Modern-Day Moonshine

STORY BY Catherine Orlando

PHOTOS BY Heidi Lewis

“We did everything ourselves,” says Lisa Welch, who, along with her husband, Keith, opened, owns, and operates Tall Pines Distillery in Salisbury, Pennsylvania.

The inspiration for the distillery was born of family values and passions. Keith is an experienced contractor, honing his craft over decades. Previously, Lisa sold insurance. Both wanted to open a family business, one in which their two sons could participate.

At the time, Keith was making his own moonshine, experimenting with home distilling for personal consumption. The concept of combining this pastime with professional goals began to take shape. Keith and Lisa began educating themselves on what this process would be like, and, when Pennsylvania relaxed its liquor laws in 2014, they filed paperwork with the federal government. Keith modified his construction garage to be the distillery. And in July 2016, Tall Pines opened its doors, producing, bottling, and selling from the original location where a dream was realized.

As a nod to their grassroots efforts and work ethic, their passion for distilling became contagious and opportunity came knocking. After visiting and enjoying the distillery and products, a couple from Missouri contacted Keith. They loved the distillery, and they wanted to be involved: could they fly in to discuss?

“I didn’t think much of it at first,” says Lisa. “But they showed up.”

Tara and Joe Cook did more than show up. After the two couples met, a professional relationship merged alongside a genuine friendship. Once again relying on their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, Keith and Lisa agreed to partner with the Cooks. The Missouri Tall Pines Distillery opened in the early months of 2020, using the same recipes and logos as the original blueprint. Keith designed the Missouri facility to be ultra-efficient, streamlining the “grain to glass” process the company has made its tagline. Located near Pineville, Missouri, the sister location sits along the state’s fourth-largest rafting river and sees upwards of 50,000 new campers a week during peak season.

The second location in a different state was a great channel for getting their product to the people, but another opportunity would present itself as well. Car designer Kenny Hauk followed the distillery on Instagram, and as a fan, approached the Welches about his new television show, Road Hauks, a History Channel series combining custom car building with classic American history. Hauk wanted to feature the distillery in a custom build, so Keith is featured in an episode in which Kenny creates a car called Bootlegger, a moonshiner’s delight. The car is a speedy Chevy Camaro outfitted with a copper still and smoke screen, a nod to Prohibition-era moonshining. Bootlegger garners attention anywhere it goes, a mobile marketing tool that’s available for events, parades, and Pittsburgh’s International Auto Show. The car once made its way west for the annual SEMA (Speciality Equipment Market Association) car show in Las Vegas.

These outlets for the distillery have been an organic response to the DIY attitude of the Welch family. The Salisbury Tall Pines has focused on creating a passion for distilling in their eight employees and countless clients and guests.

“We want everyone to be able to do any of the roles here, to know how to distill,” says Lisa, underscoring the value of education for the profession. At Tall Pines, it’s more than just distilling a singular product. With 22 choices in the lineup, all made with natural flavors, Lisa says they have something for everyone. Her favorite? Bananas Foster, one of the most popular products, is made with 60 pounds of peeled bananas in each barrel of mash.

When it became apparent that distillery-goers wanted a space to congregate and enjoy these extensive options, the Welches responded.

“Before, I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to be a bar,’” laughs Lisa. Yet Copperhead Bar sprang from the need for the space, and Lisa’s original hesitation turned to creating a well-cultivated area. Guests enjoy a pavilion and deck, three fire pits, yard games, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Perhaps the main selling point is the extensive bar menu, which was created by the Welches’ sons and features Tall Pines products. On Saturdays, Copperhead features Pavilion Parties, with live music and food trucks. Weekends became so popular that Lisa added Tipsy Fridays, allowing local talent to schedule sets on the Copperhead stage. The space has also hosted chamber events, business cocktail hours, intimate gatherings, and a handful of weddings and receptions.

The ability to remain flexible and meet demand saw the distillery through the uncertainty of COVID. Deemed an essential business, Tall Pines continued producing through the pandemic. They began delivering within a 40-mile radius of their location and announced their travel sites when they took the show on the road. “We are willing to adapt,” says Lisa. It’s evident that this business is willing to embrace new paths and propositions in an effort to better serve their base and share their craft.

