What does 3BR produce?

[See every product 3BR has ever produced here.]

3BR Distillery has made spirits and liqueurs in almost every category. While many know us for our vodka made from peas called MENDEL, our production team has also made an effort to stock our tasting room bar with the best equivalent of everything needed to run a top-notch craft cocktail program. Before we break it down, you should know about 3BR's elevator series. This is unique to 3BR Distillery where we dedicate our most limited and special releases to a floor on a never-ending apartment building where the elevator was designed by Grandpa Oleg - grandfather, moonshiner, elevator engineer. Any spirit, liqueur or otherwise that has a number in front of it is part of this limited release series. Some products have gone on to become something more, some have been rereleased and others have not been produced since.

VODKA

3BR is the first ever producer of pea vodka. But before we get into the whole pea business, what even is vodka? Vodka is a spirit made from any fermented product that is distilled to 95% alcohol per volume and then diluted to get a final ABV of 40%. 3BR uses a carefully crafted mixture of malted and unmalted yellow garden peas inspired by Grandpa Oleg's moonshine recipe which used peas as a sugar source. What ends up being bottled is an 80 proof vodka with flavor notes that are floral and vegetal. We named our vodka MENDEL after the famous scientist who studied genetics using peas and thus MENDEL 100% pea vodka was born. > Buy MENDEL pea vodka in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ, at a liquor store near you, or ship to your door online.

"TEQUILA"

Why in quotes? We produce a 100% agave distillate that utilizes hopping techniques from beer brewing called SOCHNY (sochny means juicy in Russian). While we use 100% blue agave, to legally be able to call this spirit tequila, it would have to be produced in specific regions of Mexico. This spirit is made with the use of Mosaic and WillIamette hops as well as bitter Curacao orange peel to create something with a ton of flavor while remaining in the same family as a tequila. It is 80 proof with tasting notes that are floral and citrus.

> Buy SOCHNY agave & hops spirit in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

RUM

The first “rum” we have produced is XABAHA “Soviet-style” rum. It is a specialty spirit we produce because it is a throwback to Soviet recipes based on Caribbean spirits. Lacking molasses, the Soviets used a mix of sugar cane and prune juice instead. It is 80 proof with tasting notes that are funky and fruity. > As of writing this article, XABAHA is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

3BR more recently released a blackstrap rum - 017 BLACKSTRAP rum. It is fermented and distilled from panela, an unrefined whole cane sugar which is extremely flavorful as it is an early product from the sugar refinement process and still carries vegetal notes from the sugar cane plant. After the distillation, we then back-sweetened 017 BLACKSTRAP with black strap molasses which is incidentally the final product from the sugar making process. It contains every part of the remaining plant with light sugar and heavy burnt caramel and baking spice flavors. It adds color without having to rely on any artificial coloring agents. It is 90 proof with tasting notes of molasses, dark chocolate, & black coffee. > Buy 017 BLACKSTRAP rum in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

GIN

In order to produce a gin the main ingredient must be juniper. Our SHISHKA is an unconventional gin just like you'd expect from 3BR. Filled with your usual gin botanicals like juniper and angelica root, but also, unusual additions like mushroom and garlic! It is 80 proof with tasting notes that are savory and garlicky. We also have a more traditional gin without all the savory additions that we affectionately call The People's Gin that we use for classic gin cocktails.

> Buy SHISHKA savory gin in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last. 014 FORAGED

A gin begins as a vodka and only becomes a gin officially when it contains majority juniper in its ingredients. This New Jersey juniper has a unique delicate flavor that is unlike any other, so more than 50% juniper was used. The botanicals in this gin were collected over the past year with help by Wild Serenity Walks. Some are not just native plants, but invasive plants; some only had a foraging season of a few weeks, making them rare. It was 80 proof with floral tasting notes. > Buy 014 FORAGED gin in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

WHISKEY

Whiskey is made from a fermented grain mash, water, and yeast - which is then aged in wooden oak barrels. At 3BR Distillery, we first made VISKI 3-grain whiskey. This funky fresh whiskey is made with a bourbon mash recipe utilizing local NJ corn, barley and red wheat and then quick aged. It is 126 proof with tasting notes of chocolate, raisin, honey, and oak. We sometimes refer to this version as our "Soviet-strength whiskey" due to the ABV, which as you can see, puts more than a few hairs on your chest. 

> Buy VISKI 3-grain whiskey in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

RYE

Rye whiskey is required to be 51% or more rye to qualify for the category. In the past, we made RYOT whiskey which was 80 proof with tasting notes of spice and oak. Our rye, corn and barley used for this spirit was locally sourced. This spirit was aged at least 2 months.

