Distillery adds a shot of art to its mix

Four years ago, Jim Blansit opened Copper Run Distillery in Walnut Shade to sell homemade moonshine, a word that used to describe illegally produced spirits but is basically unaged corn whiskey. He wanted to continue the tradition of moonshining in the Ozarks, but legally.

Not content, however, with simply staying busy making moonshine and a variety of other spirits, Blansit later added live music on weekends to the venue.

Now, he and assistant Darenjenette Thomas are adding a third ingredient to the mix: art. An exhibit of paintings and photographs by three women hangs through the end of the month, and both Blansit and Thomas are optimistic it’s just the start of things to come.

“I believe in supporting and featuring local artists on all levels,” Blansit said. “I love the musicians, and this is a perfect place to showcase them.

“There’s so much talent here,” he added. “I see it in a sense as the best-kept secret in the Ozarks, the talent we have out here.”

“We want (visual art) to be emphasized more,” said Thomas. This exhibit, titled “Mermaids Awake,” was her idea, she said, the idea of “rising out of despair into transcendence and beauty.”

By far the artist with the most work in the exhibit is Jennifer Pierson, whose art has been shown extensively in the Springfield area. A product of Fair Grove, the prolific Pierson works primarily in acrylic, and this exhibit includes an old-fashioned mermaid painted on a wooden board, as well as numerous images of fish, heavily outlined and filled in with strong colors and patterns.

“Animals such as . . . fish have been a staple in my work for decades,” Pierson said. “They seem to effortlessly lend themselves to interesting patterns, absurdly wonderful color combinations and are easily charged with personification.”

Other artists in the show are local artist Staci Copeland and Charity Blansit, the distillery owner’s sister, who now lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Copeland’s works include several pieces where she has laid acrylic thickly onto glass, then peeled it off and mounted it on wood or paper. Blansit, who had only a single piece in the show the day I visited, is a photographer.

To be quite truthful, if you simply want to see an art exhibit and nothing else, you could probably find another show to visit — and find is the operative word here, because Copper Run is definitely off the beaten track.

However, if you want your art combined with beautiful scenery, a friendly atmosphere and a shot or two of good, locally made spirits, Copper Run is worth the trip to Taney County.

This weekend, there’ll also be two well-known musical acts playing. On Saturday, Brother Wiley takes the stage, and on Sunday, it’s Barak Hill and Kevin Cott. Both afternoons, the music will be from 3-6 p.m.

Copper Run Distillery is at 1901 Day Road in Walnut Shade; from Springfield, take U.S. 65 South to 176 West, turn right, then turn left onto Day Road for .3 miles.

Click HERE for google directions…

Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information, call 417-587-3456.

-Article by Springfield News Leader

Shine On

Moonshine distillery best-kept travel secret in the Ozarks, so ’shine on.

“Tucked back in the hills just north of Branson, sits one of the best kept secrets in Missouri – the Copper Run Distillery.

It is 10 o’clock on a cold Saturday morning, and I’ve bellied up to the bar, ready to taste a shot of Copper Run’s signature product – moonshine. Legal moonshine.

Madison Vodicka, who is working the bar and guiding free tours, pours me a taste and I ready myself. True confession: I’ve had run-ins with bootleg ‘shine before, and was not impressed. Oh, yeah, white lightnin’ could give you a badass backwoods buzz in short order, but while the alcohol might set you on fire, the taste did not.

Moonshine Madness: An unique Ozarks experience

So why try it again? The truth is, I was drawn to Copper Run because I’d encountered a Moonshine Margarita at Gilley’s in Branson and found it to be outstanding.

When I learned that Gilley’s made its featured drink with moonshine from a legal local distillery, I decided that I needed to learn more. So, I made the short drive north of Branson on US 65, then cut off into the hills on Hwy 176 to the community of Walnut Shade to locate the source of this superior ‘shine.

Rise and ‘shine for a memorable vacation

What I was expecting was a glorified hillbilly hideout, but what I discovered was a delightful bucolic boutique micro-distillery that favors quality over quantity and refines the age-old craft of moonshining to a drink-worthy art form.

