Built Different. By Design.
A Connecticut nano-distillery blending pre-Prohibition whiskey-making with modern engineering, Powdermen Spirits is crafting some of the most unconventional — and compelling — bourbon in the craft space today.
About Powdermen Spirits
Origins
Powdermen Spirits was founded in 2016 by Frank Lucca, alongside his son Vince, in Simsbury, Connecticut. The name comes from “Powdermen”, explosives engineers and miners, reflecting Frank’s background in the industry and a lesser-known historical link between mining and distilling.
That connection became personal through Frank’s friendship with retired U.S. Special Forces operator Charles “Charlie” Gray, who introduced him to traditional moonshining methods. A simple push to commit, buy a still, and start, became the foundation of the distillery, with Gray and mentor Ed Walter remaining central figures in its story.
Philosophy & Process
Powdermen focuses on small-batch, locally driven whiskey, built around 100% Connecticut-grown grain (primarily heirloom Wapsie Valley corn). Their approach blends pre-Prohibition techniques (corn-heavy mashbill, sour mash fermentation, low barrel entry proof) with modern engineering through custom-built copper pot stills and in-house control systems.
Current releases use a combination of accelerated and traditional aging, allowing them to develop mature, oak-driven profiles in shorter timeframes while longer-term stocks continue to age conventionally.
Purpose
At its core, Powdermen Spirits is about process, place, and legacy. Every bottle reflects a hands-on approach and a deliberate choice to prioritize character over scale, while honoring the individuals and experiences that shaped the distillery along the way.
Featured Review
Blackwick Bourbon – Batch 14 (Cask Strength)
A sub-three-month bourbon that challenges expectations with dense oak, heirloom corn character, and surprising maturity.
More from Powdermen Spirits
Blackwick Batch 10c Review
“Cracking the code on accelerated aging?”
At just over four weeks old, this release delivered molasses, gingerbread, and deep tannic oak with a finish reminiscent of red wine influence. Experimental on paper, but increasingly convincing in the glass.
Early Impressions & Double Gold Roots
Blackwick Batch 6 + Early Accelerated Trials
From a Double Gold-winning 5-year bourbon to early accelerated batches (7–9), Powdermen showed rapid progression. Even early on, the trajectory was clear: bold profiles, improving consistency, and a willingness to challenge convention.
Whiskey Song Series Feature
Accelerated Aging – The Big Question
A closer look at the concept itself — heat cycling, rapid extraction, and whether it can truly replicate time. Powdermen sits at the center of that conversation, actively testing what’s possible.
“This is not mass-market whiskey. It’s a return to roots, a time when bourbon tasted different…”
— Powdermen Spirits
Awards
The Bourbon Bishop 2025 Superlatives: Best Straight Whiskey Under 2 Years Old
Blackwick Bourbon Batch 10c
A standout in the sub-two-year category, Batch 10c earned top honors for pushing accelerated aging into legitimately competitive territory. A signal that Powdermen isn’t just experimenting. They’re executing.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Double Gold
Blackwick Bourbon Batch 6
The traditionally aged 5 year, 10 month bourbon won a double gold in single barrel bourbon up to 10 years old in arguably the best known spirits competition in the world.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Gold
Flyrock Whiskey
Their Flyrock corn whiskey won a gold medal in the unaged whiskey category as well.
Private Barrel Program
Powdermen offers one of the more hands-on private barrel experiences currently available. Participants don’t just select a barrel — they help design and build it alongside the distillery, shaping mash, process, and final output.
It’s a natural extension of their identity: process-driven, experimental, and deeply personal.
Final Word
Powdermen Spirits isn’t trying to fit into traditional bourbon frameworks. They’re building something adjacent: rooted in history, driven by engineering, and defined by a willingness to challenge assumptions about what whiskey “should” be.
If nothing else, it’s worth paying attention to.