A Spirited Revival
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A new take on a historied building brings great views and comforting spirits to the region.
ile Historic Weldon may be famous h for its Rockfish, business partners Bruce Tyler and Michael Hinderliter are looking forward to bringing new attention to the region in new ways. Weldon Mills Distillery and tasting room recently opened along the banks of the Roanoke River with intent to produce top shelf liquors for the delight of the public. Local history is integral to this establishment. It's housed in the former Roanoke Navigation Company’s corn mill, built in 1892, that was later the first commercial electric power plant in North Carolina. The immaculately restored tasting room lies at the end of the Roanoke Canal Trail, a seven mile walking path following the course of the river downstream from the Roanoke Rapids Lake. Weldon Mills Distillery is the perfect place to stop for a respite, take a trolley and tour the distillery. River Park and the Weldon boat landing is nearbye as well. Weldon Mills aims to produce small batches of Hearth & Vine 24 Summer 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Justin Robinson
whiskey, bourbon, rye and vodka in the 34,000 sq. feet facility that was repurposed and equipped to bring fine spirits to the region. Tyler said the ingredients for the distillery's premium products will be sourced locally whenever possible and always from North Carolina.W hile the distilling process seems simple, it takes a real expert with a keen and developed sense to know when to “cut” the product. Tyler and Hinderliter brought in award winning distiller Mike Norman, who began his career as an admitted moonshiner. Norman said it was in Franklin, N.C’s furthest mountainous reaches where he worked his first still. “It's in the very western corner of the mountains,” he said, then laughed, “We’ve got all kinds of rocks there.” These days, Norman has gone straight and has merged the “recipe” with the chemistry to produce award winning products in Kentucky and Iowa. He laughed when he talked about the culture shock that he experienced when moving from the far reaches of the south to Iowa. “God
