ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – In the heart of St. Johnsbury sits a distillery making superior spirits.
“It’s really by sight, smell, taste as well… that we’re producing these spirits,” says Brendan Hughes, co-founder and president of St. Johnsbury Distillery.
He started up this business with his dad, Dan.
“We both love gin and so that was kind of the main brainchild behind everything, kind of making our own gin,” Brendan Hughes says.
At one point, Brendan had his sights set on dental school, but swapped that dream for the desire to open a family business in his hometown.
“We really wanted to help out the economics in the area, create jobs and opportunities for people to live and thrive here in the Northeast Kingdom,” says Hughes.
After graduating with his undergraduate degree, he knew a lot about biology, but not much about making booze.
“So we reached out to this fella by the name of Duncan Holaday, who is actually one of two people who were [inducted] into the hall of fame of distilling. And it just so happened he was right here in our backyard,” says Hughes.
Holaday owned Dunc’s Mill in nearby Barnet, one of the oldest distilleries in Vermont. But, after offering tips and tricks on how to get started, Holaday also offered to sell the duo his business.
“So we’ve grown it into what it is today, right here in the center of St. Johnsbury,” smiles Hughes.
That was in 2017. With a new location and new machines to make it happen, St. Johnsbury Distillery has an expansive list of craft liquors.
“We have a lot that are going into R&D and that kind of aspect, so we’re able to kind of launch new products every now and again which is very exciting for us, and kind of continuing that creative side as well,” says Hughes.
Their lineup boasts seven rums, two kinds of gin, a vodka and other specialty products. All of them are made in-house.
“The quality behind a spirit when you make it right here in house, rather than rectifying, purchasing alcohol and doctoring it up, you can really control that process and how smooth it is,” explains Hughes.
Not much of the process is automated. In fact, they even kept the original still from Dunc’s Mill.
“As the spirit goes up the column, it will do mini refracting runs, basically is what it’s called,” Hughes explains, while showing off the giant silver still they call “Dunc.”
After the products are fermented, distilled or barreled, they’re bottled up and sold at 802 liquor stores, or at their tasting room and restaurant. Even though he shook up his dreams of dentistry to get here, Hughes says running this biz has been anything but dry.
“People are a lot more happy talking about spirits than their vacation plans with my fingers in their mouth,” he laughs.
Hughes also applied for and was selected to be on a business pitch competition reality show, called “The Blox.” Shooting for the show, which will be available on Amazon Prime, has wrapped up, but Hughes won’t be on until next season. Hughes was tight-lipped about his outcome.
“I was happy with my performance,” he laughs.