SoNo 1420 American Craft Distillers celebrated its four-year anniversary with a themed party called The Hempening at its distillery and tasting room on April 22. SoNo 1420 was founded in 2019 by Ted Dumbauld, who launched the distillery after experimenting with hemp-based whiskey recipes. All of the brand’s ultra-premium, award-winning spirits are crafted in historic South Norwalk on Day Street. Located in a custom-designed industrial building, the distillery highlights its imported copper and stainless steel still, as well as its destination tasting room. The award-winning brand includes whiskeys, gins, vodkas and ready-to-drink cocktails. Guests also enjoyed SoNo 1420’s many Connecticut-made spirits served up in Prohibition-era craft cocktails, plus tastes from its newest offerings: Blaze Cinnamon Flavored Whisky; Threesome Cocktails in Espresso Martini, Margarita and Cosmopolitan; and bottled vodka cocktails in 1420 Transfusion, Strawberry Lemonade Haze and Orange Kush. The brand is self-distributed in Connecticut.
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SoNo 1420 American Craft Distillers team: Debra Clark, Sales; Amber Scinto, Creative Director; Ellyn Weitzman, Director of Marketing, Partnerships and Outreach; Eugenia Tiano, Distillery Operations and Marketing Associate; Ted Dumbauld, Founder; and Blake Poon, Mixologist.
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Founded in 2019, Ted Dumbauld built the SoNo 1420 distillery after experimenting with hemp-based whiskey recipes. It is the first distillery to incorporate hemp into its mash bills. Shown are SoNo 1420 BPF, BBN and BLN whiskies.
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Shown are award-winning Blaze Cinnamon Flavored Whisky and its many gin and vodka expressions. The gins are gluten-free and made with 100% corn-neutral spirits and vapor-infused botanicals, each from specifically selected terpenes found in the essential oils of plants. The vodkas are crafted in small batches using 100% corn-based, gluten-free spirits and are vapor-infused with fresh ingredients and no artificial flavors, no sugar and no artificial sweeteners.
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Blake Poon, Mixologist making a Seasonal Smash, a signature craft cocktail for the brand’s anniversary party.
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A Seasonal Smash, made with 1420 BBN or with 1420 Hemped Rye Spirit, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, seasonal fruit and mint leaves.
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Bartender Caylx Tacco making a Blazin’ Peaches cocktail.
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Made with Blaze Cinnamon Flavored Whisky, peach and lemon juices, and peach bitters, Bartender Caylx Tacco adds some final fire to a cinnamon stick.
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SoNo 1420 American Craft Distillers Threesome Cocktails in Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini and Margarita. The three ingredients for each cocktail are packaged together in a branded wrap and the consumer simply opens each top to pour in unison.
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New Connecticut-made vodka-based ready-to-drink cocktails made with SoNo 1420 Vo Vodka, 14.2% ABV, are available in three flavors: 1420 Transfusion, Strawberry Lemonade Haze and Orange Kush.
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Live music from the Swamp Hogs and Dee Jay Rob accompanied food trucks from Palmer’s Market Food Truck and Precious Oysters, among vendors. A dog-friendly event, canine treats were provided by Norwalk’s Get Joy.
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SoNo 1420 American Craft Distillers’ custom-designed distillery and destination tasting room on Day Street hosts visitors for tours and tastings, as well for its many art and music events in support of local talent.
Photos by Andrew Dominick.