Sloop Betty Vodka maker to open store, offer distillery tours

Blackwater Distilling, the Stevensville maker of Sloop Betty vodka, will open its in-house store and begin offering tours of the distillery March 16.

The 5,000-square-foot plant will only be open on weekends and by appointment to start. The facility is the state’s first licensed distillery in 40 years.

The $5 tours will last about 20 minutes and conclude with a tasting.

Sloop Betty, a wheat-based vodka, debuted in 2011 and took “best in show” at the 2012 New York World Wine and Spirits competition.

Blackwater…