CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – For this week’s episode of Clarksville’s Conversation, Katie Gambill and Charlie Koon chatted with Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski, the owners of MB Roland Distillery in nearby Pembroke, Kentucky.
MB Roland Distillery is a completely “grain to glass” craft distillery founded in 2009. Paul is a native of southeastern Louisiana and a veteran who came to the area after serving at Fort Campbell, while Merry Beth (the ‘MB’ in MB Roland) is a local native.
The couple purchased what was a working Amish dairy farm at the time as the site for their new distillery. A simple pole barn was transformed into a building for the distillery, and the home the Amish family lived in now serves as the gift shop.
Merry Beth joked that the property came with everything as is – including a dead cow that had to be removed.
Due to the length of the aging process for whiskey and bourbon, the couple had time to experiment and come up with their own recipes and flavors.
“That’s the hardest part of a distillery where your focus is going to be on an aged product. What do you do while you’re aging?” Paul said.
Paul and Merry Beth pride themselves on their original recipes, which have taken many years to develop and perfect.
“This is our tenth year in business and it has taken us that long to get enough bourbon and aged spirits to the market where we’re selling from California all the way to Kentucky,” Merry Beth said.
These days Paul and Merry Beth offer tons of different varieties, from the sweet Kentucky Pink Lemonade to the smoky St. Elmo’s Fire.
“We’ve always made our own product. A lot of people seem to like it and we’re very proud of it,” Paul said.
MB Roland Distillery offers tastings and tours year-round and hosts several special events, including the popular Pickin’ on the Porch music series every summer.
For more information about MB Roland Distillery, listen to the full Clarksville’s Conversation podcast below:
About Clarksville’s Conversation:
The Clarksville’s Conversation podcast, hosted by Katie Gambill and Charlie Koon on Clarksvillenow.com, gives you the opportunity to eavesdrop on interviews with leaders and innovators in Clarksville-Montgomery County who shape our community. Check back every Wednesday for new episodes.