Painted Stave Distilling
Just north of Dover, in Smyrna, you will find one of Delaware’s Quaint Villages distilleries. Housed in a 1940s old single screened movie theater, once called The Old Smyrna Theater, you will find Painted Stave Distilling. The name ‘Painted Stave’ came from the prohibition era, and signifies a safe place that sold alcohol. Since 2013, owners Ron Gomes and Mike Rasmusseun along with their team, handcraft spirits using the finest quality of raw ingredients. Each bottle is distilled by hand, signed and numbered – giving authenticity to each product. Try their unique concoctions including “Off the Hoof”, a scrapple flavored vodka honoring a Delaware food tradition. This unique tasty vodka goes well with Bloody Marys, orange juice and even dirty martinis. The signature Diamond State Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for at least two years – giving the whiskey a perfect complexion of sweetness and spiciness. Try one of Painted Stave Distilling’s hand-crafted cocktails on their new outdoor patio. We recommend the Diamond State Bourbon Milk Punch or the Diamond State Mint Julep. Book a 90-minute guided tour plus a tasting today at Painted Stave Distilling. Open Thursdays: 6pm-9pm, Fridays: 5pm-10pm, Saturdays: 12pm-6pm and Sundays: 1pm-5pm.
easySpeak Spirits
Delaware’s Quaint Villages newest distillery, easySpeak Spirits is located in Milford, south of Dover. Owners, Zach King & Marissa Cordell opened easySpeak Spirits in late 2017 on Milford-Harrington Highway in the quaint village of Milford. The name ‘easySpeak’ is a play on the word “speak easy” from the Prohibition Era, meaning an illicit liquor store or nightclub. Zack, Marissa and their team use fresh ingredients, including local fruits and spices. easySpeak Spirits takes pride in crafting vodkas, rums, gins and bourbon. During the fall, the distillery creates the must try pumpkin spiced rum to go with that Thanksgiving turkey. In the wintertime, they offer an aged honey brandy and cranberry orange bourbon. Spring season flavors include local fruits such as peaches and blueberries. They offer year-round spirits including orange vodka, lemon tea vodka, spiced and coconut rum, bourbon and gin to name a few. In addition to crafted cocktails, easySpeak Spirits offers a variety of wood-fired and smoked entrees, brunch options on Saturdays & Sundays, appetizers, weekly specials and weekend entertainment. easySpeak Spirits is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays, but open for tours & tastings Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am – 11pm, Saturdays 10am-1am and Sundays 10am-11pm.
Rebel Seed Cidery
Kent County’s original Cidery is located along the Mason-Dixon line and situated next to Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel, Delaware. Opened since 2016, owner Chuck Nunan established another family-run business in addition to Harvest Ridge Winery called Rebel Seed Cidery. The team at Rebel Seed Cidery takes pride in using locally-sourced apples from farms in Delaware – including Kent County’s Fifer Orchards in Camden-Wyoming, Delaware. The branding of Rebel Seed Cidery comes from the love of United States’ history and the deep-rooted heritage of hard cider in the colonial era. Try the Colonial Jack Hard Cider that pairs well with scrapple, pulled pork, and bratwursts. Or try the First Anthem, a popular hard cider with a crisp and semi-sweet taste. Rebel Seed Cidery offers tastings daily (Sunday- Thursday, 12pm-5pm and Friday, and Saturday, 12-8pm) and guided tours Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 3pm.
For a full list of recommendations for Delaware’s Quaint Villages’ libations check out our Good Libations Tour and make plans to visit Kent County for an indulgent getaway!