Marylanders hold Old Bay nearly to the same level of pride as they do their bold state flag. The image of the spice’s iconic yellow and blue tin with a red top is plastered on everything from T-shirts to socks — even an inflatable pool.
While blue crabs with Old Bay is classic, it’s also eaten on everything from potato chips to cheese curls. It’s even in hot sauce.
Now McCormick & Co. Inc. is launching Old Bay’s own vodka.
Old Bay Vodka, through a partnership with George’s Beverage Co., is crafted at McClintock Distilling and made from corn and six times distilled for maximum purity and smoothness, according to a press release.
“Old Bay has been a fan-favorite for over 75 years in the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond,” said Jill Pratt, chief marketing excellence officer for McCormick. “Our fans are loyal and passionate when it comes to all things Old Bay. We’re thrilled to work with George’s to bring the one-of-a-kind flavor of Old Bay to fans in entirely new, exciting, and innovative ways.”
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“The idea to collaborate to craft Old Bay Vodka made perfect sense from the start,” said Greg David, co-owner, George’s Beverage Co.
The company’s next step was “identifying a local craft distillery that we could trust and that shared the same commitment to quality, craftmanship and sustainability, we found all this in McClintock Distilling.”
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McClintock Distilling, named best craft vodka distillery in the country by USA TODAY, is a craft distillery located in in Frederick, Maryland. The team there built out a dedicated state-of-the-art facility for production.
Old Bay Vodka will be available in March. It is 70 proof or 35% alcohol by volume.
The drink combines the taste of the region with the smooth finish that’s easy to drink on or off the rocks or as a unique ingredient upgrade for classic cocktails and alcohol-infused recipes alike, the press release states.
Now, who’s got a good Bloody Mary recipe?
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