Hometown Spirit

A hometown connection between a local restaurateur and a master distiller has sparked a new event to benefit Cape Fear River Watch. On March 6, Front Street Brewery will debut the Spirit of the Cape Fear at the Brooklyn Arts Center. The event is described as a one-of-a-kind bourbon experience, created in partnership with Maker’s Mark.

For Front Street Brewery’s co-owner and director of operations, Sam Sumner, the story begins just north of Wilmington.

“I grew up about 45 minutes north of here, in a small town called Clinton, North Carolina,” Sam Sumner said. “And I went to high school with Blake Layfield, the master distiller at Maker’s Mark.”

After graduating from high school, Layfield earned his doctorate in food science at N.C. State University and was hired by Suntory Global Spirits, Maker’s Mark’s parent company, in 2019. He earned the title of master distiller in 2024.

When Sam and his wife, Allegra Grant, executive chef at Salt + Charm, planned a visit to Louisville, Kentucky, where the Maker’s Mark distillery is located, Sam reached out to his old high school friend to see if they might connect.

“At that time, Blake was the director of innovation, and he kind of rolled out the red carpet for us,” Sumner said.

During the visit, Sumner brought up the idea of working with Maker’s Mark to create a private selection for Front Street Brewery, which carries 515 bourbons and whiskeys in addition to its craft beers.

Layfield suggested that if FSB were willing to bring a charitable element to the request for a private selection, it could help move the process along. In January 2022, Maker’s Mark was the largest distillery in the world to be granted a B Corporation Certification. This certification recognizes companies committed to environmental sustainability.

According to Suntory Global Spirits, Maker’s Mark achieved the certification by meeting and exceeding benchmarks across five assessment categories: community, customers, environment, governance and workers. They were also recognized for their efforts to preserve the natural resources of Star Hill Farm, the Louisville property where the distillery is located. These include a zero-landfill initiative, an on-site recycling program, the installation of a solar array to power the company’s warehouse complex and the creation of a natural water sanctuary to protect the farm’s watershed.

Following the certification, the company launched the “Make Your Mark, Leave No Trace” initiative as part of a long-term effort to focus on environmental improvement efforts beyond Starr Hill Farm.

After learning more about the company’s mission, Sumner immediately thought of Cape Fear River Watch as a potential charitable partner.

“We’re in the brewing industry, so water quality is extremely important to us,” Sumner said. “And what Cape Fear River Watch does for our community is so integral to our livelihoods as well as our health and wellness.”

Once Cape Fear River Watch riverkeeper Kemp Burdette was on board to create an event that could benefit his organization, Sumner and his team traveled back to Louisville last August to meet up with Layfield and begin the private selection process.

Maker’s Mark’s process involves selecting up to 10 staves (wooden planks that impart different flavor profiles) to create a custom barrel in which the bourbon ages for an additional 90 days.

“There are over 1,000 different combinations to choose from,” Sumner said. “We were able to put our fingerprint on the final product, which made it that much more special for us. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s now our goal to be able to do this every year.”

The inaugural Spirit of the Cape Fear event will take place on Friday, March 6, at the Brooklyn Arts Center and will celebrate the release of Hometown Honey, the private selection created through the partnership. Blake Layfield will be in attendance, and all guests will have the opportunity to sample Hometown Honey.

The event will also feature live music, food, a silent auction, curated gift bags and the opportunity to purchase one bottle of Hometown Honey at a designated ABC store. VIP tickets will include early access to the event, a Maker’s Mark commemorative glass, passed hors d’oeuvres and an oyster bar from Rx Chicken and Oysters.

“Sarah Doss of Rx also went to high school with Blake and me, so you’ve got a hometown trifecta there,” Sumner said.

At its heart, Spirit of the Cape Fear is about a connection between old friends, a legendary distillery, Wilmington’s hospitality scene and the river that sustains it all.

“Having that deep connection to southeast North Carolina and the Cape Fear region, with Blake kind of leading the helm, is really unique and has the makings of what we hope will be a lasting partnership,” Sumner said.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.