Louis and Margaret Chatey
Westford Hill Distillers

We visited Louis and Margaret Chatey at Westford Hill Distillers to learn more about their extensive and award-winning spirits made at their distillery in Ashford, Connecticut. Taking a tour and tasting with Master Distiller Louis was like getting a PhD in hand-crafted spirits. Knowledgeable, fun, and engaging, the charming Chateys educated us on their spirits focus and the Westford Hill Distillers style. 

One of the many exceptional products we tasted during our tour was their Westford Gin. Louis Chatey described London-Dry formula gin as having predominant juniper, cardamom, coriander, angelica root, and dried citrus rind. Louis makes Westford Gin with 3 types of citrus zest, as opposed to typical London-Dry formulas which use citrus rind. Secret botanicals including a blend of Italian and Macedonian juniper go into his mix, which is distilled to 190 proof, then cut to 100 proof, before bottling at 86 proof. Westford Gin is a gin-lovers gin, with layers of rich botanicals on the palate that will inspire many a cocktail or culinary recipe. We loved the gin and brought some home with us to create a few hand-crafted cocktails and culinary recipes that allow Westford Gin to sing.   

Product Information: Westford Gin, 43% Alcohol by Volume, 100% grain neutral spirits. Hand-distilled with fresh botanicals and citrus distilled to Meetinghouse strength.  With a nod to the bottle notes, the packaging for Westford Gin is gorgeous; an antique green bottle like the original Westford Glass Company made with a medallion homage and attractive cream label bearing the legend of Westford Hill.  

Bottle Notes: "In 1765 the colonial government granted a petition to build a meeting house atop Westford Hill. As much discussion was given to the type of liquor deemed needful for the occasion as was given in choosing a ministerial candidate. Charge was given to procure a keg of Gin, along with 2 shillings per day as wage to erect the structure. Today, 250 years later, that's still the spirit on Westford Hill. We submit this unique Westford Gin for your consideration. Source: E. Larned's History of Windham County."  

Tasting Notes: The nose is richly aromatic with spicy floral notes, with citrus and juniper notes on the palate, that create a very regal, elegant, gin.  

Luxury Experience was "In the kitchen and behind the bar®" creating some incredibly special handcrafted cocktail and culinary recipes to tempt your palate and inspire your own creations using Westford Hill Distillers - Westford Gin.  

Louis Chatey, Master Distiller

Luxury Experience Cocktail and Culinary Menu

The Cocktail Menu

Luxury Experience - What's Up Doc?
Luxury Experience - Hello Aloe

The Culinary Menu

Luxury Experience - Roasted Carrot Soup
with Carrot Goat Cheese Crostini

The Cocktail Recipes 

Luxury Experience - What's Up Doc? is our playful reference to Bugs Bunny and carrots. This tasty cocktail begins with Westford Gin, adds fresh carrot juice, dill simple syrup, Fee Brothers Celery Bitters, and fresh lime juice. Garnish with fresh dill. The carrots and dill simple syrup play up the flavorful notes of the gin, and the lime juice and Fee Brothers Celery Bitters round out and balance the cocktail. Although we juiced carrots in our juicer, bottled carrot juice works as well. This cocktail pairs well with Luxury Experience - Roasted Carrot Soup with Carrot Goat Cheese Crostini.  

Luxury Experience - What's Up Doc?

Cocktail Ingredients:
 

Dill Simple Syrup Ingredients:

Method for the Dill Simple Syrup: Add water, sugar, and dill to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil until the liquid is clear and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator until ready to serve. May be made 1- week ahead. Simple syrup is a great addition to cocktails, to sweeten iced tea or lemonade, brush on cake layers before frosting, and can also be used in dressings or marinades.

Method for the Cocktail: Chill a Martini glass and set aside. In a large shaker, add all ingredients along with four ice cubes. Shake hard until metal shaker is frosty to dissolve the ice. Strain into Martini glass and garnish with a sprig of fresh dill.  

Luxury Experience - Hello Aloe lets the bright mélange of juniper and botanicals to shine and are deftly balanced with Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth and Goya Aloe Vera Drink Original. Shake hard with ice and garnish with a generous lemon peel for a refreshing Gin Martini. 

Luxury Experience - Hello Aloe
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Glass Used: Martini Glass 

Cocktail Ingredients:

Method for the Cocktail: Chill a Martini glass and set aside. In a large shaker, add all ingredients along with three ice cubes. Shake hard until metal shaker is frosty to dissolve the ice. Strain into Martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel. 

The Culinary Recipes 

Roasted Carrot Ingredients:

Method for the Roasted Carrots: Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius). Toss carrots and garlic, with salt, pepper, and EVOO. Place vegetables in a roasting pan, cover with foil, and bake for 1-hour or until carrots are tender. Remove foil and roast for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set side. Remove one-half cup of carrot mixture for the carrot goat cheese crostini.  

Roasted Carrot Goat Cheese Crostini Ingredients:

Method for the Crostini: In a food processor, puree carrot mixture, goat cheese, and Westford Gin until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Just before serving, toast or grill baguette slices. 

Roasted Carrot Soup Ingredients:

Method for the Soup: Add the remaining carrot mixture to a blender, then add chicken bouillon and Westford Gin. Puree until smooth. 

Presentation: Serve soup hot or chilled, garnished with fresh rosemary. Grill or toast the sliced baguette and spread with the Carrot Goat Cheese. 

If you can visit Westford Hill Distillers, do visit, as the location is postcard-perfect New England.  Located on 200-acres that have been in Louis' family for over 100 years, Westford Hill Distillers is stunningly charming with its rock wall that leads up to the bright red distillery barn, an inviting front porch to sit and enjoy a cocktail or a bite to eat or sit at a table out back overlooking the rolling hills and pond. Margaret and Louis Chatey are gracious and knowledgeable hosts, and their gift shop is a shopper's dream. 

Cheers, its cocktail time! 

Westford Hill Distillers Exceptional Product Line: Pear William, Poire Prisonniere (Pear William with a whole pear presented in the bottle), New World Aged Apple Brandy, Kirsch (Cherry), Fraise (Strawberries), Framboise (Raspberry), Gin, and Rime Vodka. 

Westford Hill Distillery antique bottles

For additional information as well as purchasing and touring information please visit their website: www.WestfordHill.com. Westford Hill Distillers spirits are sold onsite as well domestically and internationally. 

Location and Tour Hours: Westford Hill Distillers is located 30 miles east of Hartford, Connecticut and 82 miles southwest of Boston. They are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Christmas from 12:00 am until 4:00 pm.  The tours last approximately 45 minutes and are limited to 4 persons per tour, so be sure to call ahead and reserve your tour. The cost of tour and tasting is $12 per person. 

Read more about Westford Hill Distillery's exceptional spirits and get more recipes in the Liquor Cabinet section: Westford Hill Distillers Pear William and Westford Hill Distillers New World Aged Apple Brandy  

Westford Hill Distillers
196 Chatey Road
Ashford, Connecticut 06378
United States
Telephone: +1-860-429-0464
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.WestfordHill.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/westordhilldistillers 

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