Old Dominick Distillery, Exploring Tennessee Whiskey

Now is an exciting time for Memphis and the entire beverage industry as an up-and-coming distillery with a long history makes its mark.

The Beginnings

Old Dominick Distillery has a rich past beginning in the 1800s with Dominico Canale, born into a family of entrepreneurial survivors. At a relatively young age, Canale created a food wholesaler business and, by 1866, offered a whiskey named Old Dominick. By 1880, he developed a bourbon-based cordial, the Dominick Toddy, of which he was quite proud.

Dying three days before prohibition at the age of 75, Canale may have lucked out on experiencing the industry’s collapse. However, the family maintained a reputable presence in food and beverage distribution throughout prohibition.

By 2017 Dominico’s great-grandchildren had brought their great-grandfather’s legacy back to life and were ready to launch their whiskey. It is the first time since prohibition that whiskey was legally distilled in Memphis, Tennessee. Dominico’s spirit remains a part of daily operations, and the humble Alex Castle creates their unique spirits.

Alex Castle, Master Distiller

Old Dominick’s Master Distiller, Alex Castle, is the first female Master Distiller in Tennessee. Castle’s assiduous nature led her to this distinguished role, and in it, she is creating a new niche for Memphis tourism. Castle has been through many industry changes and is a dedicated innovator. “It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 7 years since we first fired up the stills at Old Dominick. I am so thankful for all 7 of those years. We’ve filled thousands of barrels, and countless bottles, and I am beyond thrilled with how our whiskey has turned out. While the last year was made exciting by the launch of our first ever Memphis-produced whiskey, I can’t wait to see what the next year (or 7) will bring for myself and the rest of the Old Dominick team,” exclaims Castle.

Tour!

We were privileged to tour the distillery during a recent media trip to Memphis with a group of travel writers. Our guide entranced us with historical stories while explaining the whiskey-making process. We learned that malting can start with corn, rye, barley, or wheat grains. Furthermore, we viewed the tanks for mashing and the giant vats where fermentation occurs. We were thoroughly impressed by the sophistication of the stills used for distillation and the oak barrels for maturation. The process is almost seductive as it lures you to wonder about the final product’s taste, aromas, and texture.

Taste!

The tour ends with a tasting flight of whiskeys, bourbon, vodka, and gin. We were excited to experience the nuances of each. I savored the nose of brown sugar and baking spices in the Straight Tennessee Whiskey. And the sweet cherries and hints of vanilla in the Huling Station Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey were lovely.

The Formula No. 10 Gin presented a pleasing balance of juniper, black pepper, and grapefruit. And the Honeybell Citrus Vodka offered a blend of sweet herbs and orange peel.

Truth be told, I am not a hard liquor drinker. However, something is moving about sniffing a bouquet of good whiskey or bourbon. As a Certified Sommelier, I appreciate the integration of scents rising from the glass. I think about it from its infancy as a grain and the changes it undergoes during each phase of its journey — finally ending with its last stage of life in the bottle. I have ultimate respect for everything endured.

As our tour and tasting ended, the hospitable team at Old Dominick allowed us to bring in lunch. We ate at their beautifully grand square-shaped bar and shared a few cocktails. We wanted to see how the spirits expressed themselves in a drink. The Pink Palace with Gin, Amaro, red currant syrup, mint, Sichuan peppercorn, freshly squeezed lime juice, and tonic was refreshing. However, the Peanut Butter Mane with peanut butter infused Huling Station Straight Bourbon Whiskey, banana syrup, and chocolate bitters was delectably sinful.

Before leaving, I walked around the gift shop stocked with spirits and items to remind me of the sacred adventure I just embarked upon. Cheers, Old Dominick, to a future as long as your past!