Onyx Moonshine


Onyx Soda pop

Photograph of bottle of Onyx Moonshine in an attic next to a glass of the spirit

Moonshine is Back
Type Moonshine
Manufacturer Onyx Spirits Company
Country of origin Connecticut, United States
Introduced 2011
Alcohol by volume 40.0%
Proof (US) 80
Website Onyx Spirits website

Onyx Moonshine is a distilled beverage marketed under the claim of being "the first legal moonshine to be produced in New England", U.S.A.[1] It is hand-produced by Onyx Spirits Company, a Connecticut micro-distillery based in East Hartford, Connecticut.[2][3]

Onyx Moonshine has an aggressive marketing strategy, including association with large entertainment award shows. It was the official spirit of the 2012 GRAMMY Awards,[4] and was selected for inclusion in the official gift bags for presenters and performers at the 2011 CMA (Country Music Awards).[5] The manufacturer was chosen as the 'Best Microdistillery in New England' by Yankee Magazine in 2012.[6]

Background

Connecticut has a historic association with moonshine. Connecticut and Rhode Island were the only two states in the country to reject the Eighteenth Amendment, which introduced prohibition to the United States. When the federal ban on selling or purchasing alcohol was introduced, it led to the production of moonshine throughout New England, wherein farmers were reputed to have used the grain and corn produced on their farms to operate small stills hidden in barns, producing moonshine for private consumption. Small Connecticut cities, such as Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury were the locations for operating speakeasies during prohibition.[7][8]

Varieties

The product is manufactured in three varieties, a 40% ABV, a 55.5% ABV, and a barrel-aged beverage.

Production

Onyx products are produced using 55-gallon stainless steel and copper custom-made reflux column stills, similar to traditional moonshine stills. The product is distilled twice from a mixed grain mash that is known to include corn. After two distillations the liquor is approximately 160-proof. The alcohol content is then reduced by mixing with Connecticut water. Corks and labels are placed onto each bottle by hand in small batches.[9]

Distribution

Onyx Moonshine is distributed in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.[10]

Founders

Onyx Spirits, the company that produces Onyx Moonshine, was founded by Adam von Gootkin and Peter Kowalczyk in 2011. Von Gootkin and Kowalczyk are native to New England and have ties to Connecticut moonshine. Von Gootkin is related maternally to the Chafee family, an old New England family that contributed to the development of the state of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.[11] Von Gootkin’s great uncle, Charles Chafee owned Chafee's Hotel in Middletown,[12] Connecticut which was reputed to contain a ‘speakeasy’ in the basement during Connecticut's prohibition years. The moonshine was shipped up the Connecticut River and landed at the hotel, located on Court Street.

Legislation

Connecticut State liquor regulations allow wineries and breweries to offer on-site tasting but not spirit distilleries.[13] A bill, HB 6211, to legalize drinking on distillery premises was submitted to the legislature by State Representative Geoff Luxenberg.[14] Onyx Spirit’s Von Gootkin submitted testimony in support of the bill at public hearings.[15] The latter was approved by the state General Law Committee and passed unanimously in both the Connecticut House of Representatives and Senate. On June 7, 2013, Governor Dannell Malloy signed the bill into law.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "New Britain Herald""Onyx Moonshine named 2012 Best of New England by Yankee". www.newbritainherald.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  2. ↑ "Courant 1""Connecticut Moonshine Out In The Open". www.courant.com. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  3. ↑ Hardman, Ray (October 11, 2011). "Moonshine Is Back". Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. A Connecticut start-up has brought Moonshine into the 21st century.
  4. ↑ "NBC Connecticut""Hartford Bar Celebrates Success of Manchester Moonshine Maker". nbcconecticut. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  5. ↑ Pantera, Gabrielle (November 8, 2011). "Behind the scenes at the gift suite of the 45th Annual CMA Awards broadcasting Wednesday November 9th, 2011". Hollywood Today. Onyx Moonshine: is an authentic ultra-premium moonshine made from a secret prohibition era recipe.]
  6. ↑ "Yankee Magazine""Connecticut’s Best Local Secrets 2012". www.yankeemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  7. ↑ ”Middletown Patch 2”
  8. ↑ "Connecticut’s Heritage Gateway""Connecticut, 1865-1929 An Industrial Society". www.ctheritage.org. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  9. ↑ "Middletown Press">/ "Moonshine comes back to Middletown" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  10. ↑ "Bloomberg">/ "Duo Makes Modern, Luxury Moonshine in Connecticut" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  11. ↑ William Henry Chaffee (1909). The Chaffee Genealogy, Embracing the Chafe, Chafy, Chafie, Chafey, Chafee, Chaphe, Chaffie, Chaffey, Chaffe, Chaffee Descendants of Thomas Chaffe, of Hingham, Hull, Rehoboth and Swansea, Massachusetts: Also Certain Lineages from Families in the United States, Canada and England, Not Descended from Thomas Chaffe. 1635-1909. Grafton Press. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  12. ↑ ”Middletown Patch 3”"The Chaffee Hotel". www.middletown-ct.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
  13. ↑ "Manchester Patch">/ "Onyx Spirits Wants State to Change Liquor Laws to Benefit Small Businesses" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  14. ↑ "The Gazette">/ "Tastings bill approved; local distillery plans to offer public tours" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  15. ↑ "Connecticut General Assembly">/ "Adam von Gootkin - Onyx Spirits Co. & CSBC Testimony" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Retrieved 2013-06-10.
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