Vodka maker Deep River Distillers is seeking approval to open a distillery in Rocky Hill, where the company would make its branded Krew Vodka.
Deep River Distillers founder and owner Paul Grabek will appear before the Rocky Hill Planning and Zoning Commission May 19 to request a change of use for the Shunpike Business Center at 1275 Cromwell Ave., from office and warehousing use to manufacturing use. Grabek said town officials have been supportive of the plan in preliminary discussions.
“It’s very promising,” Grabek said Monday, adding that he’s had meetings with Rocky Hill’s building inspector and fire marshall among others. “The town has been very easy to work with.”
If Grabek receives the necessary local and state approvals to operate out of the Shunpike Business Center, he’d hire up to five people to work at the distillery, he said. The facility wouldn’t need a large-scale buildout, and the distillery could be up and running about a month after receiving final approvals.
The proposed Rocky Hill distillery would make small batches of Krew Vodka for sale to local bars, restaurants and liquor stores, Grabek said. He’s currently in talks with alcohol distributors including Brescome Barton in North Haven and Stratford-based Connecticut Distributors Inc.Â
Deep River Distillers has participated in tasting events across the country for the past five years, and Krew Vodka won third prize at the 2017 American Distillers Institute craft distillers’ competition, Grabek said.
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