The celebration kicks off with a big Rye Whiskey Party at the distiller on Saturday, April 16 from 1-8 PM with live music from local musicians The River Bones and Anderson’s Six Mile Cross, food from Camden’s Black Eyed Susan’s and delicious cocktails created at the distillery.

Founder and chief distiller James Yoakum and his crew know the first bottle of Cooper River Rye Whiskey is special so they want it to go to someone who appreciates it. All of the distillers will sign the first bottle and auction it off to the highest bidder - for a good cause, of course. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction will go to purchase books for classroom libraries at Mastery Charter-Cramer Hill Elementary School in Camden. Interested bidders can email Cooper River Distillers with their bid and contact info, bid in person before the 16th at the distillery or any of their off-site tasting events, or participate in the live bidding on April 16.

We had a chance to try one of the first samples of Cooper River Rye. It’s peppery, the rye shines through, and it’s beautifully sippable. Samples of the rye will be available at the distillery’s bar during their normal Friday and Saturday hours leading up to the big party on the 16th. On the 16th, they’ll be doing tastings and using the new whiskey in special cocktails (still to be determined). They’ll also be offering a flight featuring Silver Fox Rye, Cooper River Rye Whiskey, and Rye Oak Reserve Rum. The flight will showcase 'rye flavors' in an un-aged rye format, an aged rye whiskey, and a rum aged in a used rye barrel.

Anyone who can’t make it to the distillery has some other opportunities to sample this special New Jersey whiskey. They can head out to The Irish Mile in Westmont, NJ from 5–8 PM for a Meet the Distillers Happy Hour on Thursday, April 7, or attend the Handcrafted event at Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood on Saturday, May 14, from 7–10 PM.

Cooper River Distillers, 34 N 4th St., Camden; 856-295-1273

Photo vis Cooper River Distillers