And so, even though it’s early-thirty for drinking booze, the time has come for me to rise and ‘shine. So after giving the elixir a sniff, I slide the liquid past my lips and await the burn. Instead I enjoy a warm, smooth ride that immediately makes me understand the powerful devotion to moonshine. Damn, that stuff is good!

“That’s an 80 proof ‘shine,” Vodicka says. “That’s all were licensed for right now, but we’ve applied for a permit to put out a stronger product.”

After the moonshine tasting, Vodicka offers up Copper Run’s whiskey, which also surprises in its smoothness. Then it’s time for the Golden Rum, which offers up a gentle sugary sweetness.

“We had a run of rum made from Blackstrap molasses,” said owner and artisan bootlegger Jim Blansit. “It was surprisingly good, but we ran out of stock very quickly. So we started experimenting with brown sugar, and we loved the way it turned out.”

‘Shine sidetrip not for teetotaling tourists

Evidently so does the rum-drinking public, which keeps Copper Run production humming. In fact, during my visit, a local arrived with his two children in tow. He purchased four bottles of moonshine.

“Got a big weekend ahead and didn’t want to get caught short,” he said. “Of course, some of my friends heard I was coming here, so they had me pick some up for them as well.”

Hey, that’s his story, and after tasting the ‘shine, who am I to argue? Vodicka noted that such visits were common and that dedicated local consumers were an important part of Copper Run’s business.

Copper Run’s spirits aren’t merely locally heralded, they’ve been honored nationally. In fact, Copper Run’s Moonshine and Aged Corn Whiskey won the silver medal from the American Distiller’s Institute in 2010.

And Blansit is proud to point out that Copper Run spirits are truly a product of the Ozarks.

“The water here is ideal,” he said. “It doesn’t contain iron and has a perfect mineral balance, which makes is ideal for crafting all our products.” In fact, even the whiskey barrels come from timber that hails from just up the road in Lebanon. Some of the barrels are provided by the local Stone Hill Winery, which offers up its barrels once the winery has produced its fabulous sherry. As Blansit points out, “our products are truly locally sourced.”

The art of moonshine

“We’re a boutique distillery,” Blansit said. “We aren’t interested in diluting the quality of our product to  boost production. We are artisans, and we support the arts.”

That’s true. The Copper Run tasting room boasts the work of local artists, photographers and crafts enthusiasts. It also is quickly evolving into a top place for emerging musical talent.

“We started having live music a few years ago, and it caught on,” Blansit said. “Now we have some incredibly talented performers wanting to play here.”

Moonshine and music

Copper Run’s support of the musicians extends even to the tunes played over the sound system during the day, when there is no live music. If you perform at Copper Run and have a CD, your music will be heard throughout the tasting room.

A registry book shows the distillery has entertained and clearly delighted visitors from all around the world.

Copper Run creates products that truly ‘shine

“We live in San Jose, California,” said Tess Rowland, a customer from San Jose, CA, during my visit. “Not much opportunity to try moonshine there. So we heard about this place and while we were in Branson, we thought we’d stop by.”

“Yeah, and that’s a damn good moonshine Bloody Mary they make here,” said her husband, Randy. “I sure hadn’t expected that.”

Thanks to the growing popularity of the realty TV show, Moonshiners, interest in the legendary liquor is on the upswing. Customers are curious, and knowing that a product is legally distilled adds a little spice to life without worrying about the law.

Expansion plans

With the rising popularity of Copper Run, Blansit is making plans to expand.

“We’re going to build a wraparound porch to expand the outside area,” he said. “Then we plan to create some hiking trails that lead down to an old cow pond that we plan to develop with a cool water feature. We want this to be more than just a legitimate still. We want people to come here to relax and enjoy all that this area has to offer, and that’s a lot.”

Clearly there are big plans ahead for Copper Run, and if you are contemplating a vacation to the Branson area for all the great activities that happen when the sun shines, you might want to set aside some time to enjoy the moonshine as well.”

article by Bob Vernon of VacationTravelIdeas.net

 

Sippin’ History at Copper Run

Moonshine distillery best-kept travel secret in the Ozarks, so ’shine on.

“Tucked back in the hills just north of Branson, sits one of the best kept secrets in Missouri – the Copper Run Distillery.

It is 10 o’clock on a cold Saturday morning, and I’ve bellied up to the bar, ready to taste a shot of Copper Run’s signature product – moonshine. Legal moonshine.

