vicario artisanal liqueurs & spirits
& Southern Growl Brewery
May 18, 2023
only one club member drove his corvette on this rainy day
Tour of the VICARIO Facility
Vicario sign on mailbox
Vicario sign inside
The Vicario herb garden (it was raining so we didn't get to tour it)
The Vicario herb garden (it was raining so we didn't get to tour it)
The Vicario bottle inventory board
Vicario stainless steel infusion canisters - The herb, spices, and other ingredients are placed in a large tea bag, then immersed in 100% alcohol as the first step to create a liqueur - infusion time can be as long as 18 months
Some Vicario stainless steel infusion canisters are filled at the Greer farm and some in Italy and shipped to the Greer farm
Depending on the material to be pressed, a small or large press may be used - this is the small Vicario press - the material left after pressing is used to condition the soil on the farm
Depending on the material to be pressed, a small or large press may be used - this is the large Vicario press - it is really an apple press - the material left after pressing is used to condition the soil on the farm
Large Vicario press with oak barrels in the background
The manual Vicario bottling machine - an automated machine is coming soon and will be installed in the area in the right background
The manual Vicario corking machine - an automated machine is coming soon and will be installed in the area in the right background
This manual Vicario machine applies the shrink wrap cap - an automated machine is coming soon and will be installed in the area in the right background
All of the manual Vicario machines: 1) fills the bottle; 2) inserts the cork; 3) applies the shrink wrap cap; 4) apply the label - an automated machine is coming soon to replace all of the manual functions
Oak barrels in a water tank (no water at the moment)
Oak barrels are reused for up to 50 years
Empty oak barrels - the filled barrels are aged in the temperature controlled room behind the wall in the background
Bottling area and empty oak barrels
This machine is used to test the alcohol content of the liqueur. In order to be called a liqueur, the alcohol content must be in a very specific and narrow range
This is the manual for the machine in the previous slide - it's in Italian of course
The Vicario supply room
A wide view of the work area - soon, this area will also be temperature controlled and will also be use to store barrels that are aging
Barbara Stacy, Steven Verdone, Dennis Cape, Eileen Cape, Sue Pollock, Mike Rich, tour guide and master distiller (back to us), Diana Adams
Outside the herb room - Eileen Cape, tour guide and master distiller, Martin Stacy, Mary Smits
Sue Pollock, Steven Verdone, Brenda Verdone, Mike Rich, Dennis Cape, Eileen Cape, Barbara Stacy, Mary Smits, Dave Smits
Brian Pollock, Diana Adams, Mike Rich, Mary Smits, Barbara Stacy, Martin Stacy, Eileen Cape, Dennis Cape
Tour of the vicario herb room
Herbs drying - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Juniper Berry & Lemon Verbena - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Sale deCervia - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Hibiscus Flower - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Orange Peel & Quassia Amara - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs drying - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Various herbs - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs drying - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs drying - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Sue & Brian Pollock in the Herb Room
Herbs - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
Herbs drying - I will not show my ignorance by trying to name herbs that do not have a label
tasting, but First, The Tasting Book
Vicario Tasting Book Cover
Vicario Tasting Book Inside Front Cover
Vicario Tasting Book Page 1
Vicario Tasting Book Page 2
Vicario Tasting Book Page 3
Vicario Tasting Book Page 4
Vicario Tasting Book Page 5
Vicario Tasting Book Page 6
Vicario Tasting Book Page 7
Vicario Tasting Book Page 8
Vicario Tasting Book Page 9
Vicario Tasting Book Page 10
Vicario Tasting Book Page 11
Vicario Tasting Book Page 12
Vicario Tasting Book Page 13
Vicario Tasting Book Page 14 - Tasting 1 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 15 - Tasting 2 & 3 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 16 - Tasting 4 & 5 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 17 - Tasting 6 & 7 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 18 - Tasting 8 & 9 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 19 - Tasting 10 & 11 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 20 - Tasting 12 & 13 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 21 - Tasting 14 & 15 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 22 - Tasting 16 & 17 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book Page 23 - Tasting 18 & 19 of 19
Vicario Tasting Book P{age 24
Vicario Tasting Book Inside Back Cover
Vicario Tasting Book Back Cover
tasting, Then the tasting
The 19 liqueurs Vicario has for sale
The 19 liqueurs Vicario has for sale
The 19 liqueurs Vicario has for sale
The Vicario tasting table
The Vicario tasting table
The Vicario tasting table - Barbara Stacy, Martin Stacy, Mary Smits, Brian Pollock, Sue Pollock, Eileen Cape, Dennis Cape
The Vicario tasting placemat - a place for ever liqueur and a liqueur for every place
The tasting room had an eclectic collection of lamps, light fixtures, and glasses, but most were not photographed
on to the southern growl
for some normal sized libations and nourishment
The Southern Growl Logo (sorry about the resolution)
The Southern Growl Beer Taps (sorry about the resolution)
Scan for the Southern Growl menu
Dave Smits, Martin Stacy, Barbara Stacy, Diana Adams, Mike Rich, Eileen Cape, Dennis Cape, Steven Verdone, Brenda Verdone, Brian Pollock, Sue Pollock, Mary Smits
A Buncombe Brown and Carrot Cake