Tommy Alfinito, owner of Hygge Fitness in Mount Laurel, NJ, will go from workouts to whiskey with his new business Wildfether Distilling. The production facility and cocktail lounge, named in honor of his free-spirited mother, will open this July in Haddonfield Historic District’s Jennings House at 236 Kings Highway E.
“I would say she liked to beat her own drum, and I think that’s what we’re going to do in this distillery. Whiskey is something that tends to be very serious business, but we want to have some fun,” Alfinito told What Now Philadelphia. “We want to experiment and allow people to discover different whiskeys. There are so many different variables that can affect the flavor from the barrel char to how you run the still, and we want to have fun and play around with all those things.”
Alfinito’s affinity for whiskey began about six years ago. He loved the thrill of hunting down a rare Japanese whiskey and the excitement of opening a new bottle. Wanting to share this passion with others, he decided to open a distillery in the Victorian house he would admire during his walks with his wife and their twins. Alfinito will preserve the building’s historic exterior and transform its interior into Wildfether Distilling. The building, which dates back to the 1880s, is 3,500 sq. ft. spread out across two floors. The first floor will offer a 15-seat intimate bar set up, with additional space for production. The second floor will serve as the main public space with a larger bar and seating for 50. There will also be a separate space on this level that can be reserved for private events like birthday parties and weddings. Both floors will have outdoor decks. The first floor’s deck will have swing chairs.
“We’re going to flip your expectations a little bit. The exterior will be a traditional Victorian building, then the first floor will be modern and bright with clean lines. Then the upstairs will have brass, steel, and wood with darker colors you wouldn’t expect to see after going through the first floor. We’ll also create all these cool sub-areas within the building, so there’s not a bad seat in the place,” Alfinito said.
To begin, Wildfether Distillery will have homemade vodka and gin available. They’ll be making three different types of whiskeys —bourbon, rye, and single malt— but those won’t be available for at least a year while they are barrel-aged. The distillery will also make smaller batches that will take up to two years to age. Over time, Alfinito intends to experiment with different botanicals and other additives to make flavored spirits, like a blood orange gin. He plans to partner with local farmers to have 100 percent of Wildfether Distilling’s grains come from New Jersey farms. While Wildfether won’t serve its own food, Alfinito hopes to partner with local eateries to help his customers fill their bellies. In addition to creating unforgettable cocktails, Alfinito also hopes to inspire community with Wildfether Distilling.
“For me, I believe connection is the most important thing in life. That’s what leads to happiness and a fulfilled life,” Alfinito said. “I’m trying to bring that to this distillery as a place to be around good people and make connections. That’s what I’m hoping to build with Wildfether.”
Follow Wildfether Distilling for updates on Facebook and Instagram.
H/T: NJ Pen
