Dogfish Head to build new Milton distillery

• Spirits will be distributed throughout Delaware, New York City and in other mid-Atlantic markets.
• The operation will feature a twin 500-gallon copper still.
• A 26-foot column still from Louisville's Vendome Copper & Brass Works will also be used.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery will build a new distillery on its Milton campus.

Distilling at Dogfish Head started in 2002 and has taken place in a small area on the second floor of its Rehoboth Beach brewpub. Rum, vodka and gin have been sold out of the pub and at select Delaware retailers.

The Milton distilling operation will feature a twin 500-gallon copper still and a 26-foot column still from Louisville's Vendome Copper & Brass Works. It will be based in the brewery's original warehouse, which was previously home to bottling operations and beer storage, according to Justin Williams, the brewery's off-centered storyteller. Bottling and storage moved to a new warehouse as part of the brewery's recent $52 million expansion.

The announcement was made Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The Milton distillery is expected to be completed by spring 2015 and spirits will be distributed throughout Delaware, New York City and in other mid-Atlantic markets. It will be led by head distiller Graham Hamblett, an award-winning horticulturalist who joined Dogfish in January.

"I am ecstatic to be part of the new chapter in the book of Dogfish Head's spirits," Hamblett said in a news release. "It is an honor and thrill to embrace the off-centeredness that Dogfish is so well-recognized for, and I'm eager to get this program up and running."

When the Milton operation is completed, the brewpub distillery will be used for testing new spirits and creating brewpub exclusive beverages.

jbleiweis@dmg.gannett.com

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