Eda Rhyne Distilling, located in a town more known for its beer than its spirits Asheville, is becoming a little gem nestled amongst the Blue Ridge mountains and serving as a gateway to the Smokies. If you have ever visited there, you may remember the smell of patchouli wafting from a group of people as they walk by, or the faint sound of a drum circle coming from the center of town. Not to mention, a house built for one of the pioneers of the American Industrial age within the Biltmore Estates. Although these things are an apparent sight, sound, or smell to behold; one can easily become distracted from the roots that continue growing beneath their feet. In those hills just outside of town, Haywood County being one of them provides a bounty of things that one without an understanding and knowledge in foraging would just walk right by. This is not the case for the team at Eda Rhyne.
They comb through Appalachia in search for some of the finest local ingredients this earth could provide. Who knew an Amari could be so much more than that bitter liquor you see the industry folks order at a bar? I had the chance to talk to one special person that told me of his passion, and today I will share it with you.
Chris Bower, who grew up in Haywood County, remembers walking through the woods with his pappy and him pointing out the various plants and explaining their purposes This included things that were used as medicine before its modernization. Something that the natives and older generations would take and place inside of vessels of distilled spirit to not only preserve but extract the medicinal properties for use whenever they were needed. “Mountain Medicine” some would say, but it is the way things were done back then, and even some still to this day.
Mr. Bower, in his words, ‘luckily’ got a job in England, which allowed him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. After landing in Paris, something clicked, seeing one Amari advertisement after the other, Chris became inquisitive about what he was seeing. Like Sherlock Holmes, the stars began to align or as he put it, he “connected the dots.” There was a connection with what his grandparents had been doing, and what he was seeing abroad. Back home, the Amari was being used for medicine, but in France they were adding sugar, and other botanicals, enjoying them as an aperitif. From that experience alone Eda Rhyne became a twinkle in his eye. I should pause for a second and explain the name as best I can. Eda Rhyne is based off an old ghost story from Haywood County, which I hope to get the details of while hopefully foraging for spice bush this spring.
After his return from Europe, he began playing around with his knowledge of plants and newly learned knowledge of Amari. Chris stated “it just made sense” to use what grows around us and create something regionally exclusive. Most may not know but this area of Western North Carolina is one of the most biodiverse regions in the US. Though utilizing plants in spirits is not restricted to these places, it happens all over the world. From Vietnam, where he was able to form a bond with a local who shared with him a unique twist on this herbal liquor. It was created from start to finish by one-man, distilled rice with added botanicals from the Vietnamese mountains. The spirit even included the “tree with no leaves,” trust me…look it up!
If not foraging, distilling, or traveling the world in search of new botanicals/plants, and or regionally unique Amari’s; Chris does enjoy a classic Negroni, I mean of course he would! Other cocktails he called out were a Last Word, and a Black Manhattan which is one of my go to’s!
Chris and I discussed so much more that I feel there may be a part two to this article soon!
I will leave you all with a little bit of an insider tip. Since Eda Rhyne’s inception in 2016, there has been a distillate or two resting in barrels tucked away for not many to see. With notion of experimentation with unique and heirloom grains besides their available products, let me just say there is a Rye Whiskey on the way!
Salud!
-Brodie - @wsky.n.jojo
Adding this to the list, great info.