> As of writing this article, RYOT is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

BOURBON

In order to produce a bourbon you have to follow specific rules. It must be made out of at least 51% corn, aged in a new charred oak barrel, and specific distillation limits. Here at 3BR Distillery, we make a true straight bourbon using the same mash as our VISKI 3-grain - made from red wheat, corn and barley. We then age it in a new American oak cask for at least 2 years to create our BEARBON SB (single barrel) bourbon.

> Buy BEARBON bourbon whiskey in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last. 013 SMOKED BUCKWHEAT

A gluten-free whiskey. New Jersey-grown buckwheat from Turtle Creek Bee Farm, smoked at Rabbit Hill Malthouse, milled at historic Cooper Grist Mill, and distilled to perfection in our New Jersey distillery - a true taste of the Garden State. It was 100 proof with tasting notes that were smokey and nutty.

> As of writing this article, 013 SMOKED BUCKWHEAT is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

015 APPLEJACK

An applejack is traditionally an apple brandy - popularized by Lairds & Company Distillery! Our spirit began with an experimental apple varietal grown by NJ Agricultural Experiment Station. These apples were then taken to Melick’s Town Farm where they were pressed along with a supplemental amount of Melick’s-grown apples. The pressed apples were then  fermented, distilled & aged by yours truly for 2 years in a used single malt barrel from Bellemara Distillery. Strong essence of Apple which comes through more in cocktails. It was 80 proof with tasting notes of apple & oak. > As of writing this article, 015 APPLEJACK is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

WHISKEY-LIKE SPECIALTY SPIRITS

GOROVKA

At 3BR Distillery, any spirit we produce that doesn’t fit into a specific category gets labelled as a specialty spirit. For example, GOROVKA aged pea specialty spirit. You've never had a spirit like this before. Made 100% from peas and based on a family moonshine recipe from the USSR. This particular spirit is aged Solera-style in a single 133-gallon puncheon barrel to bring out unique flavor profiles and characteristics. It is 110 proof with tasting notes of chocolate, tobacco, & peas.

> Buy GOROVKA aged pea spirit in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

SOJU

Soju is a traditional pre-1960’s Korean spirit that has been enjoyed for centuries. Soju, in literal translation, means fire liquor, to describe the distillation process.  Traditionally, soju was made from rice, millet, sorghum, and other grains local to different regions in Korea; however, as the demand for soju grew, it became more expensive to use these grains as the main ingredient.  To make soju more affordable, producers began using other grains, such as wheat and barley, as well as other ingredients, such as sweet potatoes, to reduce the cost of production. Today, many soju brands use a combination of grains and other ingredients in their production process. Soju is a delicious and integral part of Korean culture that is worth trying if you have the opportunity.

3BR Distillery made GOM SOJU 100% rice soju, originally as a part of our elevator spirits and was named 06 SOJU. The recipe was made in collaboration with Soy & Rice's Jisung Chun's training in a historical recipe called Suktan-jun - a 2 stage fermentation process made from 100% Korean short grain rice and Korean indigenous wild yeast called nuruk. This process produces Makgeolli that we then twice distill. It is 80 proof with tasting notes of malt chocolate and rice.

We have also made 06 AGED soju. This spirit is the oak-aged big sister of 06 SOJU, now called GOM soju. Of course, we must mention that in Korean folklore, there is a tale about a bear and tiger that go into a cave to pray to become human. In order to achieve this, they must subsist on mugwort and garlic for 100 days. The tiger impatiently decides to give up while the bear makes it 100 days and is turned into a beautiful woman. This woman goes on to give birth to the leader of the first Korean kingdom. And so 06 AGED soju is the only product with no bear on the bottle - for it is transformed! The spirit is also 80 proof with tasting notes of toasted rice and oak.

> Buy GOM SOJU or 06 AGED soju in the tasting room only in Keyport, NJ while supplies last.

GRAPPA

012 GRAPPA breaks from traditional methods, combining elements of both brandy and grappa production. Unlike typical brandy, which uses only the fermented juice of grapes, and grappa, made exclusively from grape skins and stems (pomace), this process incorporates both the juice and pomace. The result is a unique profile where the distinctive, earthy flavors of grappa are balanced with the fruity notes characteristic of brandy. 

