Smoky Quartz Distillery leaving Route 1 after 11 years: Here's why and what's next

SEABROOK — Smoky Quartz Distillery is on the move after 11 years on Route 1.

Owner Kevin Kurland , who has made whiskey at 894 Lafayette Road since 2013, announced this week that his new lease was more than his craft distillery could afford. He said Smoky Quartz will be out of the space by October.

“Damn it, we’re moving,” Kurland posted on Smoky Quartz’s Facebook page on Aug. 18.

Kurland said the move does not mean Smoky Quartz, the business, is closing, but it's in a state of transition. He will sell the remainder of his inventory until late September, and the products will still be available at the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet.

“This does not mean that we’re closing,” Kurland said. “It means we are moving, at least for a year or two, to a wholesale model. I am working on a new location, however, it will take time.”

Kurland said by phone Wednesday the move is difficult, but he takes pride in the work he has put into Smoky Quartz Distillery. His distillery was the third craft distillery licensed in New Hampshire, established just as the craft distilling trend was gaining momentum. An Iraq war veteran, he said he did it with the help of his family.

“I think it was a great role model for my children,” Kurland said. “Even though it has its ups and downs, they look up to it with pride.”

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Smoky Quartz, veteran-owned and operated

Kurland, 57, began his military career in 1989 when he joined the Air Force, serving on active duty until 1992. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he joined the Air National Guard to take advantage of their student loan repayment program. He was preparing to leave the service when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred, prompting him to extend his commitment.

“I said how long can the war last?” Kurland said. He served two tours doing reconnaissance work in 2005 and 2008.

Kurland said he was in Baghdad on his second tour when he got the idea to get into the craft distilling business.

At the time, Kurland was deployed to Camp Victory at Baghdad International Airport working in aircraft intelligence. One day, his base came under rocket and mortar fire, forcing him to take cover under his desk until the all-clear siren sounded. Like many on the base, he had reading material on hand in case the shelling lasted for hours. Kurland came across an article in the Wall Street Journal about the alcohol industry that caught his attention. It talked about the boom in craft breweries happening at the time and indicated distilling was likely the next big craft wave.

Kurland, who had an engineering background, said it looked like a good fit for his skill set.

“I said that looks a lot more fun than this,” Kurland said. “I got home, and put together a business plan.”

Getting the business started was a challenge, largely because of the federal tax structure at the time. He said in 2013, federal law did not differentiate small distillers from large ones.

“I paid the same taxes as Jack Daniels,” Kurland said. “There were quarters I paid more in taxes than I had in revenue at times.”

Kurland said he had strong support from his family, many of whom are also veterans. His bourbon V5 is named for the five veterans who got Smoky Quartz off the ground – himself and his dad, uncle, stepfather and brother. He has since also made vodka, rum and moonshine.

Kurland said the tax system was changed in 2018 to differentiate his distillery from the larger ones. He said that allowed him to take more revenue and pay off a lot of debt.

“That was a huge shot in the arm to the distilling business,” Kurland said. “You saw a big boom in 2018, 2019, 2020, and it’s still continuing to this day because of that massive cut on taxes.”

He said he has been making 75 barrels of whiskey per year in 15-gallon barrels, which left room to grow while still getting his product into the state liquor stores.

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Smoky Quartz owner hopes to find new home in Seabrook

Kurland said it was December when he got his new lease and learned that it was too much for his “small business to handle.” He called his landlord and learned that they were selling the property.

Developer John Guertin purchased Kurland’s building and the entire plaza between 890 and 894 Lafayette Road, according to listing agent and Realtor Stephen Cavanaugh of Keller Williams Commercial Advisors.

Cavanaugh said Guertin purchased the properties this year to build-out several acres of land into a commercial property. That includes a new building planned to go next to the Smoky Quartz space and more construction in the back of the property.

The plaza will be named Eagle’s Landing Innovation Center, according to Cavanaugh. He said Guertin is also considering building a hotel there as well.

“It’s really big,” Cavanaugh said. “He plans to really clean it up.”

Kurland is optimistic he will be able to find a new home. He is currently liquidating his equipment, he said, which will be difficult since it is highly specialized for his operation. He said he was also disappointed to leave behind a space he put a lot of work into, including his 40-foot flagpole.

He hopes to keep the business in Seabrook, where he lives and has felt welcomed by the town. He has given back to the community as well, as he believes he was the first person on the East Coast to use his distillery to make free hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’d like to stay in Seabrook if possible,” Kurland said. “The town welcomed me with open arms.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Smoky Quartz Distillery leaving Route 1 after 11 years: Here's why and what's next