Distillery offshoot spawns from pasta shop

john kreckman

Bombolini co-owner John Kreckman with the gold and silver rum. (Mike Platania)

A pasta shop in the Fan has launched a spinoff to help customers wash down their noodles.

Bombolini Pasta recently opened Trial & Error, an in-house distillery that’s initially producing rum and plans to branch out into other spirits.

Trial & Error occupies about 500 square feet of Bombolini’s 4,500-square-foot building at 1606 W. Main St., where husband-and-wife duo John and Lolita Kreckman launched the restaurant 10 years ago.

Bombolini makes and sells pasta and sauces for to-go dishes and wholesale. It received approval in February last year to distill liquor.

John Kreckman said they had an idea initially to brew beer onsite, but opted against it.

“We liked the idea of beer, but it’s just too crowded of a market,” he said.

The shop is starting by selling gold and silver rum, with plans to try making gin, aquavit and vodka.

“It’s been fun, we’ve been messing around with a lot of different stuff,” Kreckman said. “Rum is kind of the starter for us.”

At 55 gallons, Trial & Error is using one of the smaller stills in town. Kreckman said it can produce about 10 gallons of spirits daily, and the pair would consider adding a larger still if needed in the future. Trial & Error also ages some spirits in barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg.

Trial & Error’s rums are sold at Bombolini, where it has a small tasting area on the retail floor. Kreckman said it’s in the process of making bottles available at local ABC stores.

With bottles starting at $25 for 750 milliliters, Kreckman said he wants to keep the prices reasonable.

“All that fancy stuff on your shelf, you never drink it. You just look at it,” he said.

As Trial & Error gets underway, one of the city’s larger distilling operations is preparing to open this spring.

Virago Spirits, a venture by the Haneberg family, is preparing to begin operations with a 660-gallon still near The Diamond.

john kreckman

Bombolini co-owner John Kreckman with the gold and silver rum. (Mike Platania)

A pasta shop in the Fan has launched a spinoff to help customers wash down their noodles.

Bombolini Pasta recently opened Trial & Error, an in-house distillery that’s initially producing rum and plans to branch out into other spirits.

Trial & Error occupies about 500 square feet of Bombolini’s 4,500-square-foot building at 1606 W. Main St., where husband-and-wife duo John and Lolita Kreckman launched the restaurant 10 years ago.

Bombolini makes and sells pasta and sauces for to-go dishes and wholesale. It received approval in February last year to distill liquor.

John Kreckman said they had an idea initially to brew beer onsite, but opted against it.

“We liked the idea of beer, but it’s just too crowded of a market,” he said.

The shop is starting by selling gold and silver rum, with plans to try making gin, aquavit and vodka.

“It’s been fun, we’ve been messing around with a lot of different stuff,” Kreckman said. “Rum is kind of the starter for us.”

At 55 gallons, Trial & Error is using one of the smaller stills in town. Kreckman said it can produce about 10 gallons of spirits daily, and the pair would consider adding a larger still if needed in the future. Trial & Error also ages some spirits in barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg.

Trial & Error’s rums are sold at Bombolini, where it has a small tasting area on the retail floor. Kreckman said it’s in the process of making bottles available at local ABC stores.

With bottles starting at $25 for 750 milliliters, Kreckman said he wants to keep the prices reasonable.

“All that fancy stuff on your shelf, you never drink it. You just look at it,” he said.

As Trial & Error gets underway, one of the city’s larger distilling operations is preparing to open this spring.

Virago Spirits, a venture by the Haneberg family, is preparing to begin operations with a 660-gallon still near The Diamond.

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

POSTED IN The Brew

Editor's Picks

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Brian Ezzelle
Brian Ezzelle
5 years ago

Their bacon ravioli is incredible.