Within a block of Canton’s historic square is an addendum to the new history seen developing around the state, craft legal alcohol.
Joining the Ranks of Cathead Vodka in Jackson and Charboneau Rum in Natchez, as well as a host of breweries the state has seen in recent years, Rich Grain Distilling company is taking a swing at distilling fine legal spirits long imported to the state.
Owner, operator, head distiller and currently the sole employee aside form his faithfull dog Delta, David Rich, picked up a taste for bourbon when he was in grad school at the University of Mississippi and a shelf displaying an array of bourbons demonstrates that he has sampled a wide range of whiskeys. One thing is for sure; Rich will utilize a seasoned and constantly expanding palate to judge his own product.
‘I guess it really started in grad school or about there. I really got into sampling different bourbons and just seeing what’s all out there,” Rich said.
At 29 years old, David Rich has decided move back to Madison from Huntsville, Alabama where he had worked as an engineer for about the past six years or so, and decided to move back to pursue his passion.
“I had been wanting to move back and if figured right now was a good time in my life to strike out and do it,” Rich said.
Rich is the son of Neal and Cindy Rich of Madison and graduated form MRA. Rich puts in long days, sometimes 12 hours or more at his distillery.
Bourbon is a beverage of tradition, and while Rich is proud of his “established 2015” starting date, he has worked to connect his company to history as much as he could.
First his building on Peace Street in Canton has been dated using Sanborn maps which were made in meticulous detail for insurance companies that show additions and subtractions and while they may not give specific dates are a great way to chronicle the history of a building over various ten year time frames.
“As far as the oldest maps show this building is at least form the 1880’s. This building has been everything from a grocery store to a saloon. It has been a car dealership that sold Packards and Mercurys. A tractor dealership. Most recently it has been a furniture store and now it is my distillery,” Rich said.
Second he has his bottle. Rich has found a company that shut its door due to prohibition that shares the look and feel he is going for, including his own name.
The bottle is modeled after a Rich Grain Distillers from Kansas City, Missouri.
Rich Grain Distillery does not have a specific mention or directive to find grain that is sourced naturally or locally, but by default he ends up with a slew of local products. The malt is from the Midwest and so are most of the grains but the corn is bought at the local co-op and the molasses for his rum comes from LA. Even the spent grains he cant use are traded to a local farmer for eggs and bacon.
“It makes a great slop he can feed to his pigs and chickens,” Rich said.
Currently rich offers one product, corn whiskey, and is expecting to roll out white and spiced rums within a few months. By Christmas 2017, he expects to add bourbon to that list.
Bourbon must be aged, but the versatility of Rich’s still means he can release un aged products to keep him going while his bourbon sits cozy in its barrels, working its magic.
“I definitely want bourbon to be our flagship product, but our corn whiskey is good to and I look forward to rolling out our rum,” Rich said.
When asked if he has any drink recipes he would like to share Rich said, “I would never tell anyone how to drink my product.”
But he said he has had success making everything from margaritas to juleps with his corn whiskey.
“Anything with lemon or lime works well with our corn whiskey. I have been making this drink with tea, simple syrup and lemon juice with corn whiskey that is refreshing in the summer,” Rich said.
Rich Distilling Company’s corn whiskey can be sampled at the distillery after a tour, but it is available in many liquor stores in the Jackson area and Rich has recently hired a distributor to get his name in every store in the State.
“I want to emphasize that if you want it you can get it. They sell it around here and if they don’t have it, it can be requested,” Rich said.
Rich currently gives tours of the distillery on the weekends and is always open to having volunteers come eat some food and help bottle his alcohol. For more information you can call David Rich at 601-750-8221 or email him at david@richdistilling.com
