My hometown of Burlington County is best known for its agricultural life. It came as no surprise when business owners decided to get creative and utilize our abundance of fresh crops for other endeavors- besides farmer’s markets and country shops.
The Recklesstown Distillery is the perfect example of a business in our area that is progressive - but still pays homage to our local farmers and crops. The Recklesstown Farm Distillery is family-owned by a brood of generational farmers. The distillery sits on the farmland that the family currently uses for crops, making the ingredients and love behind each cocktail, all the more special.
I recently visited the distillery with some friends for a casual setting to enjoy cocktails and company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been careful to support businesses that take health restrictions seriously, which Recklesstown certainly follows. All patrons were separated by at least one table, and the entire tasting room was spaced apart - complying with CDC guidelines.
The distillery offers contact-free ordering, meaning that all guests are encouraged to place their drink orders through an IPad- instead of through a server. The IPad is placed in the center of the tasting room and is frequently sanitized- creating an efficient yet simple way to order cocktails. Cocktails are delivered by workers at the distillery, but it limits contact with other people by having a semi-virtual serving operation- and the option to tip is still applicable!
Now, let’s discuss the bread and butter of this distillery: the cocktails. The menu is ever-changing, thanks to the wonderfully fresh ingredients that Recklesstown provides. Currently, they are serving according to their spring menu and ingredients.
This includes some delicious cocktails, like the Lemongrass Gimlet or the Spring Blossom Punch. The Spring Blossom Punch contains seasonal juices from apricots, oranges, and lemons. Patrons can even choose what kind of alcohol they would want to mix this with.
The Lemongrass Gimlet boasts vodka, ginger liqueur, lime juice, and lemongrass syrup. While I visited the distillery, I tried the NB Greyhound, named after the local high school. It included local potato vodka, grapefruit cordial, topped with a vanilla-mint syrup. The drink was incredible and tasted so fresh. All of the ingredients were delightful. Even the potato vodka, which was an unexpected winner, as vodka is typically made from fermented grains.
If experimenting with cocktails isn’t your jam, there are plenty of cult favorites that also taste delicious. Recklesstown features all-year classics like a traditional Moscow Mule or Bloody Mary- still concocted with their farm-fresh recipe, of course.
As someone who is typically less adventurous with their beverage choices - I blame it on being a creature of habit - I still loved experimenting with their quirky cocktails. The Carrot Sidecar is one of their most interesting creations, made with gin, ginger liqueur, lemon peel syrup, and you guessed it... carrot juice!
This is definitely what I would consider a novelty drink that could not be made anywhere else. While I wasn’t bold enough to try this carrot concoction, it is actually one of their most favored beverages.
The distillery truly has anything you would want for a casual drink with friends or on a date with your partner. The landscape is unmatched with gorgeous fire pits and a rustic interior. It also welcomes that you bring food or snacks to nosh on during your stay. The cocktails are some of the best in the area and are continuously changing- but the quality is always the same.
I have advocated for local businesses throughout the pandemic because they need our help. If you have the means and health to stop for a quick drink at The Recklesstown Farm Distillery, I highly recommend you do so. All of their ingredients are fresh and the drinks are made with love.
All of the workers are community members and are truly the backbone of Burlington County. Some of the staff are farmers and teachers- all people who have kept our small town afloat during unprecedented times. My philosophy with Recklesstown has been this: come for the drinks, stay for the lovely hospitality.
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