HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Merry Beth Tomaszewski puts the MB in MB Roland. Her maiden name punctuates the popular distillery that she owns alongside her husband Paul Tomaszewski. The couple was stationed to Fort Campbell years ago while Paul dreamed of expanding on a passion of his. After he got out of military, they jumped at the chance to try something new.
“This Amish dairy farm came up for sale, and the rest is history,” said Paul.
The couple opened the distillery in 2009 and admit that things were rough in the beginning. Their secluded location had not been as developed as it is now, and it took a couple of years to spread the word to get a good flow of people coming in. But their location is also what helps make their business so successful.
“We are in the country surrounded by all the beautiful farmland here in Christian County and making product with crops that are from here as well,” said Paul. “We are completely grain to glass, meaning that we start with the grain and bottle the product as a finished product. We use locally sourced grain that is grown here in Christian County.”
Even the barrels they use to age their products are sourced right down the road, and they make sure to stock their shop with items from local artisans along with their own products.
Paul Roland credits Christian County’s grain along with their distilling process to what makes their whiskey, bourbon and moonshine have such a soft taste that is still heavy in flavor. The MB Roland website has a complete breakdown of the products they offer.
Good for distillery, good for community
“Growth is painful; we learned that this year,” said Merry Beth when asked about how they keep up with increasing demand.
When they started out, the distillery would receive one truckload of grain a year, now they use one or two truckloads a week. Increased competition and growing popularity have resulted in gradual, organic growth. They now package and ship to 18 locations, not including the products sold in their store.
The bright side is that their success means success for the community. “The money that comes in goes right back out to the local area,” said Merry Beth.
A newer warehouse on the property currently holds 2,000 barrels of whiskey. It potentially can store around 5,500 barrels with the possibility of adding more in the future. Currently in the works on the side of the warehouse is a massive mural by local artist Brad De La Torre. The mural will be facing the new entrance to the property and is the largest piece the artist has ever worked on.
The mural will help mark the distillery as a popular attraction and tourist stop in Christian County. Although winter is a slower time for the distillery, they are open seven days a week for tastings, tours, and purchases. They also offer elevated tasting tours for those who are interested.
MB Roland Distillery is at 137 Barkers Mill Road in Pembroke, just off Pembroke Oak Grove Road, north of Oak Grove. For more, go to the MB Roland Distillery website, call 270-640-7744 or email unfiltered@mbroland.com.
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