Great 48 Tour Stop 15: Maryland's Veteran Owned Meinelschmidt Distillery in Hagarstown

04/21/25 • 28 min

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The Whiskey Lore® Podcast (Whiskey Flights)

Meinelschmidt Distillery (Hagarstown, MD) WF0053

Time for another Mid-Atlantic stop, this one not far off the I-81 exit. We're stopping in to visit a military veteran who, along with his wife, decided to take their enjoyment of craft distillery travel and turn it into their own distillery.

We'll learn Cort and Chelsea's inspirations for their Hagarstown distillery, hear about the growth of the town, their interest in wheated whiskeys, and hear the story of how the two met.

And, now Whiskey Lore's travel guide features over 900 distilleries worldwide, so if you're thinking about traveling this summer, make sure to put a craft distillery or two on your agenda. You can find it at whiskey-lore.com/travel

Meinelschmidt Distillery (Hagarstown, MD) WF0053

We'll learn Cort and Chelsea's inspirations for their Hagarstown distillery, hear about the growth of the town, their interest in wheated whiskeys, and hear the story of how the two met.

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Great 48 Tour Stop 14: Virginia's Copper Fox Distillery Home of Wood Smoked Malts From Their Own Malting Floor

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Copper Fox Distillery (Sperryville, VA) WF0052

You've heard of peat smoked Scotch...well, that's not what you're going to get at Copper Fox. Instead, the grains from the distillery's malting floor get their smoke infused with smoke from cherrywood, peachwood, and applewood.

It's a unique take on smoke and it comes from distiller and founder Rick Wasmund's fascination with the wonderful scents these woods produce when burned.

Join me as I visit one of the few malting floors in the country and learn which legendary Scotch distiller taught Rick the art of malting.

And make sure to check out this and other distilleries in Virginia by heading to whiskey-lore.com/virginia. Make sure to put your favorites on your Whiskey Lore Wish List - for members only - but membership is free.

And for an extended version of this episode, become a member of the Whiskey Lore Speakeasy at patreon.com/whiskeylore

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Great 48 Tour Stop 16: Pennsylvania's Dad's Hat Where The Rye Revival Continues

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Dad's Hat Distillery (Bristol, PA) WF0054

Been a long time since I've been in eastern Pennsylvania and I have good reason to be here now. I'm taking part in a Pennsylvania whiskey documentary AND I'm getting to enjoy some fantastic distillery visits. This week, it is the place where the Pennsylvania rye revival took off...thanks to a magazine article and a wonderful wife who supplied her husband with the best rye whiskies available at that time.

We'll hear the story of Herman Mihalich, co-founder of Dad's Hat Distillery, find out what got him interested in making rye whiskey in a world where it was barely breathing, and the legendary farm that helps him grow his grain. And patreon.com/whiskeylore fans will get an extra segment as we chat about Rosen Rye (get a free 7-day trial to the Speakeasy to check it out)

It's a fun conversation with a little reminiscing on my part as I make my way to the distillery.

Cheers and slainte mhath! Drew