One might call our newest release from Two Roads Distilling an experimental wonder — because who else but our Head Brewmaster, Phil Markowski, would think to make whiskey in a coolship characterized by wild, local microflora?
“It’s totally unique,” says Markowski. “I’ve never heard of another distillery doing this. We’re very proud.”
Coolship American Single Malt Whiskey is the latest small-batch creation from the distillery located inside Area Two Experimental Brewing. This one-of-a-kind release began life as beer, fermented in our coolship, then distilled and aged for 3½ years. It’s made entirely with American-grown malts, many sourced right here in Connecticut. Among them is a standout: a maple-smoked barley malt from Thrall Family Malt in Windsor, CT.
What makes this whiskey truly singular is the coolship itself, a large “pan” traditionally used to cool hot wort. Ours, located behind Area Two and surrounded by wetlands, welcomes a natural mix of wild yeast and bacteria that spark fermentation and creates complexity. This microbial blend is unique to our environment, a reflection of Two Roads’ geography and atmosphere, meaning no one else can replicate this whiskey exactly.
“The key feature of ours is that the windows are always open, so there’s airflow 24/7, 365 days a year,” explains Markowski.
Another defining characteristic of our coolship is its curved, untreated wooden ceiling. The wood harbors its own flora and sugars, which feed the resident microbes and influence the wash’s character. As hot wort fills the coolship, steam rises and deflects off the ceiling, carrying wild yeast and bacteria down into the pans, and on warmer days, condensing and dripping back into the liquid.
While many brewers only let wort rest briefly in a coolship, we allow ours to sit for several days. Though this stage doesn’t produce alcohol, it creates a range of organic acids that contribute lasting complexity to the whiskey’s flavor.
Creating a product like this, Markowski says, is “the Two Roads way,” always taking the Road Less Traveled in everything we do.
Coolship American Single Malt Whiskey will be available for pre-sale to the public starting November 17, with pickups beginning November 22. Join us for the official release celebration on November 26 at Area Two Experimental Brewing.