Beverage Digests

George Washington’s restored distillery opens at Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON VA. —George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, once home to the nation’s first president, opened in early April a whiskey distillery first built by Washington himself more than 200 years ago. The new distillery is the result of a nearly eight-year initiative to research and recreate the operation.

History indicates that Washington was a staunch advocate of the moderate enjoyment of spirits, and when he became president, he put his words into action by building the young nation’s largest whiskey distillery. —George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, once home to the nation’s first president, opened in early April a whiskey distillery first built by Washington himself more than 200 years ago. The new distillery is the result of a nearly eight-year initiative to research and recreate the operation.

The two-story distillery, with its five copper stills, is licensed to produce a maximum of 5,000 gallons of spirits per year, and is expected to be run at a profit. It will be operated by costumed distillers through October, with visitors invited to view the process and watch such films as the History Channel-produced “George Washington’s Liquid Gold.” —George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, once home to the nation’s first president, opened in early April a whiskey distillery first built by Washington himself more than 200 years ago. The new distillery is the result of a nearly eight-year initiative to research and recreate the operation.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America provided financial support for the project. —George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, once home to the nation’s first president, opened in early April a whiskey distillery first built by Washington himself more than 200 years ago. The new distillery is the result of a nearly eight-year initiative to research and recreate the operation.

Philadelphia restaurants featured in online wine segments —George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, once home to the nation’s first president, opened in early April a whiskey distillery first built by Washington himself more than 200 years ago. The new distillery is the result of a nearly eight-year initiative to research and recreate the operation.

PHILADELPHIA classicwines.com, highlights some of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants in streaming or downloadable video segments called “The Classic Wines Minute with Brian Freedman.” —A new feature of the wine website,

“In the last 10 years, Philadelphia has become one of the most exciting dining cities in the country,” Freedman, a Philadelphia native, said in a statement. “Now local restaurants’ wine programs are catching up in a way no one could have predicted a few years ago.” —A new feature of the wine website,

The clips are arranged in three sections: interviews and tastings, food and wine pairings, and education. The first two are filmed on location in one of the city’s acclaimed restaurants, including Georges Perrier’s pioneering Le Bec-Fin. —A new feature of the wine website,

New segments will be posted regularly at thecwm.com. —A new feature of the wine website,

Host Freedman is an established wine authority and food and wine writer working for, among other publications, LifeStyle Magazine, AroundPhilly.com and Philadelphia Style magazine. He is also the director of wine education for The Wine School of Philadelphia. —A new feature of the wine website,