The Portland distillery this month launched Star & Pine Maine Vodka for $17.99, marking its first major move into the vodka scene after building its reputation on gin and, more recently, whiskey.
Hardshore Distilling Co. is entering a crowded spirits market with a simple idea: to produce a competitively priced vodka made in Maine.
The Portland distillery this month launched Star & Pine Maine Vodka for $17.99, marking its first move into the vodka scene after building its reputation on gin and, more recently, whiskey.
Top vodka competitors include Tito's Homemade Vodka, Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, Grey Goose and Absolut, which range from $13 to $30 for a 750-ml bottle.
The new products are aimed at consumers looking for lower-cost options without sacrificing quality, Jordan Milne, told Mainebiz during a tour of the distillery.
The vodka is made from wheat rather than the traditional base ingredient of corn, as in most American vodkas. Using wheat results in a cleaner, smoother spirit, Milne said.Jordan Milne, Hardshore Distilling founder and distiller. PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY
Hardshore, founded in 2014 at 53 Washington Ave. in Portland, has built its brand around that grain-to-glass approach, sourcing wheat from the founder's family farm in upstate New York and processing it in-house.
The vodka launch also includes a partnership with the Sebago Clean Waters initiative, with a portion of each sale supporting efforts to protect Maine's water sources, a key ingredient in the distilling process.
The process
At its Washington Avenue facility, Hardshore produces all of its spirits from scratch, a process that begins with milling wheat into flour. The grain is then mixed with hot water in a mash tank, where the starches are broken down into fermentable sugars.
Gin is distilled in a distillery at Hardshore Distillery. PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY
Once cooled, yeast is added, launching a fermentation process that lasts about three days and produces a liquid with roughly 12% alcohol by volume.
The liquid is then distilled multiple times, including once through a 22-foot column, and then refined into a high-proof neutral spirit exceeding 95% alcohol. That final spirit serves as the foundation for both the vodka and gin.
For vodka, the process largely ends there, with the spirit proofed down and bottled. For the gin, an additional step defines the product. Botanicals, including rosemary and mint, are steeped in the neutral spirit before a final distillation, during which temperature and collection are carefully controlled to highlight the flavors.
From grain to bottle, the process takes about 11 days.
"If we purchased our base spirit from a larger, industrial distillery, we could cut that time down to about three days," said Milne. "But we won't do that. Making it from scratch is in our DNA."
About the company
Hardshore employs five full-time workers and expands to about 10 during the summer months. Its products are distributed across Maine through a mix of independent retailers and larger grocery chains as well as restaurants including Fore Street, Eventide, Terlingua and DiMillo's On the Water. The company also operates a tasting room.
Hardshore Distilling is located at 53 Washington Avenue in Portland. PHOTO / COURTESY HARDSHORE DISTILLING
The expansion into vodka comes at a time when small distillers are facing rising costs. Tariffs on imported glass have driven up bottle prices, while increases in fuel and fertilizer have pushed wheat prices higher, adding pressure to production costs.
"I know we're not alone in shouldering that difficulty," said Milne. "We're committed to adjusting to the market without cutting corners and lowering our quality standards."
Despite those challenges, Milne said the focus is on steady growth and execution as the company works to establish its vodka in a competitive market.
Reader feedback
What other emerging Maine brands should we keep tabs on? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to hear from you! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.
