Shmidt Spirits
Overview of the Distillery
Shmidt Spirits is a small craft distillery in Beltsville, just outside the Beltway in Maryland. The distillery produces rye and gin and deliberately works with finish experiments under the label "Distinctively Finished." The premises include a mural-decorated tasting room, a lounge filled with records, and a barrel room, and visitors can meet the owners Arthur and Brian during guided tours and tastings.
History
The building and interior of Shmidt Spirits were documented throughout 2019, as the distillery gradually opened to the public; a journal entry from October 23, 2019 marks that they were "Open For Business." In early 2020 the team continued work on the whiskey project Cobalt Rye, but when Covid-19 hit, they quickly shifted production to sanitizing spray. Within a week they sold almost 2,000 bottles and began distributing free hand sanitizer to local markets and food aid, while establishing online ordering and curbside pickup. Since then the distillery has hosted recurring events and art projects under the name Installation/Distillation and continued communication via the journal in 2021 and 2023.
Raw Materials and Production
The production uses rye.
Distillation is carried out using small-batch craft distillation.
Maturation takes place in the on-site barrel room.
Distinctive Finishes, micro-batch experiments, and Bottle Club releases; owner-led, guest-oriented production; small runs and experiments; and close customer contact via tours and Bottle Club.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation takes place in the distillery's own barrel room. A central part of the work is finish experiments under the umbrella term "Distinctive Finishes" and micro-batch aging, which are used to develop new expressions. There is no detailed public information about precise barrel types or the origin of the oak.
Whisky
The range centers on rye and gin with a focus on finish experiments. Bottle Club offers quarterly, limited 375 ml releases and early access to experimental single-batch spirits. The distillery sells bottles directly from the tasting room and runs ongoing small releases, while Cobalt Rye is noted as a planned rye project.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt rye | Rye whiskey | Cobalt rye is described as a rye whiskey under development; the distillery worked on this rye during the Covid period and planned to bring it to market. | Upcoming |
Visit the Distillery
Shmidt Spirits is open to the public on weekends and offers guided tours with full tastings, where all spirits are sampled. Tours are led by Arthur or Brian, and guests can ask questions and purchase bottles. There are dedicated cocktail hours on weekends with $10 cocktails; bookings are made via an online scheduler. The space can be rented for private events, and dogs are welcome.
The posted hours are Friday 5pm–8pm; Saturday noon–5pm; Sunday noon–5pm.
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery's core philosophy is based on experimentation and finish: "Distinctively Finished" spirits and micro-batch experiments are central. The owners prioritize direct contact with customers through tours and Bottle Club, involve members in product development, and have shown engagement with the local community during crises.
Latest News
Distilling in the Age of COVID – 2020-05-02
Update on Covid-19: Shmidt Spirits began producing sanitizing spray, sold almost 2,000 bottles in a week, launched a GoFundMe, and distributed free hand sanitizer to local initiatives. They introduced online ordering with curbside pickup and continued work on Cobalt Rye.
Open For Business – 2019-10-23
Journal entry marking that the distillery's premises began to welcome customers and offer tours and tastings.