When I moved to Newport News from Norfolk (Ghent, specifically), I thought I’d be in a dearth of culture. But as I settled in, I found that lo and behold, the area is full of hidden treasures, and discovering them has become my great joy.
Article by Hannah Serrano with photography by Fitz
(Lead photo of Stephen King at Iron Clad Distillery)
As it turns out, the Peninsula (between Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown and Williamsburg) boasts a plethora of renowned museums; a handful of quality venues, including the Ferguson Center and American Theater; and no shortage of solid, independently-owned restaurants— including tried and true favorites like County Grill, Fat Canary and Yorktown Pub; and a host of innovative players, like Circa 1918, Fin, Venture Kitchen & Bar, Conch & Bucket and Food for Thought.
(Photo of Kara King at Iron Clad Distillery)
And while wineries and microbreweries continue to boom throughout the entire commonwealth, a family-owned distillery with a mighty name hopes to fill in the other niche that turns on thoughtful drinkers like myself: craft whiskey.
Why, of all places, should Ironclad Distillery take root in Newport News?
“In wine making, they have this term called ‘terroir’,” explains Ironclad’s Kara King, “meaning the geographical factors that characterize a wine and give it a unique flavor and aroma. We expect Newport News to give our bourbon a distinct, one-of-a-kind taste with its brackish air sweeping in off the James River and its muggy summer heat and mild winters, which are the perfect conditions for aging barrels.”
“We’re hoping the humid air, along with our proprietary four-grain mash bill is going to give Ironclad a truly unique flavor and produce a battleship strength bourbon. And, you’re going to get a little history with your whiskey. We’ve been doing exhaustive research on Ironclads and want to infuse their incredible story into every sip.”
The name stems from the fact that “the distillery is located on the riverfront, just a stone’s throw away from the location where the famous Battle of the Ironclads occurred during the Civil War.”
The Kings are a family full of creatives “with a bourbon gene in [their] DNA.” Kara was a copywriter in marketing and advertising for twelve years. Older brother, Ben, is an art director in New York and handles the company’s branding. Younger brother, Owen, has a culinary background and is, appropriately, Ironclad’s distiller. Mom, Carol, was a librarian and history major and helps tell the story of the company’s naval namesake.
But what brought them all together was dad, Stephen, who in 2010 bought a century-old, former dry goods warehouse in downtown Newport News in which to operate his restoration business. With 30,000 square feet around him, Stephen knew it was more space than he needed.
“That’s what spurred the idea of a family business,” says Kara. “Use the extra space to pool our individual talents and make something really cool together.”
Ironclad has just been granted their ABC license but they don’t intend to rush the whiskey-making process. “We’re going to monitor the aging process and bottle when we feel the bourbon is perfect,” says King, and adds that they’re looking for a rich caramel color and smooth flavor.
The most challenging part of opening a distillery business in Virginia? Says Kara, “Waiting for your bourbon to age and be ready to drink!” You’re telling us.
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