March First Brewing’s distilling arm, Sycamore Distilling, and local historic confectioner Doscher’s Candy have teamed up once again to bring back a holiday spirit: Voltage Vodka brand peppermint schnapps.
Back for the second year, this 100-proof schnapps is infused with the peppermint oil that Doscher’s uses to make its famous candy canes. The Newtown-based candy maker has been crafting small-batch copper-kettle candy canes for 150 years and is the oldest candy cane producer in the country, hand-rolling, hand-kneading and hand-hooking each treat.
“We were very happy to do this collaboration last year because we honestly wanted some bottles to try ourselves” Doscher’s spokesperson Greg Clark said in a press release. “The response to the schnapps was so positively overwhelming last year. People came in from everywhere to buy our candy canes and wanted a bottle, too, but sadly we can’t sell it here. It’s been the best collaboration we’ve ever done.”
Voltage falls under March First’s umbrella of companies, which includes March First Brewing, Sycamore Distilling, Voltage Vodka, Cooper Island Rum and, now, FigLeaf Brewing Company.
Last year, Voltage Vodka peppermint schnapps was only available at the March First taproom and sold-out in the first month and half, says the release. But the team has doubled production and will be selling bottles in both the taproom and select state liquor agencies this year.
The Voltage peppermint schnapps will be released Thursday, Oct. 17 at March First starting at 4 p.m. and costs $23.99. Bottles will start appearing in liquor stores in a few weeks.
March First Brewing is located at 7885 E. Kemper Road in Sycamore.
This article appears in Oct 16-29, 2019.