Maryland was first declared a “Free State” after the legislature abolished slavery in the 19th Century. In the early 20th Century, it was a Baltimore Sun guy, Evening Sun editor Hamilton Owens, who popularized Maryland as “The Free State” after Congress passed a law prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Marylanders opposed and hated prohibition. As a result of that history, “Free State” is Maryland’s long-standing nickname.
Now, another act of the Maryland legislature has amplified the state’s embrace of imbiblical freedom.
Rye whiskey is the official state spirit, and there’s a ticketed event coming up in Baltimore, on the weekend of Nov. 10-12, to celebrate the fact.
Rye Revival – I love this euphemistic phrase for drinking from the press release – encourages the public to engage with local distilleries throughout the weekend. This celebration of whiskey is presented by the Maryland Distillers Guild and Grow & Fortify.
More from the press release:
“Rye Revival celebrates the rich history and traditions of rye whiskey distilling. We have a unique opportunity to share and explore Maryland’s contributions to rye whiskey over nearly two centuries,” says Kelly Dudeck, Executive Director of the Maryland Distillers Guild. “As our official state spirit, Maryland Rye Whiskey is enjoying a renaissance as its production continues to be innovated upon and more local distillers craft world-class releases.”
2023 Maryland Rye Whiskey Symposium
The 2023 Maryland Rye Whiskey Symposium is an enriching experience delving deep into Maryland’s role in the history of rye whiskey.
Keynote address: Clay Risen, New York Times reporter and author of “American Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Original Spirit.”
Seminars on the production techniques to the ingredients that contribute to Maryland rye.
Speakers include: Carlo DeVito, a prolific wine and spirits writer, blogger, and winemaker; Todd Leopold, a distiller from Leopold BrosBecky Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling, Jennifer Yang of Covalent Spirits and Monica Pearce of Tenth Ward Distilling Co.
Conference registration is open to industry professionals and the public.
The 2023 Maryland Rye Whiskey Symposium will be hosted on Friday, Nov. 10 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Maryland Center for History and Culture in Baltimore.
Friday Night Rye: Grand Whiskey Tasting features a roster of distilleries, with ten Maryland-based establishments such as Baltimore Spirits Co. and Sagamore Spirit leading the way. They will be joined by regional and national producers, including Catoctin Creek Distilling Company from Virginia, George Dickel hailing from Tennessee, and Whistlepig Whiskey representing Vermont.
The Grand Tasting also offers cocktail making and rye-inspired food items.
Visit ryerevivalmd.com for event details and tickets.
About the Maryland Distillers Guild
The Maryland Distillers Guild can be followed on Facebook (@marylanddistillers), Instagram (@marylandspirits), and Twitter (@marylandspirits). Information about the Maryland Distillers Guild is updated at marylandspirits.org.
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Dan Rodricks 
Not a reply on this, but on your Harborplace column today: The line “cliffs of steel and glass” is right on — and imagine how much more damage they would add to the death toll of birds crashing into the windows of the city’s existing high-rises. Cheers!
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