Tenth Ward Distilling Company is a woman owned micro-distillery located in the heart of downtown Frederick, Maryland.
Specializing in whiskey, brandy, seasonal liqueurs and absinthe, we pride ourselves on challenging the traditional style of distillation while making a product which flavor profile is influenced by our local ingredients.
The name “Tenth Ward” is a reference to the way Frederick City was divided during the late 19th century. Our distillery is located in what used to be considered the Tenth Ward. Drafted at the Frederick Historic Society, the map to the left depicts the boundaries of Frederick’s Tenth Ward in 1873.
STAFF
Monica
FOUNDER & BOSS LADY
@monquavitae
How you take your whiskey
With one ice cube
Favorite Cocktail
Rye old fashioned
If you could be an animal…
Turtle
Mark
HEAD DISTILLER
@whiskyicarus
How you take your whiskey
On a regular basis
Favorite Cocktail
Sazerac
If you could be an animal…
Jabberwock
Jackie
How you take your whiskey
Splash of ginger ale
Favorite Cocktail
Jack Rose
If you could be an animal…
Penguin
Sarah
How you take your whiskey
Neat
Favorite Cocktail
Boulevardier
If you could be an animal…
Pink Flamingo
Valerie
MUSIC MAVEN
@valeriepacke
How you take your whiskey
Depends on the whiskey – One big rock 😉
Favorite Cocktail
Sour classic cocktail family – how do you pick just one?
If you could be an animal…
Tropical bottlenose whale or a rad fish!
Amanda
MARKETING & EVENT SPECIALIST
@hey_burrss
How you take your whiskey
On the rocks
Favorite Cocktail
Corpse Reviver
If you could be an animal…
My dog, Tito!
Christene
SALES ASSOCIATE
@christene75
How you take your whiskey
On the rocks with a touch of ginger ale
Favorite Cocktail
Evening Shade – whiskey and peaches!! Yum
If you could be an animal…
Eagle
Shannon
@staycalmsucka
How you take your whiskey
Neat
Favorite Cocktail
Filthy gin martini
If you could be an animal…
Polar bear
Verbal
#kittysoze
How you take your whiskey
In a Saucer
Favorite Coctail
Whisker Sour
If you could be an animal…
Pizza Cat
With a background in sustainable resource management, the Boss Lady here at Tenth Ward is committed to keeping our environmental footprint minimal and sourcing everything as local as possible. Take a look to see where everything in your whiskey is coming from!
Grain– All of our grain is grown, malted and sometimes smoked by our favorite farmer Rusty at Ripon Lodge Farm out of Rippon, WV.
Cider– Proud to say that we ferment and distill our apple brandy (the base for Applejack and our seasonal liqueurs) using cider from our neighbors right down the road in Frederick, MD at McCutcheon’s Apple Products.
Mead– Distilled mead?! Wha?? Yeah it’s pretty awesome and we call it Honeyjack. The mead is sourced from our industry comrades out at Orchid Cellar Meadery and Winery in Middletown, MD.
Honey– We also use honey to sweeten our seasonal liqueurs. Always picked up at Hay’s Apiary in Smithsburg, MD by the boss lady in her Prius.
Bottles– MADE IN AMERICA! And proud of it. The three major bottling manufacturers out there are located in the US, Europe and China. We’re proud to source our bottles from Piramal’s manufacturing plant in Park Hills, MO.
Labels– Printed out of the Niagara region in Akron, NY, all of our labels come from Niagara Labels.
Barrels– Newly cooped barrels are currently sourced from The Barrel Mill our of Avon, MI. Although stay posted because we are waiting for a brand new cooperage to open up right here in Maryland!
Used Barrels– While barrels tend to get passed around in this industry quite alot, most of our used barrels previously had bourbon in them from A. Smith Bowman Distillery out of Fredericksburg, VA.
PRESS
2018
December 4, 2018
Digital Bard Zesty Video Marketing
Podcast: Tenth Ward Distilling “Wards Off Ordinary”
The Frederick distillery crafts one-of-a-kind spirits and guest experiences. Listen to podcast.
November 14, 2018
Frederick County Maryland Office of Economic Development
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Monica Pearce and Tenth Ward Distilling
The craft beverage industry has been exploding in recent years and Frederick County is setting the standard. One of the leaders of the Frederick craft spirits scene is Monica Pearce. Read more.