The blend is distilled twice for refinement and then aged for two years in ex-bourbon barrels, adding depth and complexity to the final product. This method bridges two distinct traditions, creating a spirit that stands apart in both flavor and technique. It was 80 proof with tasting notes of grape and oak. > As of writing this article, 012 GRAPPA is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

ABSINTHE

Our absinthe called 016 TARRAGON is made with tarragon instead of anise. After macerating tarragon, wormwood, and fennel in a high proof spirit made from sugar and grape must from our comrades at Beneduce Vineyards, it was then distilled a third time and aged in barrels for a year. After picking up a lovely amber color from the barrels, we chose to make a red absinthe using cochineal for a vibrant red hue. It is 80 proof with tasting notes that are herbaceous and caramel. > As of writing this article, 016 TARRAGON absinthe is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

OTHER SPIRITS

02 MAPLE

The first in a series of specialty spirits made from strange ingredients we call elevator spirits. 02 MAPLE is (you guessed it) made 100% from maple syrup. It is 90 proof with tasting notes of maple syrup. > As of writing this article, 02 MAPLE specialty spirit is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

03 GINGER

The 03 GINGER specialty spirit was made from baby ginger sourced and grown entirely in New Jersey. A sweet aroma still gives a peppery, ginger bite, but mellowed out in a used beer barrel for several months. It was 80 proof with tasting notes of a hint of ginger and sweetness. > As of writing this article, 03 GINGER specialty spirit is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

09 PEACH & BASIL

Comrade Rob, currently on track to obtain his doctorate in plant genetics, had been growing and observing a unique variety of basil grown on one of the research farms at Rutgers University. When  the study was concluded, he was able to provide access to the yield to allow 3BR distillery to use the basil called Rutgers Devotion DMR to make a new product. 

Head Distiller Aleks then thought a lot about what he could do with the interesting flavors of basil. He considered what other produce was in season around the same time and what flavors already pair well with basil.

That’s when he considered using peaches! Basil and peaches are used together in salads, salsa, and antipastas already and figured this could be a great combination for a spirit as well.  After finding a local peach farm in Jersey - Melick's Town Farm - the concept was finalized and the next elevator spirit was in the works! 

All 2000 lbs of peaches were cut by hand and blended into a slurry before added into the mash tun. After adding yeast, the mash was fermented for about a week. The ferment was then distilled using the stripping and finishing still to deliver a full body peach brandy. A small amount of the brandy was moved into multiple air stills in order to distill the brandy through the basil. This formed concentrated basil flavor in a portion of the peach brandy. After taste testing, that concentration was then added into the remaining supply of the peach brandy to create the final result. The product was then bottled and packaged for consumption with a 80 proof and tasting notes of stonefruit and herbal.

> As of writing this article, 09 PEACH & BASIL specialty spirit is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

010 HONEY

010 HONEY is a spirit distilled from 100% Miombo Tanzanian honey. The honey is fermented, distilled, and aged for six months in a barrel gifted to us from our comrades at Beach Bee Meadery of Long Branch, NJ. > As of writing this article, 010 HONEY specialty spirit is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

LIQUEURS

LIMECELLO Our LIMECELLO was initially created to reduce waste behind the bar in the tasting room after juicing limes left a pile of husks destined for the trash can. After the liqueur garnered fans at the local farmers markets, the team improved and developed the liqueur over time into what it is now. Instead of your typical Italian lemoncello, you can enjoy a chilled shot of LIMECELLO in the tasting room as a digestif or aperitif.

Made using our controlled heated steeping method, we are able to pull all the flavor out of the lime peel including the bitter pith while incorporating fresh lime juice to help balance the sweetness of the sugar used to sweeten the liqueur. No artificial flavors or concentrates. It is 51.6 proof with citrus and lime tasting notes. > Buy LIMECELLO lime liqueur in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ, at a liquor store near you, or ship to your door online.

GINGER BEAR

Created with the concept of nastoika in mind, GINGER BEAR serves both the home consumer and bar programs looking for more versatility in creating flavors with the ease of pouring it straight from the bottle. This pairing of honey and ginger has been a popular combination in many cuisines. The cranberry blossom honey is considered a specialty honey produced in limited quantities in particular regions where cranberries are grown and New Jersey is one of the largest producers of cranberries in the world. 

We added GINGER BEAR into our core line up due to popular demand! Inspired by an early elevator spirit* of ours, we created this product using 3BR’s house made vodka, fresh ginger, and New Jersey raw cranberry blossom honey. The fresh ginger is hot steeped into our house vodka and then finished with the honey, creating a product with complex layers of ginger, honey blossom and a lingering spiced finish. It is 46 proof. > Buy GINGER BEAR ginger & honey liqueur in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ, at a liquor store near you, or ship to your door online.

