Chattermark Distillers

Overview of the Distillery

Chattermark Distillers is located in Charlestown, Boston, and profiles itself as a 'made from scratch' grain-to-glass distillery. They work with grain supplied from Maine and other New England farms, distill on a custom 1000-liter hybrid Kothe-still and mature spirits in American 53-gallon charred oak casks. In addition to production, they have a cocktail lounge on site as well as tours and tastings.

History

Chattermark takes its name and stance from the founder's background. John Sorgini is listed as Founder & CEO, and the distillery describes a core value foundation of integrity, community, and craftsmanship. Matt Ellis appears as Head Distiller, and the company is described as veteran-owned and -operated. Since opening, Chattermark has worked with local farmers in New England to use locally grown grain in their whiskey production. The distillery has received coverage in a range of media, from local articles to national media, and the press list mentions, among other things, a connection to top lists related to the 2023 American Distilling Institute committee as well as coverage of the grand opening in local media.

Raw Materials and Production

Production begins with a mash, where the raw grains from Maine and other local New England farms are acclimatized through proper gelatinization of starch. Malted barley and added enzymes convert long starch chains into fermentable sugars. After cooling, the mash is fermented under carefully controlled conditions — sugar content, nutrients, temperature, and pH are controlled to foster healthy fermentations and development of complex esters and aromas. Distillation takes place on a custom 1000‑liter hybrid Kothe-still, originally constructed in Eislingen, Germany, rebuilt in Boston. The distillery practices double pot distillation: a stripping run to remove alcohol from the mash and a spirit-run, where the majority of the cuts (heads, hearts, tails) are made to achieve a clean new make. After distillation, the spirit is gently proofed before aging.

Maturation and Cask Types

Chattermark uses 53-gallon new, charred American oak barrels in their maturation strategy. They emphasize that a larger cask size provides the desired balance between surface area and spirit, and that they only buy casks that have air-dried for at least 18 months — many casks are air-dried for 36 months or more. The distillery avoids kiln-dried oak in favor of air-seasoning to develop more complex wood characteristics.

Whiskeys

The range includes several American whiskey categories: Straight Rye Whiskey, Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Pot & Column White Rye, Straight Corn Whiskey, Straight American Whiskey, and Single Malt Whiskey. The range is presented as 'from scratch', built on local grain and distilled internally on a hybrid Kothe-still. In addition to whiskey, the distillery also produces other spirits and serves them in the cocktail lounge.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery's cocktail lounge is open several days a week with a relaxed atmosphere and a view of the production floor. The lounge hours are listed and vary from Thursday to Sunday; follow the distillery's social media for updates. Tours are described as 30–45 minutes long; public tours are temporarily paused, but private tours can be booked via email. A tour includes two complimentary spirit samples, requires 21+ and valid ID; drinks are not allowed on the production floor, and cocktails in the tasting room are not included in the tour price. Tours typically cost $15 per person according to the information.

The stated opening hours are Cocktail Lounge: Thursday 16:00-22:00, Friday 16:00-23:00, Saturday 14:00-23:00, Sunday 12:00-18:00. Public tours temporarily paused; private tours can be reserved.

Philosophy and Craft

Chattermark works by the mantra 'No Sourcing. No Shortcuts. ~Made From Scratch~' and emphasizes using local grain from New England. The values are centered on integrity, passion, and community, and these principles are mentioned as the foundation for choices of raw materials and production methods. The distillery is described as veteran-owned and highlights the personal commitment from the team.

Prices and Recognitions

• Top Craft Whiskeys (coverage) (2023)