Free Samples & Tours

On December 1, 2016, Dane County Orchard, Albion Prairie Farm, will release its 2 year apple brandy with an informal ceremony at the New Yahara Bay Distillery at 6250 Nesbitt Rd. in Fitchburg. Albion Prairie Farm grows more than 100 rare heirloom apple varieties on their 4-acre orchard in Dane County, which helps bring extraordinary diversity and a rich flavor profile to this limited release farm-to-bottle artisan apple brandy. The orchard itself is truly a culmination of years of backbreaking work to bring old-world cider pressing and the art of tree grafting to fruition. Owners, Lisa and Dale Reeves of Stoughton, couldn’t be more thrilled to launch this one of a kind brandy in December.

Albion Prairie Farm Apple Brandy is made with pesticide-free apples that were harvested by hand and picked at the peak of freshness.  Except for the yeast used to ferment, there are no additives, as the orchard uses organic farming methods to secure their commitment to sustainable agriculture. The apples are then pressed with a 1913 rack and cloth-style cider press in an old tobacco barn which runs alongside the orchard and the tall prairie grasses you can find on the property. After pressing, what results is a dry cider that will then be fermented and distilled, Calvados-Style, by Madison’s 1st Distillery, Yahara Bay.

In 2014, Yahara Bay Distillery received the cider from Albion Prairie Farm and used a 90 Gallon, small batch German still, to create this exceptionally flavorful apple brandy.  The brandy was then barreled and aged in house for two years in charred oak American bourbon barrels.  Once the barrel hit the 2 year mark, the brandy was harvested and what resulted was a brandy that remained close to the traditional European styles of brandy and a true testament to the apples themselves.

Those wanting to reserve a bottle should do so at albionprairiefarm.com.  Bottles and samples will also be available during the brandy release on December 1st at Yahara Bay Distillery and available for purchase, while supplies last, throughout the month of December at Yahara Bay Distillers.

Evening Includes:  Free samples of Albion Prairie Farms brandy and the other 20+ spirits made in house at Yahara Bay Distillery. There will also be a cash bar, appetizers, and new gallery artwork by Bali & Soul.

When:   Thursday, December 1, 2016, 5-10 pm