Together, they created their brand by staying true to the area of the city where they are located.
It has a gritty feeling and industrial look, and so, therefore, does their logo and brand. Tenth Ward
Distilling Company gets its name from a historic twist on its current location. In the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, the City of Frederick wa s divided into 10 wards. The 10th Ward was
home to most of the city’s industrial workforce. Old maps of Frederick show each ward labeled
with a Roman numeral—inspiration for the distillery’s utilitarian logo.
You’ll see the giant black X emblazoned on the outside of the building, and on each bottle of
spirits they sell. And about those bottles? They’re unique, too. Tall and squared off on the edges,
they pack a lot of heft and were chosen specifically for their unique character.
Speaking of unique characters, sprinkled throughout the distillery tasting area are little pieces
of Frederick history. From the map on the wall to the original bottle capper from Everedy Bottling
Company, to the wall of “fame,” featuring photos and newspaper clippings about Frederick’s most
notorious bootleggers, including “Hoppy” Grove, whose case was taken all the way to the U.S.
Supreme Court, and “diamond-toothed” Claude Countee, who escaped jail while awaiting trial.
While it’s interesting to read about the city’s colorful history with banning booze, Monica and
Kyle are grateful Prohibition is behind us. Two winters ago, Frederick lawmakers amended city
code to allow for small craft distillery operations to open in the downtown area, paving the way
for Tenth Ward and a few others to open since.
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