By Todd Berkey
tberkey@tribdem.com
PATTON â Four families combined their COVID-19 stimulus checks to open a distillery, and theyâve worked to use all American-made equipment and ingredients.
âThe stimulus money was to stimulate the American economy, and thatâs what we want to do,â Excise Distillery partner Nate Wharton said.
Wharton and his family are business partners with Jordan Fees, Nate Bearer and Douglas Ropp, he said.
A grand opening of Excise Distillery is slated from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the distillery, 1302 Glendale Lake Road, with food, music, fireworks and craft vendors.
Nicktown farmer Rob Yahner supplies grains for the spirits produced by the distillery, Wharton said. Both of the distilleryâs stills are American-made, and the labels on each bottle are printed in Patton Borough. Itâs been a challenge to secure U.S.-made bottles, Wharton said. But after searching, he found a New York company to provide them.