The Blacksmith's Shop
2 Kempt Street
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Canada B0J 2C0
I've walked less than a third of a kilometer downhill from my campground in a steady rain that threatens to soak through my rain jacket. When a growl of thunder is followed by a flicker of lightning. I'm grateful for the open doorway. I shake the rain from my hood as I pull it down. With a deep breath I take in my surroundings; the Ironworks distillery.
Copper kettle and bar
A man standing on the left side of the kettle has his hands folded in front of him. He speaks to the group that was already here. "....It is all hand made." Someone asks, "You distill all your products in this kettle?" "No, there is another one in the basement." I turn to the front wall where products are displayed in barrels, it all looks very upscale and elegant.
A photo of the Bounty at dock of the Smith and Rhuland building catches my eye. The same shipbuilders of the Bluenose. I learn that the Smith and Rhuland company built a reconstruction of the three-mast sailing vessel for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty. The ship went on to appear in several movies such as two from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise: Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. She went down in Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
As the rain intensifies, and more people spill through the doors to get out of the weather, the lady that was giving info on the historic build glides behind the the counter and opens the bar. She offers me a sample of product. She pulls out a bottle of dark rum and I raise my palm in rejection.
"Oh I'm not a rum drinker, how about I try the single malt whiskey?" Slotting the rum back, she pulls a whiskey bottle and pours me a couple of millimeters into a little paper container like the ones you put ketchup in at fast food restaurants. I smell it first, then sip it. "Oh, it tastes like scotch, definitely peat there," I say.
She says, "I got a whiff of that too. All our products are aged in barrels". She offers me three different types of gin. "Mmm juniper berry," I smile. She nods, pouring me the next one.
"You'll get more balsam in this one," she says. We move on to brandy. "Yum, it's infused with blackberries." I step to the side, to get a glass of water at the next table, and let other people have some samples. She says to a man and women, "This is our best seller, a dark rum." She pours for them and they like it. They move to talk about which bottle will be a good gift. She slides her eyes back to me and says, "Perhaps this maple rum will change your mind."
"Oh, alright twist my arm." The lady beside me giggles. The rain intensifies and the thunder keeps rolling. A man says, "Best place to be in this weather." "Agreed, it's the reason I landed here." I lift my thimble of maple rum and sip. "Wow, that is good, breakfast rum. Perfect for pancakes." The bar lady smiles, "That is what everyone says"
She looks at me again with brows raised. I lean in to speak to her and she listens like every good bartender.
"I'm going sailing on the Bluenose tomorrow. Can I try the Bluenose Rum?" "Of course!" She pours me the dark amber spirit. It's rich with molasses and spice. I think to myself of course it's the best seller.
The Bluenose is the reason I'm in Lunenburg. Raining or not, I would have found myself here, because the Ironwork on the original Bluenose and the Bluenose 2 was created right here in the Walter's Blacksmith Shop, which is the home of the Ironworks Distillery. Cheers.
Please join me again, on my trip to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Happy Travels from Maritimemac
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