We rarely take a trip to Maine without a stop at a distillery or brewery. Split Rock Distilling, in Newcastle, has become a must-stop for us over the past year and I’ve finally gotten my act together enough to share about it with you.
We first visited Newcastle’s Split Rock Distilling in August with my parents. It was a great experience – all the products are organic, the tasting room and staff are lovely and the atmosphere is great. We all purchased drinks and spent a lovely part of our afternoon sitting at the outdoor picnic tables. Brian took advantage of the hamburgers being sold by Riverside Butcher in Damariscotta at the tent outside while we chatted and people watched.
Split Rock keeps their specialty cocktail menu seasonal, which made it especially fun to return when we were back in the area for Thanksgiving. In August, my mom and I had a Hot Rock in the Summer – blueberry vodka, lemonade, flower bitters and simple syrup. Brian enjoyed a flight of 3 Split Rock samples. My Dad drank a Bloody Mary, made with their Horseradish Vodka and Waldo Farm Bloody Mary Mix.
Our November visiting was shorter and kept us inside, but it was still worth the trip. As expected, business at Split Rock was much slower than in the summer (with no food available outdoors), so we got to know the staff person while sipped our beverages. The fall-inspired drinks sounded just as delicious as the summer ones. I enjoyed a Red Barn – Horseradish Vodka with unsweetened cranberry juice and simple syrup. Brian drank a Barrel Rested Gin & Maple Syrup, which also featured coffee bitters and muddled orange.
I can’t go into a gift shop without looking at every single items and Split Rock Distilling is no exception. In addition to the whiskeys, gins, and vodkas, there is an assortment of Split Rock branded items including pint glasses, shot glasses, koozies, and water bottles. There are also bitters and mixers. Bitters have been especially interesting to me lately and we left with a bottle of Garam Masala Bitters from Portland-based Coastal Root.
The flavor of all of Split Rocks products, in addition to the quality of their specialty cocktails, makes it an excellent visit. If you find yourself in Midcoast Maine, stop by Split Rock Distillery. I know we’ll be back!
