[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 96 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING NORTHERN MAINE DISTILLING COMPANY

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, my home State of Maine is home to 
countless young entrepreneurs who are working to ensure that our State 
and Nation have a vibrant, growing economy for years to come. Two of 
these remarkable individuals reside in northern Maine, where they have 
begun a booming business based on a college project. Today I recognize 
the founders of the Northern Maine Distilling Company for their 
tremendous accomplishments in such a short period of time.
  Scott Galbiati and Jessica Jewell were students at Rensselaer 
Polytechnic Institute when they worked on a class project together to 
design a business plan. They chose to create a distillery. And after 
getting married in 2006, they took their venture to the next level, 
deciding that this would not remain an abstract plan developed in a 
classroom, but that they would see this business to its fruition. Most 
exciting of all, they decided they would create their company in Maine.
  After many trial runs and much hard work, Scott and Jessica based 
their company in Houlton, a small community on the State's eastern 
border with Canada. By utilizing the town's high quality water supply, 
the locally made and distilled Twenty 2 Vodka, the distillery's 
flagship product, has quickly become recognized as a truly unique 
product of Maine.
  Northern Maine Distilling uses only American made products in their 
production process, resulting is the creation of 50 gallons of vodka 
per batch. Additionally, by using their Web site and other social media 
sites in a smart and effective manner, Scott and Jessica have been able 
to reach out to communities across the country, sharing recipes and 
ideas with people nationwide.
  Twenty 2 Vodka has won several awards over the course of its short 
existence on the shelves. It received the bronze medal at the New York 
International Spirits Competition and the 2010 World Beverage 
Competition, and last year bested all competitors at both the Consumer 
Judged SIP Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition, taking 
home the gold at both. The vodka has quickly won wide acclaim, and can 
be found in a variety of locations across the State.
  But perhaps the biggest achievement for Scott and Jessica thus far 
was being named the 2011 Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Leaders 
Encouraging Aroostook Development, or LEAD, and Momentum Aroostook. 
These two organizations are dedicated to fostering economic growth and 
development in Maine's northernmost county, and by recognizing Jessica 
and Scott with this prestigious award, they have identified two of 
Maine's rising stars in the business world.
  Starting and growing a business is not any easy task, as any 
entrepreneur will tell you. But successful business owners demonstrate 
critical characteristics, like perseverance, commitment, and 
pragmatism. The Northern Maine Distilling Company was born out of these 
traits, which clearly shine through in Jessica Jewell and Scott 
Galbiati. I thank everyone at the Northern Maine Distilling Company for 
their hard work, and wish them much success in the years to 
come.

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