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Overview: Portland’s Hardshore Distilling Co. has made a bold move into the competitive world of vodka with the launch of Star & Pine Maine Vodka at an affordable price point of $17.99. This new product marks a significant departure from their traditional gin and whiskey offerings, but is it enough to disrupt the market?
The Full Story
Founded in 2014 by Jordan Milne, Hardshore Distilling Co. has built its reputation on producing high-quality spirits using a grain-to-glass approach. With Star & Pine Maine Vodka, they are tackling the vodka market head-on with a clean and smooth spirit made from wheat instead of the traditional corn base used in most American vodkas.
The distillery’s process begins with milling wheat into flour at their Washington Avenue facility, where it is then mixed with hot water to break down starches into fermentable sugars. After cooling, yeast is added for a three-day fermentation period that produces a liquid containing approximately 12% alcohol by volume. The resulting spirit undergoes multiple distillations and refinements before being bottled.
However, the production process does differ slightly between their vodka and gin offerings. For vodka, the final step involves proofing down to the desired strength and bottling; whereas for gin, a separate botanical infusion stage is added after distillation to enhance flavor profiles.
Production & Profile
The technical specifications of Star & Pine Maine Vodka reveal an impressive attention to detail. With a 750-ml bottle price point ranging from $13-$30 for top vodka competitors, Hardshore Distilling Co.’s offering stands out as competitively priced at just $17.99.
Using wheat instead of corn results in cleaner and smoother spirit characteristics, according to Milne. This deliberate choice reflects the brand’s commitment to quality over cost-cutting measures.
Brand & Industry History
Hardsore Distilling Co.’s inception dates back to 2014 when Jordan Milne established it on Washington Avenue in Portland. Initially focusing on gin production, they have since expanded their portfolio with the introduction of whiskey and now vodka offerings.
The brand’s dedication to sourcing wheat from family-owned farms upstate New York for grain-to-glass processing has earned them a reputation as small-batch distillers prioritizing quality over efficiency.
What This Means
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