Madison Vodicka, who is working the bar and guiding free tours, pours me a taste and I ready myself. True confession: I’ve had run-ins with bootleg ‘shine before, and was not impressed. Oh, yeah, white lightnin’ could give you a badass backwoods buzz in short order, but while the alcohol might set you on fire, the taste did not.

Moonshine Madness: An unique Ozarks experience

So why try it again? The truth is, I was drawn to Copper Run because I’d encountered a Moonshine Margarita at Gilley’s in Branson and found it to be outstanding.

When I learned that Gilley’s made its featured drink with moonshine from a legal local distillery, I decided that I needed to learn more. So, I made the short drive north of Branson on US 65, then cut off into the hills on Hwy 176 to the community of Walnut Shade to locate the source of this superior ‘shine.

Rise and ‘shine for a memorable vacation

What I was expecting was a glorified hillbilly hideout, but what I discovered was a delightful bucolic boutique micro-distillery that favors quality over quantity and refines the age-old craft of moonshining to a drink-worthy art form.

And so, even though it’s early-thirty for drinking booze, the time has come for me to rise and ‘shine. So after giving the elixir a sniff, I slide the liquid past my lips and await the burn. Instead I enjoy a warm, smooth ride that immediately makes me understand the powerful devotion to moonshine. Damn, that stuff is good!

“That’s an 80 proof ‘shine,” Vodicka says. “That’s all were licensed for right now, but we’ve applied for a permit to put out a stronger product.”

After the moonshine tasting, Vodicka offers up Copper Run’s whiskey, which also surprises in its smoothness. Then it’s time for the Golden Rum, which offers up a gentle sugary sweetness.

“We had a run of rum made from Blackstrap molasses,” said owner and artisan bootlegger Jim Blansit. “It was surprisingly good, but we ran out of stock very quickly. So we started experimenting with brown sugar, and we loved the way it turned out.”

‘Shine sidetrip not for teetotaling tourists

Evidently so does the rum-drinking public, which keeps Copper Run production humming. In fact, during my visit, a local arrived with his two children in tow. He purchased four bottles of moonshine.

“Got a big weekend ahead and didn’t want to get caught short,” he said. “Of course, some of my friends heard I was coming here, so they had me pick some up for them as well.”

Hey, that’s his story, and after tasting the ‘shine, who am I to argue? Vodicka noted that such visits were common and that dedicated local consumers were an important part of Copper Run’s business.

Copper Run’s spirits aren’t merely locally heralded, they’ve been honored nationally. In fact, Copper Run’s Moonshine and Aged Corn Whiskey won the silver medal from the American Distiller’s Institute in 2010.

And Blansit is proud to point out that Copper Run spirits are truly a product of the Ozarks.

“The water here is ideal,” he said. “It doesn’t contain iron and has a perfect mineral balance, which makes is ideal for crafting all our products.” In fact, even the whiskey barrels come from timber that hails from just up the road in Lebanon. Some of the barrels are provided by the local Stone Hill Winery, which offers up its barrels once the winery has produced its fabulous sherry. As Blansit points out, “our products are truly locally sourced.”

The art of moonshine

“We’re a boutique distillery,” Blansit said. “We aren’t interested in diluting the quality of our product to  boost production. We are artisans, and we support the arts.”

That’s true. The Copper Run tasting room boasts the work of local artists, photographers and crafts enthusiasts. It also is quickly evolving into a top place for emerging musical talent.

“We started having live music a few years ago, and it caught on,” Blansit said. “Now we have some incredibly talented performers wanting to play here.”

Moonshine and music

Copper Run’s support of the musicians extends even to the tunes played over the sound system during the day, when there is no live music. If you perform at Copper Run and have a CD, your music will be heard throughout the tasting room.

A registry book shows the distillery has entertained and clearly delighted visitors from all around the world.

Copper Run creates products that truly ‘shine

“We live in San Jose, California,” said Tess Rowland, a customer from San Jose, CA, during my visit. “Not much opportunity to try moonshine there. So we heard about this place and while we were in Branson, we thought we’d stop by.”

“Yeah, and that’s a damn good moonshine Bloody Mary they make here,” said her husband, Randy. “I sure hadn’t expected that.”

