On a dirt driveway off MD-108 in Olney sits the bucolic Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company–complete with a barn, a field to grow barley and a cozy, rustic tavern that has all the hallmarks of an enduring establishment despite only being 4 years old.
Recently, yellow tape and construction crews have been added to the farm’s scenery. A new distillery that will offer vodka, bourbon, gin and single malt is scheduled to open in June on the Montgomery County farm.
The distillery is named Fallen Oak Distilling in honor of the beloved 200-year-old oak tree that collapsed on the property two years ago.
“We went to high school locally, we used to drive by, that kind of looks like the tree of life,” co-owner Charlie Miller told WUSA9 in April. “Then one day, 15 years later, we actually ended up purchasing the property and owning it, I guess if you could own such a thing.”
Charlie Miller, a local businessman, owns the business with his younger brother, Chris. Ralph and Ryan Mollet, the father-son pair of builders behind M&M Builders and Contractors based in Montgomery County, are also owners. M&M Builders built the buildings around the farm and isdeveloping the space that will be the distillery.
The distillery aims to be a break from the family-friendly atmosphere that is the focus of the rest of the farm. Where the farm offers a playground, the distillery offers an ideal date spot for couples.
“We wanted to create a 21-and-up experience,” Chris Miller said. “The distillery and tasting room associated with it will be a little higher end, higher scale. We will have higher-end food offerings and fresh cocktails using seasonal garnishes grown on the farm.”
In line with the adjoining brewery’s “ground to glass” model–where ingredients are grown and then used to create drinks on-site–Fallen Oak will take a similar approach. Ingredients for the spirits will be regionally sourced, and if not, then grown on the farm.
Even the concepts of the drinks are regional. The recipes for these spirits and cocktails have been created in collaboration with other brewers, farmers and distillers in the area.
“One of the flagship products we are excited to make is an American single malt whiskey, which will have 100% estate-grown barley,” Chris Miller explained.
Lone Oak Farms opened its doors in June 2020, its outdoor aesthetic and spacious fields making it an ideal microbrewery during the pandemic for socially distanced meetups, according to Chris Miller.
He said he and his brother wanted to provide a place for people “to connect with the outdoors and connect with the farms and to experience not only a friend and a conversation but experience the land and where their products are coming from.”
This community-driven mission is evident through the multiple facilities on the sprawling 30-acre property, including a playground, an open-air pavilion and a row of small, intimate tents for private parties.
Like the farm’s beers, the distillery’s spirits will be available in liquor stores and restaurants. But the Millers says it’s well-worth the trip to Olney to see where the magic happens.
“You’ll be able to experience a fully Montgomery County, Maryland, United States product. Single-sourced here on the property. The spirits will be a different experience,” Chris Miller says.