Vibe-Winter-2425 - Flipbook - Page 28
Distilling & Extracting the Bene昀椀ts of Sustainability
By Andrew Schuyler
H
ead north a mile or so past the
bustling village of North Conway,
and it’s hard not to be inspired by
the unfettered view of the world-class
climbing sanctuary of Cathedral Ledge.
Nestled just off the west side of the White
Mountain Highway—in the shadow of that
iconic panoramic—is a timber-framed
barn that will also stir your spirits. Cathedral Ledge Distillery, which opened in
2020, has proven inspirational in its own
right by taking the lead route up, what
some proverbially call, Mt. Sustainability
(see the sidebar).
“Distilling is inherently energy-intensive,” says Christopher
Burk, who owns Cathedral Ledge
Distillery with his wife Tracy.
“Everything we do is viewed
through the lens of sustainability.” As New Hampshire’s only
USDA-certified organic distillery,
Cathedral Ledge works closely
with local and regional farmers
to ensure that symbiotic
relationships can blossom.
“The focus on organics, for us, is mainly
about the farmers. Most of them have to
deal with pesticides and other issues,” Burk
says. “Until there’s a market for organic
goods, they don’t have much of a choice.”
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