Craft cocktail bar and restaurant Boatman Spirits Co. opened last summer at Seaboard Station. At long last, it is rolling out its own line of house-distilled spirits.
We caught the man behind the bottles in between batches for the rundown on what’s pouring.
Introduce yourself!
Boatman Spirits owner/operators George Ghneim, Aaron Lambert, and Geremy Prichard
I’m Geremy Prichard. I grew up in Apex and graduated from high school in Charlotte. I’m a former winemaker with a degree in bioprocessing science from NC State University. Now, I’m the distiller at Boatman Spirits Co.
Boatman Spirits is finally able to produce its spirits! Tell us a bit about them.
Our Boatman Spirits Vodka is distilled in house from corn. Our Boatman Spirits Dry Gin and Navy Strength Gin are made with grain and 13 botanicals, including Tuscan juniper, coriander, angelica root, licorice root, grains of paradise, sesame seed, cubeb peppers, jasmine flower, sumac, and Palestinian thyme. The thyme is a nod to our co-owner George Ghneim’s Palestinian heritage.
How many bottles have you produced so far?
About 700 bottles so far. I’m making gin today, so that’s another 700 bottles right there.
Where can people buy the products? Are they sold at ABC stores?
Our gin and vodka can be purchased seven days a week at the distillery – even on Sundays when the ABC stores are closed. Customers will soon be able to special order our gin and vodka through their local ABC stores and order it at local bars and restaurants. I would expect to see our distilled spirits available through ABC stores by end of the March.
Are you doing anything special to launch the lineup?
Boatman will host an All Hands: Boatman Spirits Launch party from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 22. VIP and general admission tickets are available.
VIP tickets cost $50 each and grant access at 5 p.m. and include:
- a guided tasting of our new spirits: Vodka, Dry Gin, Navy Strength Gin
- a grazing table with elevated bites
- cocktail demonstration with tips for recreating at home
- distillery tour and behind-the-scenes access
- priority access to purchase bottles + bottle signing opportunity
- and one drink ticket for a crafted cocktail
General admission tickets cost $30 each and will allow access from 6-9 p.m. and include:
- tasting samples of Vodka, Dry Gin and Navy Strength Gin
- distillery tour
- grazing table
- access to purchase bottles
If you’d rather join us for brunch on Sunday, Feb. 22, the bar and restaurant’s Bloody Marys will feature Boatman Spirits vodka or gin as well as a Raleigh Cheesy garnish. Find more details and purchase tickets for Feb. 22 evening events here.
What’s next for Boatman? Do you have plans for any more spirits in the future?
Beyond vodka and gin, we plan to create a variety of whiskeys, seasonal fruit brandies, and Amaros, as well as revive forgotten spirits recipes from around the world. First up will be rye whiskey and single malt whiskey, which will age a minimum of two years. The brandies will be made seasonal based on the fruits available, including peaches, apples, and more.
What’s your favorite way to serve the new products? Any recipes you’d like to share with readers, or food pairings you’d recommend?
The way I judge a gin is a gin and tonic or a Negroni. Gin and tonic goes with anything you can imagine. Right now, I’m loving our steak entrée with coriander roasted potatoes and a Medjool date bordelaise. The cherry peppers in the hummus is also a great pairing.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m most excited about the idea of our spirits being part of people celebrating special occasions – that they will gather around with a bottle of my work sitting on the table. It’s an honor to even think of that happening.
