Lost Ark Distillery Co. to Bring Homemade Spirits to Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — The first distillery in Howard County since the Prohibition will open Saturday, Dec. 3.

To welcome guests, the Lost Ark Distilling Co. is planning tours and tastings starting after noon Saturday.

The products brewed at the facility are uniquely Maryland themed, according to owners Brad Blackwell and Andy Debenham, who have been planning Lost Ark for nearly three years.

"Lost Ark Distilling. Co. is named after one of the ships that brought the first settlers to Maryland, the Ark. We want to go back to this time, to the roots of all Marylanders, when everything was made by hand, what we feel is a lost art," Blackwell said. "Our focus is going to be sourcing every grain from local farms and providing a unique one-of-a-kind variety of premium local whiskeys and rums."

Their first offering is Lady Anne White Rum, described as a light-bodied white spirit with hints of molasses, caramel, berry and the tropics. The molasses for the rum comes from Domino Sugar in Baltimore. The spirit's name comes from Anne Arundell, the 17th-century noblewoman for whom Anne Arundel County was named. She married Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, and together they helped charter the colony of Maryland. Described by her husband as the "most lovely of earthly beauties," she was known for being extremely attractive.

"Lady Anne White Rum continues the tradition of irresistibility," according to Lost Ark's description of the rum.

A spiced rum and corned whiskey are next on the list for Lost Ark, which plans to incorporate local ingredients, a Maryland name and complementary Maryland back-story with each spirit.

"We pride ourselves in using as many locally sourced grains and ingredients as we can to craft our products," Debenham said. "It's not easy but it's extremely important for us to create the most authentic Maryland product that we can."

The distillery also plans to barrel age straight bourbon and Maryland-style rye whiskey, plus offer seasonal products and specialty liqueurs.

Lost Ark Distilling Co. is at 9570 Berger Road in Columbia. The grand opening will be from noon–6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, with tours given at the top of the hour. The celebration continues from noon–4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Image via Lost Ark/Facebook.