While there's no shortage of Whisky News when it comes to distillery openings, buyouts, new product launches, "rare" bottle releases, etc., it's not every day that you hear about the rebirth of a once great grain that's making a comeback and being distilled by a Pennsylvania distillery in Lancaster County. Rosen Rye is the grain, and Stoll and Wolfe is the distillery that will be creating a Rye whiskey with it.Below is a press release from our friends at Delaware Valley Fields Foundation about two events that they are hosting at the distillery to celebrate the rebirth of Rosen Rye. We look forward to seeing you there!
Lititz, PA - For the first time in decades, the long-lost heritage grain, Rosen rye, will be distilled into rye whiskey in Pennsylvania! "The last man to distill Rosen rye into whiskey at Michter's Distillery in Schaefferstown, Pa will be the first to distill it here again," said Laura Fields, founder of the American Whiskey Convention and CEO of the non-profit, The Delaware Valley Fields Foundation. "Dick Stoll, of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, is a legend in the distilling world, and it is an honor to be able to deliver our Rosen rye grain into his very capable hands."
Since 2015, Rosen rye seeds have been cultivated and re-planted on agricultural test plots in State College, PA to produce enough usable grain to distill into whiskey. The Delaware Valley Fields Foundation's SeedSpark Campaign has gone from 5 ounces of Rosen rye sourced from the USDA to over 900 pounds today! 500 lbs of that rye grain will placed into fermenters on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 and distilled into rye whiskey on Saturday, September 7th at Stoll & Wolfe Distillery.
Pennsylvania Rosen Rye WhiskeyThe owners of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery and the Delaware Valley Fields Foundation are inviting members of the press, whiskey experts, and distillers to attend and witness the first distillation of Rosen Rye Whiskey since Michter's Distillery in Schaefferstown last distilled it over 50 years ago. Guests are invited to view both the fermentation process on September 3rd and the main event of the distillation itself on September 7th.
Tours of the distillery, photographic opportunities and interviews will be available with the owners of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, Dick Stoll (master distiller), Laura Fields (CEO of DVFF), Robert McDonald of Dancing Star Farms (local grain farmer and first to be given Rosen Rye grain for planting) and members of the Penn State Agricultural Extension. Please contact Laura Fields for more information or requests.
SeedSpark CampaignThe Delaware Valley Fields Foundation's Seed Spark Campaign is funded by their annual event, the American Whiskey Convention, which takes place each spring in Philadelphia. Each resurrected seed varietal is offered to local farmers once enough seed has been propagated and well-documented research trials have determined which farming practices can be utilized to grow the healthiest and most viable crop.
What is a Heritage Grain?When Prohibition was enacted, it wasn't just alcohol production that stopped. Many grains stopped being produced due to the sudden drop in demand. When farmers shifted their attention to other crops, their knowledge and use of those old crops slowly faded away. These are the "lost grains" that we now call heritage grains. Due to changes in local agricultural land use, climate and soil health, many of these seeds (which have not been planted in decades) face challenges that can seem daunting to a modern local farmer. The Delaware Valley Fields Foundation is making every effort to remove any costly "trial and error" period from the farmer's workload by providing them with growing directions and guidelines for a successful crop using these heritage seeds.
Heritage grains can be very important to the local Pennsylvania economy. If we can help establish these grains with farmers and producers, we can create an industry that is unique to Pennsylvania helping to provide a premier identity for the region. Seed Spark is working to bring back some of those "lost" grains that the region was once famous for. We are working with United States Department of Agriculture Research Service, local universities and farmers to resurrect these treasures. In doing so, we will help kick start economic development in the Delaware Valley and across the state.
Event DetailsWhen:
Fermentation - Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Distillation Run - Saturday, September 7, 2019
Stoll & Wolfe Distillery
35 N Cedar St
Lititz, PA 17543
Contact:
Laura Fields, [email protected], 267-930-0205
Website: SeedSparkProject.com
About Stoll & Wolfe DistilleryCommemorating local distilling traditions dating back to 1753; Stoll & Wolfe is proof that everything old is new. Housed in a restored 1800s Grain Mill, their Tasting Room is the perfect place to gather with kindred spirits for a tasting or cocktail featuring their Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey, Bourbon/Rye Blend, Lititz Springs Vodka and Gin.
Website: https://www.stollandwolfe.com/
Email: [email protected] (717) 799-4499
Mr. Stoll is the last member of a near extinguished legacy of distillers pre-dating the country itself; representing generations of dedication, commitment and skill hand crafting Pennsylvania Whiskey. Trained by C Everett Beam in both the Beam Family and Historical Pennsylvania Style, Dick served as Master Distiller of Pennsylvania Michter's where he also distilled the famed A.H. Hirsch Bourbon.
Categories: Brew and Booze News
Tagged as: Booze News, Delaware Valley Fields Foundation, Drinkwire, Events, Farming, Liquor, Rosen Rye, SeedSpark Project, Spirits, Stoll and Wolfe Distillery, Whiskey, Whisky