Thanks to the growing popularity of the realty TV show, Moonshiners, interest in the legendary liquor is on the upswing. Customers are curious, and knowing that a product is legally distilled adds a little spice to life without worrying about the law.

Expansion plans

With the rising popularity of Copper Run, Blansit is making plans to expand.

“We’re going to build a wraparound porch to expand the outside area,” he said. “Then we plan to create some hiking trails that lead down to an old cow pond that we plan to develop with a cool water feature. We want this to be more than just a legitimate still. We want people to come here to relax and enjoy all that this area has to offer, and that’s a lot.”

Clearly there are big plans ahead for Copper Run, and if you are contemplating a vacation to the Branson area for all the great activities that happen when the sun shines, you might want to set aside some time to enjoy the moonshine as well.”

article by Bob Vernon of VacationTravelIdeas.net

 

Drink of the Month

A little whiskey and moonshine turn traditional apple cider into a delectable delight.

Cost: $8

Where to Get It: Copper Run Distillery
1901 Day Road, Walnut Shade, 417-587-3456, www.copperrundistillery.com

What’s Inside: Moonshine, apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla

What it Tastes Like: Nestled deep in the woods of Walnut Shade, Copper Run Distillery’s tasting room is the perfect fall escape. The small wood cabin that houses the distillery’s bar is fitted with a large front porch with two drowsy hound dogs dozing in the late afternoon sun.

A fan of whiskey, I was happy to find the distillery offers a wide selection of cocktails. The Warm Apple Pie with its mix of whiskey and moonshine was a more unusual twist to the spiked apple cider I look forward to each fall.

Jim Blansit, the owner and distiller at Copper Run, describes this winter-weather blend as “apple pie with a kick,” and he’s not far off. One drink in, and I knew I was going to be settling in on that cozy front porch. This drink is strong, there’s no doubt. But it’s not the type of strong where your pores start seeping whiskey halfway through the tincture. The warmth of the apple cider and cinnamon help quell the burn of the moonshine while the vanilla and brown sugar give this beverage a heavy body and a smooth finish.

By Ettie Berneking
link to article

VIDEO: Local Brewers Band Together to Produce Unique Drinks

KOLR 10 & Ozarks Local Entertainment interviews Jim Blansit of Copper Run Distillery and Jeff Schrag of Mother´s Brewery.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Local brewers are working together to create new products they couldn’t make by themselves.

Not much beer comes from a barrel in modern times, but Jeff Schrag wanted to bring back that tradition at Mother’s Brewing Company.

“Back in the day all beer was in barrels,” Schrag explained. “Barrels impart a nice flavor. They have some nice wood notes they allow more interaction with the environment.”

Oak barrels are hard to come by these days. That’s why Schrag needed a little help.

“We had been playing with barrels just to impart that specific flavor,” he said.

Coincidentally, so was Jim Blansit, the owner of Copper Run Distillery. He was trying to produce a single malt scotch, but to do that he needed mash for the malt.

“The equipment that I use to process corn into bourbon,” Blansit explained, “is entirely different than the equipment that’s necessary to process barley into beer.”

As luck would have it, Schrag had the malt and Blansit had the barrels. That meant the two brewers could set up a trade that worked for both of them.

“The benefit is that they can use the equipment to process the barley into this wonderful wash,” Blansit said.

The two businessmen work with lots of other local producers, too.

Copper Run distills specialty products for local winemakers, and Mother’s reuses those barrels, too.

“They’re just about done with it by the time we’re ready for it,” Schrag said, “So it works out really nice.”

That might come as a surprise — you’d think that the businesses would feel like competitors. But, both men say it’s better to work as a team.

“It gives people that sense of ownership,” Blansit said. “There’s a pride, it’s like you’re rooting for your local sports team.”

“There are certain customers and constituents at either of these businesses,” Schrag added, “who are going to feel proud to be connected to these other businesses.”

In case you are curious about the exchange rate between the two businesses, it’s two white oak barrels per batch of mash.

Blansit hinted that Copper Run might release a batch of scotch this spring.

Watch Video

 

SKY Delta

SKY, Delta Airline Magazine, September 2012

Everyone´s Talking About Boutique Distilleries

“The latest craft alcohol obsession?  Small-batch booze.”