GLEN ROCK, Pa. — Get ready to shake it up for National Rum Day!
Award-winning Old Republic Distillery, which has locations in York and Lancaster counties, shares a recipe for one of their favorite rum cocktails, Love & Roses.
Old Republic has been the winner of the Susquehanna Style Magazine's Best Distillery for many years, and this year it added a silver medal from the San Francisco International Spirits competition for its Golden Plough Tavern Dark Rum. The distillery also won PA Product of the Year from the Central Penn Business Journal in 2019.
"Rum is a passion in Old Republic, so we do take good care of our rum and we're extra special with what we do with our rum," Bill Mathias, co-owner, said.
Old Republic Distillery is looking forward to expanding its reach by opening a new cocktail bar inside an R/C Movie Theater in the coming months. Those interested can keep an eye on its Facebook page for updates.
Love & Roses
Ingredients
3/4 ounce, fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon, sugar
6-inch fresh rosemary sprig
1 1/2 ounces, Gates House Rum
1 ounce, Love Potion
Club soda
Directions
Combine the lime juice and sugar in a glass. Throw in the sprig of fresh rosemary and muddle everything together. Add ice to the glass. Pour in the rum and Love Potion. Stir the drink, then top it off with club soda.
"We like to use a pint glass when we make this; that way we can mix it, drink it all in the same glass," Kelley Mathias said. "Less stuff sitting around."
Love Potion is a cordial, which is a kind of sweetened distilled spirit.
"Love Potion is actually strawberries and blueberries; it's a combination," Bill said. "It's sweetened with agave nectar, so it has a wonderful kind of sweetness—subdued sweetness to it."
For those who like to leave the mixing to the professionals, Old Republic has tastings and bottle sales available at two local markets, or shoppers can order spirits online:
- New Eastern Market
- Hours: Fridays from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Location: 201 Memory Lane, York
- The Markets at Shrewsbury
- Hours: Thursday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Location: 12025 Susquehanna Trail S., Glen Rock
Guests can also visit Old Republic Distillery Tavern, located at 3 Dutchland Ave. in Ephrata. The Tavern is open Wednesday - Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m., Friday - Saturday from noon - 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.