Visiting a Local Distillery

This weekend I visited the areas’ local distillery. Moonshine Mine opened in 2018 on Cardiff Road outside of Nanty Glo. They became Cambria Counties first legal distillery.

Local Distillery: How it began

Owner Mike Cocho can remember growing up and seeing this strange copper device in the family shed. When he was older, curiosity drove him to ask about it. His mother began telling him stories of how his grandmother had operated a still inside the house. His family had been distilling spirits for over 100 years.

Armed with 100 plus years of family stories and recipes, Mike and his son began experimenting. As their skill set grew they decided it was time to grow and open a distillery.

Opening a distillery is no easy process. It took around 18 months to get the required certifications from the state Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and the Federal Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Local Distillery: The Selection

Cocho started with a few types of alcohol and has since branched out. Included are rum, brandy, bourbon, whiskey, grain alcohol, vodka, gin, tequila liquor, and most definitely moonshine.

It can be difficult to choose which flavor or style you want to purchase. No worries however, they have free tastings. This weekend our “bartender” was Fifi. She was very friendly and very knowledgeable. Which made her capable of answering any questions we had about the differences between certain alcohol percentages. She also knows a good deal about Moonshine Mine’s history.

As many who are repeat visitors know, Moonshine Mine is planning on opening a Saloon right next door. The Saloon does not have a specific date for opening but, keep an eye on their Facebook Page for this event. It will hopefully take place in a few months.

Moonshine Mine is definitely worth a visit. The wide range of flavors and alcohol styles almost guarantees that you will find something worth buying. The distillery is located at 2046 Cardiff Rd, Nanty Glo. While in Nanty Glo you may to travel to one of the branches of the Ghost Town Trail. If you read my past article, you may find some fun outdoor activities to try.