Norfolk’s first microdistillery, Dead Reckoning Distillery will celebrate its grand opening with an official ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 12. The 3,200 square-foot distillery will offer tours, tastings and an inside look into its unique, rum distilling process.
Owner and Army reservist Derek Ungerecht and his business partner, Matt Hartman, began the application process for Dead Reckoning Distillery in 2016. They awaited approvals on both the city and federal level for a variety of liquor-specific rights related to the production and sale of bottled craft spirits for off-site consumption.
While Dead Reckoning is celebrating its tasting room’s grand opening, the distillery has actually been selling its flagship rum, Tidewater Rum, since last July. The 80 proof Tidewater Rum is sold in a number of Virginia ABC Stores as well as Navy Exchange stores. Dead Reckoning has also offered tastings of the sweet, silver rum at select grocery and specialty stores throughout Hampton Roads.
The distillery’s newest rum varieties include a dark Dead Reckoning Craft Spiced Rum as well as the white Rebel Rum. All spirits crafted at Dead Reckoning are made with natural molasses, yeast, yeast nutrient and filtered water, and are distilled within Ungerecht’s handmade, 220-gallon copper still. Specific aging and spicing processes are incorporated, as well.
Dead Reckoning Distillery is located at 312 W. 24th St., Norfolk. The distillery will be open Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. For more information about the distillery’s grand opening, check out Dead Reckoning’s official Facebook page.
Author: Grace Silipigni
