As the list of participants in my Vetrepreneurs© column continues to grow, I wanted to focus attention on some proud Veterans who have chosen to serve after their tours by serving great food and drink.
Arch Watkins and Mark McLaughlin are former Navy pilots who ended up stationed in the same squadron in Baltimore. When it was time to put on their “civvies” again, the two soon realized that flying off aircraft carriers was far more engaging than being tied to a desk. They also realized that, as nearly any Veteran can tell you, there is no way to finish a tough day in the trenches than with a quality beverage.
After consulting some other veterans of the armed forces and the beverage world, Arch and Mark created Old Line Spirits!
Made from 100% malted barley Old Line’s American single malt whiskey offers essence of caramel, honey, and vanilla in a Whiskey that mixes well and is also great on its own! While the original edition is aged in charred casks made with white oak. Old Line also offers a straight-from-the-barrel cask strength as well as whiskeys aged in barrels that previously produced Armagnac, Cognac, Oloroso Sherry, and even Caribbean Rum! Speaking of rum Old Line recently released a trio of what they call Case 1 rums (“Case 1” being Naval lingo for ideal flying conditions) and have just devised their own six-times distilled gluten-free Case 1 vodka, all of can make any time of night or day ideal.
In addition to providing a great American whiskey and other drinks, Arch and Mark have also opened a great place to enjoy them, using an old hangar (naturally) just outside of Baltimore as their manufacturing facility and a tasting room that also hosts events of all sizes. Even if you cannot make it to Charm City, however, you can surely still enjoy Old Line, knowing that you are not only raising a great glass of Whiskey but also raising visibility and support for our brave Veterans.