In high spirits — 814 Distillery offering local craft liquor
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / 814 Distillery partners Scott Schraff (left) and Tom Manion bottle vanilla whiskey.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Perry Flaugh checks the first batch of rum.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / 814 Distillery partners Scott Schraff (left) and Tom Manion bottle vanilla whiskey.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Perry Flaugh checks the first batch of rum.
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PINECROFT -- The owners of the first distillery in Blair County are aiming high when looking to the future.
"Our long-term goal is to have a product that is good enough that we become a nationally recognized brand," Perry Flaugh said.
Flaugh, Scott Schraff, Tom Manion and Matt Romagna are partners in C.A.P. Distinctive Spirits LLC, doing business as 814 Distillery, which shares the 2401 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd. building with Schraff's Oak Spring Winery.
"We are the first open legally producing distillery in Blair County and the only winery in Blair County," Schraff said.
Planning to get the distillery off the ground had been in the works for a few years, but was held up because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Manion.
"It took time to do the business planning, get funding and do the construction," Flaugh said.
814 Distillery has a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board limited distillery license, which allows it to produce up to 100,000 gallons of product a year.
The partners believe they have put together a team of people with the right backgrounds.
Schraff has been operating the winery for years. Flaugh, the head distiller, has a chemistry background and Manion worked as a supervisor with the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.
"I had worked for state and federal governments and I always wanted to try private business and make it work," Manion said.
814 Distillery's first product -- Batch 001 Corn Whiskey, also known as moonshine -- came out the middle of January and sales started in early February.
814 Distillery also produces a variety of flavored whiskeys, flavored vodkas, Bad Attitude Grain Alcohol and black strap molasses rum.
The owners said there are plans for producing gin, brandy and bourbon down the road.
Joe Jackson, star of the Discovery Channel TV show "Moonshiners: Master Distiller" and head distiller at Lucky Signs Spirits in Gibsonia, had a chance to sample the first batch.
"It was a great start for them for their first time to go out and make whiskey, they did a really great job," Jackson said.
The partners needed to purchase equipment to get their business up and running. They poured about $750,000 into a still, gas boiler, chiller, mash cooler, fermentation tanks, storage tanks and blending tanks and construction.
814 Distillery received some financial help for the project, particularly from Kish Bank and ABCD Corp.
"Kish Bank is pleased to help facilitate the launch of 814 Distillery in conjunction with ABCD Corporation," said Robert Bilger, senior lending officer at Kish Bank. "The varied backgrounds of the 814 Distillery team give them a unique array of experience, and we are looking forward to the success of this new destination business."
Almost any kind of grain can be used to make whiskey, while grains and potatoes can be used to make vodka, Schraff said.
Corn and other grains come from Dancing Star Farm of Imler.
"I am happy they chose our farm for their grains, owner Robert McDonald said. "I work with distilleries all over the United States."
Jackson said he met the 814 Distillery partners at Dancing Star when he was there to make a pickup.
"They told me about opening a distillery in Altoona, and I told them they were at the right place for their grains," Jackson said. "I have been buying grains from Bob McDonald for four years and he never steered me the wrong way with what he grows."
Buying grains locally is beneficial financially to both businesses, according to Schraff.
"When we buy local products it cuts down on shipping costs. It takes 600 pounds of corn to make 40-50 gallons of 160 proof whiskey and 250 gallons of water plus enzymes," Schraff said.
Products are available at the East Pleasant Valley Boulevard location and the partners hope to soon have their products available in local bars.
The new business may also aid tourism in Blair County.
"Explore Altoona is thrilled to welcome 814 Distillery to Blair County's thriving craft beverage community," said Patrick Schurr, director of partnership development at Explore Altoona. "Along with 814 Distillery, the neighboring winery and nearly ten breweries, Blair County is quickly becoming a hot spot for craft brewed beverage enthusiasts."
The partners are optimistic their business will be successful and hope to have customers coming back for more with their high-quality offerings.
"We want to make a good product that people will enjoy and come to us. My goal is to still be open next January," Manion said.
"We want to make as high a quality of product that we can and have people gravitate to us," Schraff said.
Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.