall nightclub and concert space.

The proposed 12,000-square-foot structure will house the production of Seacrets' own line of craft spirits, which currently includes blood orange vodka, spiced rum, coconut rum, white rum, vodka and gin.

The spirits line has been distilled at Delaware Distilling Company in Rehoboth Beach since May 2014.

“We just can’t keep it on the shelves,” Moore said. “And Delaware can’t make it any faster. That’s why we're making a larger facility, on site, able to match demands and exceed our future needs.”

After legislation for the distillery was signed by Gov. Larry Hogan this spring, Moore received state permission to produce up to 100,000 gallons of alcohol per year of which 15,500 gallons can be sold on Seacrets' property. Moore plans to sell the rest to local distributors.

In addition to hand crafted spirits, the Seacrets distillery will create numerous jobs in Ocean City as well as act as a large attraction for the town, Moore said.

"It will be unlike any other distillery," he said. "It will be reason enough to visit Ocean City."

The distillery will resemble an early 20th century industrial facility, with exposed brick, steel beams and large windows that will allow passersby to see the liquor tanks in action. Moore and his design team plan to give it a prohibition-era feel.

Distilling operations will take place on the first floor, equipped with a mashing tank, five fermentation tanks and stills. The three-story structure will also feature a tasting room, a small gift shop and a climate controlled grain storage area. Moore hopes to expand the spirits line with the opening of the facility.

Daily public tours of the distillery are planned, some of which Moore hopes to lead himself.

“A tour of the facility will be a unique, one-of-a-kind experience," Moore said. "After all, it will have to live up to the Seacrets name."

Construction is expected to be complete by May 2016.

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