I'm excited to announce Batch 5 of Lucille's Barrel-Aged Honey is in jars and available at farmers markets now!
The honey I sourced from local favorite Robbins Honey in Lakewood, was a "light buckwheat". The bees were near mountain wildflower and buckwheat. The rich, deep color, almost like a dark caramel sauce, comes from the buckwheat while the not too overly sweet flavor comes from the wildflower. This is the perfect neutral base for the start of Lucille's Barrel-Aged Honey!
I partnered with Nightside Distillery in Edgewood for this batch. Nightside was founded by Tom Greene in 2013, making his vodka in a 15-gallon beer barrel still. In 2014 he took on partners Ray and Angee Bunk, the Catheys and the Wortmans. In 2019 another couple, the Nichols, came on board to replace the Catheys. Six of the seven current owners work in public safety. Their work spans police, fire, 911 and other support services. I met with Ray and Angee when looking for a local distillery to be a part of Batch 5. They liked the honey and wanted to be part of the Bee-Cycle this round. Ray was nice enough to get me three 15-gallon bourbon barrels for this batch, and the quality of their great bourbon has a major impact on Batch #5's taste!
The honey aged in Nightside’s barrels for 5 weeks, and the increased surface area from the smaller barrels gave it a little extra flavor in my opinion, but you'll just have to taste it for yourself to know for sure!
To celebrate the release of this incredible honey, Ray and Angee have set up a party at Nightside Distillery on September 11th. The fact that most of the owners of Nightside hold down day jobs as first responders makes this date extra special. In addition to their award-winning vodkas, gin, and whiskeys, all profits from their Fruit Punch flavored vodka go to support local firefighter charities. This product was specifically designed to support a cause near and dear to their hearts and, to date, they have donated over $100,000 to local charities.
We will also feature the culinary experience that only Born and Braised can bring to an event. Their slow-cooked meat is delicious. And they will be incorporating Lucille's Barrel-Aged Honey into their dishes, so come get some amazing Filipino/Asian Fusion food.
Mark September 11th on your calendars and get some great local products from some excellent small businesses. Festivities start at noon and go until we run out of food and alcohol!
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