CHILITROIKA

The Eastern European tradition of nastoika is a beloved, typically home made drink by infusing various ingredients like herbs and spices in vodka. Looking to have a liqueur with a kick behind the bar at 3BR, the team created CHILITROIKA by infusing three styles of chiles into our house vodka. CHILITROKIA is an infusion made by steeping ancho chile peppers, chipotle peppers, chile de arbol, cinnamon and mesquite wood in our house made vodka. The mixture is heated for hours and then mixed with sugar to enhance the body of the liqueur while adding balance to the deep spice notes from the peppers. It is 56 proof with tasting notes of spicy, smokey, & cinnamon. > Buy CHILITROIKA pertsovka-style liqueur in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ or at a liquor store near you.

KOFI

KOFI is a coffee liqueur. Starting with coffee beans grown in the volcanic soils of Indonesia, Java Smuggler’s (based in New Jersey) then ages them in bourbon barrels before roasting them to perfection. 3BR then infuses the beans into our house-made vodka prior to adding sugar for sweetness. It is 40 proof with tasting notes of coffee and bourbon. > Buy GINGER BEAR ginger & honey liqueur in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ, at a liquor store near you, or ship to your door online. 04 DANDELION

04 DANDELION was created to add complexity and nuance in your cocktails. A great addition to your home bar next to your Campari and Aperol. This amaro-like liqueur will elevate your whiskey cocktails or add full-bodied nutty and floral notes to classic cocktails. It was 73.8 proof with tasting notes that were sweet, nutty, & bitter raisin. > As of writing this article, 04 DANDELION liqueur is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

05 TOMATO

Our team sourced the tomatoes from A.T. Buzby Farms in Woodstown, NJ. We then cut down and processed all the tomatoes to be then fermented into a wine, distilled into a brandy and then sweetened into a liqueur. It was 70 proof with tasting notes of fresh tomato and sweet. > As of writing this article, 05 TOMATO liqueur is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com. 07 TURMERIC

07 TURMERIC and honey liqueur is a unique and delectable blend of two of nature's most precious ingredients. The turmeric used in this liqueur was grown in Monmouth County, and the honey is sourced from The Fir Farm in Colts Neck, a local farm known for producing high-quality, pure honey. It was 50 proof with earthy and sweet tasting notes. > As of writing this article, 07 TURMERIC specialty liqueur is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

08 KVAS

08 KVAS is a malt rye and prune liqueur that utilizes two beer recipes from our friends at Twin Lights Brewing and flavored into an Eastern European kvass - a complex flavor from Soviet childhood. It was 60 proof with tasting notes of malt chocolate, raisin, and bread. > As of writing this article, 08 KVAS specialty liqueur is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com.

LIQUOR

Liquor vs liqueur - what's the difference? Simply put, liquors are typically a higher ABV and less sweet than a liqueur. 3BR Distillery famously and somewhat virally, created a pork roll liquor called 011 PEC ON EVERYTHING as part of our elevator series. “Someone had to do it,” Head Distiller, Aleks said while he went into detail about the complexity of the spirit. It's not the first and definitely will not be the last time he will be cooking up a crazy idea for a fun and tantalizing experience in a bottle. The full bodied flavor is very prominent and can be paired well with other intense flavors. It is 70 proof with tasting notes of everything bagel, garlic, & pork roll.

> Buy 011 PEC ON EVERYTHING pork roll liquor in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ or at a liquor store near you.

BOTTLED COCKTAILS (RTD)

If you enjoyed our award-winning Blueberry Lemon Bar, then you will love the LEMON BEARY PIE cocktail in a bottle! This martini is the base to our famous cocktail and is made with blueberry-infused MENDEL 100% pea vodka, graham cracker, lemon and vanilla. Add an ounce of kefir and shake with ice to make the BLB at home or just enjoy the mixture right out of the bottle on it's own. It's delicious! LEMON BEARY PIE is a blueberry pie martini that is all bottled and ready for you to enjoy. It is 30 proof with tasting notes of blueberry, pie crust, and lemon. > Buy LEMON BEARY PIE in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ, at a liquor store near you, or ship to your door online.

The Baba’s Smoking pipe - The bottled version of our popular old-fashioned served in the tasting room in Keyport, NJ. This product is made with our VISKI bourbon style mash whiskey, orange and wood simple and bitters. It was a popular find at the local farmers markets we frequented. It was 30 proof with tasting notes that are spirit forwards, oak, and nutty. > As of writing this article, Baba's Smoking Pipe is not being produced. Email us if you'd like to see it back on our shelves at info@3brdistillery.com. Wow! You made it to the end of this list. 3BR is always producing more inventive products. Scroll down to a link to follow us on social media or subscribe to our email list for updates on releases.

[See every product 3BR has ever produced here.]