Exclusive Tasting: Beaver Pond Distillery’s Eau di Vie Apricot Brandy and Plum Slivovitz

In the world of craft spirits, there's nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a local gem. We've all been there: a small distillery, a unique bottle, and the promise of a flavor experience you won't find on every shelf. For me, that recent discovery came in the form of Beaver Pond Distillery, a small-batch operation right here in central Massachusetts.

The distillery, started and operated by Jerry Friedman—a former immigration lawyer who turned to distilling as a second career—is a bit of a mystery, flying under the radar without a lot of publicly available information or a tasting room for visitors. What I do know is that they specialize in producing brandy, particularly unaged eau-de-vie and aged apple, grape, and peach brandies. They source the majority of their fruit from Massachusetts, with some, like the apricots and cherries, from upstate New York. I've been keeping an eye out for their bottles in a few stores in the Boston area, and having already enjoyed their aged grape brandy and unaged nectarine eau-de-vie, I knew I had to get my hands on a few more.

I first stumbled upon their spirits at a wonderful local spot, Flis Market in Erving, MA, and immediately knew I had to dive in. The two bottles that caught my eye were their Eau di Vie Apricot Brandy and their Plum Slivovitz. For bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts, these aren't just spirits; they're an invitation to creativity. These clear distillates, often referred to as eau de vie or "water of life," are a pure expression of their fruit, capturing the essence in a way that’s entirely different from aged spirits. There’s a beautiful honesty to them—what you see is what you get, and what you get is a unique, unadulterated flavor.

Join me as I take you through an exclusive tasting of these two exceptional spirits.

The Clear, Golden Promise: Eau di Vie Apricot Brandy

The first spirit I opened was the Eau di Vie Apricot Brandy. The bottle itself is a study in minimalist elegance, letting the clear liquid inside speak for itself. What’s inside, however, is anything but simple. This Eau de Vie is made with apricots from New York State, a detail that speaks to the distillery's commitment to quality ingredients.

When pouring it into a small tulip-shaped glass, the spirit was crystal clear, almost like spring water. The aroma was a revelation: a vibrant and aromatic smell dominated by fresh, ripe apricots. For an unaged spirit, the aroma is often described as a clear and powerful essence of the fruit, and this was no exception. It was a pure, true scent of apricot, light yet intense.

The flavor profile was just as impressive. It was dry, rather than sweet, with a singular focus on the flavor of the fresh fruit itself. I tasted notes of apricot flesh and skin, and the mouthfeel was clean, light-bodied, and smooth, with a delicate texture that perfectly reflected the pure fruit distillation. The finish was relatively short, leaving a clean and delicate sweetness on the tongue that was true to the fruit.

This style of apricot brandy is an excellent choice for those who prefer a less sweet and more "fruit-forward" spirit. Unlike commercially flavored liqueurs that add sugar for sweetness, Beaver Pond's eau de vie focuses on a dry and pure expression of the fruit. This makes it a perfect spirit for sipping chilled and neat, either before or after a meal, where its clean, fruity flavor can truly shine. Its unadulterated character also makes it incredibly suitable for cocktails where you want the character of fresh fruit without the added sugar. It's an elegant, versatile spirit that stands on its own but also has the potential to elevate a drink in a way few other spirits can.

The Unconventional Character: Plum Slivovitz

Next up, the Plum Slivovitz. I have to admit, I was particularly excited to try this one. Slivovitz, a traditional plum brandy popular in Eastern Europe, can have a strong, distinct character. Beaver Pond Distillery's version is an un-aged plum brandy made from damson plums grown in Massachusetts, and it promises a unique aroma with a bit of a bite. It is not aged in oak and is bottled at 42% abv, distilled on a 50-gallon pot still from Germany.

My first impressions were very good. The nose was surprisingly rich, with a rich, light sweetness and the aroma of fresh plum with a hint of stewed fruit. The flavor mirrored the nose perfectly, dominated by fresh and cooked plum notes. It had a medium body and a pleasant viscosity, with a clean profile that made it damn tasty. The finish was medium in length, fruity, and on the sweeter side.

This is not a spirit you'd use in a subtle cocktail. This is a spirit for a drink that needs a backbone, a bold flavor to stand up to other ingredients. I can envision it in a spirit-forward cocktail, maybe a unique take on an Old Fashioned with a dash of plum bitters. Or perhaps paired with something smoky or herbal, where its bold fruitiness can create an intriguing contrast. It’s a spirit that challenges you to think differently, to push the boundaries of classic cocktails and create something entirely new.

The Verdict: A New Dimension for the Back Bar

These two spirits from Beaver Pond Distillery are more than just a passing novelty. They represent a deep respect for the base ingredient and a commitment to creating pure, expressive distillates. The Eau de Vie Apricot Brandy is a testament to the elegance of fruit, while the Plum Slivovitz is a celebration of its raw, bold character.

The Slivovitz, for me, is easily the best of the brandies from Beaver Pond I’ve tried and probably my favorite plum brandy overall. Its pure fruit character, without the harshness sometimes found in other plum brandies, truly sets it apart. It’s a definite rebuy for me, and I’m going to be on the look out for more Beaver Pond offerings since I’ve liked all three I've had so far.

For any bartender or cocktail enthusiast looking to expand their repertoire, these bottles are a must-have. They provide a new palette of flavors to work with—not just sweet or boozy, but truly a pure expression of the fruit they were born from. It's a reminder that sometimes the most complex and interesting flavors come from the simplest ingredients, handled with care and skill.

So, what are your thoughts? Have you tried any of Beaver Pond Distillery’s spirits? How would you use these clear fruit brandies in your own cocktails? Share your ideas in the comments below!