November 9, 2018
Frederick News Post
Hood College class provides recommendations for Tenth Ward expansion
As Tenth Ward Distilling Company owner Monica Pearce expands the company, she’s faced with questions that can be difficult to answer. And to come up with those answers, she turned to some unlikely resources for assistance. Read more.
September 23, 2018
Frederick News Post
Employers increasingly look for emotional intelligence in job applicants
A college education, experience and knowledge used to be the only key factors a job applicant needed to get a job. And although those factors may still land a candidate a position, employers today are looking at so much more than knowledge and skill set. Read more.
August 16, 2018
DCist
Impassioned Craft Spirits Producers Make Case for Permanency of Reduction of FET
ACSA asked many members to share how they are reinvesting savings from their reduced Federal Excise Tax. Here is a video clip which demonstrates our craft spirits community is hiring more employees, buying more equipment, providing enhanced benefits, buying more grain, and promoting tourism. In short, the reinvestment throughout the U.S. is HELPING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. Read more.
August 7, 2018
DCist
Tenth Ward Distilling Company Has Released Maryland’s First Absinthe
Curious patrons gathered in a small storefront on East Church Street in Frederick, Md., on a late July weekend for their chance to be among the first to sample an infamous concoction long surrounded by myth and mystery—one nicknamed the Green Fairy, after its reputation for taking its drinkers on a magical, hallucinogenic journey. Read more.
July 2018
UnCapped Magazine
Absinthe Makes a Comeback
Tenth Ward gets a shout out in Frederick’s UnCapped Magazine, featuring Maryland’s First Absinthe!
July 18, 2018
Frederick News Post
Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Founder
There are a lot of legends about absinthe. That it’s addictive, that it’s hallucinogenic, even that it’s toxic (spoiler alert — it’s not). But with Tenth Ward Distilling Company’s first-ever absinthe (and the first in the state of Maryland), owner Monica Pearce is working to de-sexify the spirit and make it familiar. Read more.
June 14, 2018
99.9 WFRE
Interesting People #60: Monica Pearce – Tenth Ward Distilling Company
Monica Pearce is the owner and co-founder of the Tenth Ward Distilling Company in Downtown Frederick! We talk about how Monica got into distilling, the thought process behind Tenth Ward’s drink designs, and get excited about Maryland’s first Absinthe! The drink chat also has a side of Frederick small business stories!
February 12, 2018
Frederick Magazine
Best of Frederick: 2018 Winners
VOTED BEST DISTILLERY IN FREDERICK!
2017
November 7, 2017
Men’s Fitness
Tenth Ward’s Applejack is ranked number 11 in Men’s Fitness 2017 spirits competition!
October 18, 2017
Frank About Beer
Our favorite local blogger wrote a review on our Honeyjack collaboration with Milkhouse Brewery and Orchid Cellar Meadery. Check it out!
September, 2017
Distillery Cats Book
Verbal is famous! And featured in Distillery Cats the book. Pick up a copy in our tasting room at Tenth Ward.
February 14, 2017
Frederick Newspost Uncapped Podcast
Host Chris Sands and guest host Keith Marcoux (Olde Mother Brewing Co.) welcomes Tenth Ward Distillery.
February 7, 2017
Edible DC
Edible DC was in town for a conference and decided to swing by our distillery to see what we were up to.
February 2, 2017
Taste the Dram
One on one interview with Tenth Ward’s head distiller. Learn about his background and thoughts on the craft distilling industry.
January 22, 2017
Frederick News Post
Read about the Tenth Ward and Olde Mother Brewing barrel collab.
2016
December 12, 2016
Frederick Advice Givers
Listen to a podcast with the boss lady for some local business advice!
December 12, 2016
Epicure and Culture
Meet some of the leading women distillers in the United States, who will boost your love of whiskey.
December 2016
Distiller Magazine
Fun info on some of Maryland and Dc’s newest distilleries!
November 9, 2016
YouTube
Groupon made a commercial on YouTube for us. Thanks Groupon!
October 14, 2016
Lace and Grace Blog
Tara Butler, one of our favorite local bloggers and her Tenth Ward bonfire cocktail recipe!
September 23, 2016
WHAG News
Watch our WHAG news highlight about Frederick’s distilling scene.
Tenth Ward Distilling Company – PRESS KIT