Founded in 2016 by Monica Pearce, Tenth Ward Distilling is a woman-owned craft distillery located in the heart of historic Downtown Frederick (in what used to be the “Tenth Ward” of Frederick City in the 1800s). Tenth Ward specializes in a variety of year-round and seasonal spirits, small-batch one-time-only releases, and they take claim to producing Maryland’s first and only absinthe. Everything Tenth Ward makes is nontraditional and unconventional, which is why they live fearlessly by their slogan #wardoffordinary.
We’ve hosted a couple of Chamber events in the Tenth Ward space and can attest to how amazing their distillery and spirits truly are. We were fortunate enough to chat with Monica about being a part of the Frederick business community.
Photo Credit: Emily Gude Photography
Meet Tenth Ward Distilling: An Interview with Founder, Monica Pearce
On What Makes Doing Business in Frederick So Great
I couldn’t imagine being a business owner anywhere else! Frederick is my hometown so I have a wonderfully supportive network of friends and family but it also houses an amazing group of programs, non-profits and community groups that are all in sync and dedicated to Frederick’s economic success.
Photo Credit: Emily Gude Photography
On What Makes Tenth Ward so Unique
Tenth Ward is one of only a few craft distilleries in Frederick, and the only woman-owned distillery in Frederick. We’re known for our nontraditional approach to spirits; everything we make is unconventional and a little different. Tenth Ward’s goal is for our customers to have an experience with our spirits unlike anything they’ve experienced before.
On the Legacy of Tenth Ward
W want to be know for our delicious, locally crafted, high-quality spirits. We’re knowledgeable about our craft and we always want to share that knowledge; we want to be to go-to distillery for all your distilled spirit curiosities. In addition to our distillery, we also run the Cocktail Lab, a craft cocktail bar that specialized in high-end and outrageous cocktail concoctions.
Photo Credit: 5th and Market Photography
On Giving Back to the Community
During COVID-19 we halted distilled spirit production and started producing surface disinfectant, of which we donated to many businesses on the front lines. We we’re a participating drop of site and contributor to the Soles of Love shoe donation campaign run by Julie Gaver. We operate in and renovated a historic building in downtown Frederick and provide a venue for non-profit and community events as well as job creation and providing a tourism draw.
Photo Credit: Emily Gude Photography
On What’s Coming Next
We recently released our first ready-to-drink canned cocktail, the Corpse Reviver No. 10, which was first a popular draft cocktail at the Cocktail Lab. It’s available in 4-packs for $16 at the Cocktail Lab and will soon be available at liquor stores in MD and DC! Our second canned cocktail, a Smoked Whiskey Sour, will be released and available at the Cocktail Lab on Saturday, November 28, 2020. We’re releasing a small-batched one-time-only release, our Four-Grain Bourbon Whiskey, on Saturday, November 14, 2020, 12-10 pm. We’re hosting a Holiday Makers Market on Sunday, November 29. We’ll host a variety of local artists and small business for all your holiday shopping needs.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.