Down by the water in Dorchester, Boston Harbor Distillery co-founders Rhonda Kallman and Corey Bunnewith are bottling the spirit of the city. They took over the then-empty Port Norfolk space at 12R Ericsson Street from Nutty Buddy creators Seymour Ice Cream but the building has been a hub of American entrepreneurship as far back as 1859. The waterfront property once housed The Putnam Nail Company, makers of patented horseshoe nails, and then The Lawley Company, famous for luxury yachts. Boston’s third craft distillery has made a cozy home amidst all the history—literally, the original beams and bricks have been maintained—where they are linking the past to the future with their regional liquors.
Kallman and Bunnewith honor local New England tradition, and even local-er Dorchester tradition, with their libations, but they add their own updates and the occasional twist. The spirits are produced in a copper still that just happened to be branded as the 1776th at its registration, in a room that was once Seymour’s ice cream warehouse. Their first product, Lawley’s New England Spirit, is a white rum variant that captures the taste of the terroir with molasses and maple syrup as a base. Because the maple syrup is added before fermentation, the Spirit breaks the rum rules and stands in a class of its own. The dark version of the spirit picks up notes of spice during its aging process on American oak barrels for a flavor profile showcasing the classic Northeast autumnal trio: cinnamon, nutmeg and maple.
From rummy beginnings, Boston Harbor Distillery has expanded their brown liquor portfolio to include unique, New England-style single-malt whiskies with more on the horizon. Putnam Whiskey pays homage to Silas Putnam, the aforementioned horseshoe nail pioneer, and is labeled with his original logo. It’s aged on American oak and will also be available as a spicy rye when it hits the shelves. Rye acts as the basis, too, for Seymour’s Local Roast Coffee Liqueur, blended with Great Barrington cold-brew coffee and maple syrup for a balanced beverage that’s sippable straight. As part of a collaboration with Sam Adams and Boston Beer Co. (which Kallman co-founded) the team will be distilling a tripel and two stouts into knockout, spiced beer-whiskies that combine the best of both Boston companies.
Besides putting out luscious liquors, Boston Harbor Distillery is building a gathering destination, for drinks but also community engagement. With the sum of their beverage experience — Kallman in craft beer and Bunnewith at Drink, Coppa and brand management firm Inspired Beverage — the hospitality pros have constructed a space that can accommodate anything from large events to relaxing evenings with friends. The rooms are open and airy with exposed beams and the seating area is inviting with wood panels and plaid chairs, perfect for a pour of something spicy and dark. Distillery hours are Thursday and Friday 4:00-8:00pm and Saturday 12:00-8:00pm with tours every half hour so you can check out the rustic tasting bar and get a glassful of regional flavors.
