Cory Bowie, Event Coordinator and Waypoint Gardener, sitting next to the two garden pallets at 410 Woodland Ave in Bloomfield.

The owners and employees of Waypoint Spirits in Bloomfield recently planted an organic garden to grow their own botanicals to help produce the locally-made spirit line. Located in the front outside of the distillery, two pallets planted with tomatoes, ghost peppers, lavender, thyme and mint, among many other botanicals, will enable the team to source ingredients. The soil comes from the distillery’s spent grains, which are first sent to Quantum Biopower in Southington. Quantum Biopower breaks down the grains, which creates a methane gas that is used to power homes in the area. The finished compost soil is returned to Waypoint Spirits and is used as the soil in their botanical gardens. Co-owner John Taylor calls the process “more than a 360-cycle.” Waypoint Spirits produces Wintonbury Gin, Labrador Noon Vodka, Man Overboard Spice Rum, Labrador Noon Spice XIII and a Small Batch Whiskey. Waypoint Spirits is distributed via Eder Bros. and Allan S. Goodman.