What’s next for Tall Pines Distillery? Keith and Lisa are looking ahead to expanding their site in Salisbury. They also have eyes on the South, with a Tall Pines coming to Blairsville, Georgia. The new building and exciting developments won’t interfere with the distilling process; Tall Pines is working on some new offerings to add to the product line, including a bourbon cream, butterscotch rye, and gin. Tall Pines’ owners have blended their passions for distilling and professional quality with their family-focused values and history-rich processes to create a place and product for everyone. They highlight the spirit of the Laurel Highlands … and create spirits for us as well!

175 Ankney Hill Road, Acme, PA 15610 | 724-424-2437 www.TattiebogleCiderWorks.com

email: sales@tattiebogleciderworks.com

A notable first for the Laurel Highlands, Tattiebogle CiderWorks aims to bring all the taste and history of hard cider to you.

“Cider is, or was, the American drink,” says founder and owner Curt Henry. Due to the drink’s popularity in the United Kingdom, cider first made its way to the American colonies with the Pilgrims. While the UK is still responsible for a good amount of cider production and consumption, it appears to be making a comeback in the United States. Henry says cider remains popular mainly on the West Coast and New England. But with Pennsylvania being the fourth-leading apple-producing state in the country, conditions are ripe to drink local.

The lineup of local hard ciders at Tattiebogle provides an option for nearly everyone’s personal taste. Offerings include five standard ciders, available year-round, as well as rotating seasonal choices and the experimental Kilderkin option. All of the ciders are naturally gluten-free and, after fermentation, contain no sugar residue. Any perceived sweetness comes from added fruits or juices. Additionally, Tattiebogle produces cider using the oldest method, farmhouse style, or a wild ferment in which the yeast is allowed to work its natural process.

Situated in Acme, Pennsylvania, the cider house offers an outdoor space with beautiful views and backdrops for relaxing with friends and family. The space was intended for community gatherings and is accordingly welcoming. The current tasting room is large and offers a clean, industrial setting with a knowledgeable staff.

Here, Henry has made the past personal, combining his family background with cidermaking. Henry’s Scottish heritage can be traced from his mother, who provided inspiration from the start. “Tattiebogle is a Scottish compound word,” says Henry. “‘Tattie,’ for potato, and ‘bogle,’ meaning ghost. Quite literally, ‘potato ghost,’ or what we would know as a scarecrow.”

Rest assured that a trip to this “potato ghost” is no scare at all; rather, it’s a delicious, delightful day out enjoying Pennsylvania’s finest.

120 Higbee Lane, Dawson, PA 15428 | 724-208-4359

www.ChapelHillWine.us

A new addition to the scene, Chapel Hill Wines is concluding its first year with gratitude and a look to the future. “We have been pleasantly surprised by the interest of the community,” says Brian Higgins, owner. “The Pour Tour has been a tremendous benefit.”

The Laurel Highlands Pour Tour encourages residents and tourists alike to get out and explore the wealth of craft and local libations this region has to offer. The tour offers a map of area breweries, wineries, meaderies, and cideries, along with a passport to track individual progress. It is the perfect opportunity to support businesses in the area communities, gather with friends and loved ones in a social setting, and explore new places while imbibing safely.

To make a stop at Chapel Hill Wines, plan to visit Dawson, Pennsylvania, in Fayette County. And if you haven’t been yet, there’s no better time, as the winery is planning to expand both its offerings and facility in its sophomore year. “We’ll be adding to and growing our wine list,” Higgins says. “We’re also looking to move our tasting room to a new building on the property in late spring (of 2022).”

Current offerings include varietals that the winery breaks into the white, red and black series. Mostly self-explanatory, traditional white and red wines are featured in their respective series profiles. The black series piques interest and offers some of Chapel Hill’s most popular selections: fruited wines like black cherry, black currant, and blackberry.

For a winery day out, or to earn a stamp on the Pour Tour passport, check out the ever-evolving Chapel Hill Wines. If you can’t make it to Dawson, Chapel Hill partners with local restaurants and Leaning House Fine Cigars in Belle Vernon to feature the winery’s outstanding Pennsylvania products.

www.TallPinesDistillery.com

Tall Pines Distillery

9224 Mason Dixon Hwy.

Salisbury, PA 15558

Tall Pines Distillery

3316 Goodin Hollow Road

Noel, MO 64854