Bloomery is a range of all natural, gluten free liqueurs called SweetShines, co-founded by Linda Losey and Tom Kiefer (wife and husband) and partner Rob Losey (Linda's ex-husband).
What is your company background, how did you start the business?
"A trip to Italy for the canonization of a great, great aunt, the first Saint of Australia, started the vision to become an entrepreneur and distillery owner. In 2010, Tom Kiefer, co-founder of Bloomery Plantation Distillery, who also has dual citizenship from the US and Australia, received an invitation to attend the canonization of his great, great Aunt Mary MacKillop, St. Mary of the Cross. So Tom, along with his wife, Linda Losey, took a trip to Italy and experienced an awe-inspiring moment in history, along with some great hooch and hospitality. It’s where they experienced limoncello for the first time. They tasted hand-zested, homemade limoncello and fell in love with the flavor profile. Unable to find that same flavor on the shelves in America, Tom and Linda began the quest of crafting their own hand-made limoncello. Why not envision a dilapidated, run down log cabin in the woods on 12 acres in West Virginia as a farm distillery? With the help of Linda’s ex-husband Rob, now partner, the trio turned their Craigslist find into an all natural sustainable farm, where they grow lemons, raspberries, ginger, pumpkins, cranberries and black walnuts, while sourcing from other small family farms who share their same values and mission. The team turns those farm fresh fruits, roots and nuts into award-winning liqueurs. With 25+ international awards in 5 years, they are living the dream with their WV-American made brand."
What is the current product range and variants and how do these products stand out in the market? (Are they gluten free? Do they utilise unique or new ingredients or techniques? Are they the only one of its kind?)
"With a sweet spin on moonshine, we produce 11 different all natural, gluten free liqueurs ranging in proof from 8° to 80°, including our flagship Limoncello, Raspberry Limoncello, Cremma Lemma, Hard Lemonade, Chocolate Raspberry, Ginger Shine, Peach Shine, Black Walnut, Cranberry Clementine, Pumpkin Spice, and our newest, Cré--the only all natural green liqueur made in America."
Has there been any recent company news? (i.e New management, new product launches, new location, staff changes, or other news of this kind, awards?)
"With the introduction of Cré last month, she hit the ground running by winning a bronze medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition.
We have over 25 International Awards, including a Double Gold for Best Nut Liqueur for our Black Walnut at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, our Pumpkin Spice won the coveted Good Food Award from Williams Sonoma and Whole Foods and Entrepreneur Magazine awarded Bloomery as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America."
What are the plans for the business moving forward, is there any expansion on the horizon?
"We are expanding nationally and hope to be in Europe within the next few years."
Where are your products currently available to buy, and are you looking at or wanting to expand your availability? If so, where would you like to see the product situated?
"In the five years since opening in WV, we have expanded outside of our own back yard and are now represented in DC, VA, MD, PA, RI, NY, MA, and TN. We are growing beyond the Northeast this year to CA, TX and IL and are also talking to distributors in Europe. It has been an exciting process so far, one with the ups and downs of running a small local business that is community centric, but also having the potential of growing the original vision into a global business. Terrifying? Yes. But breaking through that terror barrier has been thrilling."
