Vitae Spirits Distillery - Refining Craft Distilling!

For Master Distiller Peter Morgner, terroir is more than soil and climate—it’s community. At Vitae Spirits, every bottle reflects not just central Virginia’s botanicals, but the people and collaborations that shape its character. From Golden Rum to Damson Gin, each spirit tells a story of place and connection. With a custom-built copper still and a commitment to preserving authentic flavors, Morgner crafts small-batch spirits that capture the essence of both land and community. In this interview with Delivery Rank, he shares how Vitae blends tradition, artistry, and local spirit into every pour.

Vitae Spirits redefines terroir to include community as a vital element. Can you share a specific story where a local individual or group directly influenced a spirit’s creation or flavor profile?

We redefine Terroir, not only by harvesting local produce like hardy orange for our Orange Liqueur but the work we do with vineyards. We are currently producing a line of Brandies that represents the Monticello wine region and individual vineyards showcasing their wine in a distilled expression.

Your Golden Rum and Coffee Liqueur seem to encapsulate more than just ingredients — they feel like cultural touchstones. How do you go about translating a ‘sense of place’ into something drinkable?

Our Golden Rum and Maple Cream Liqueur translate a sense of place by the ingredients we use. Our Maple Cream Liqueur is sweetened with maple Syrup from 'Back Creek Farms' in Monterey Va. also known as 'Little Switzerland '. Our Golden Rum is not just distilled from sugar cane juice. It is aged in grilled sugar cane that our sister company 'Ace Biscuit and BBQ' grills the sugar cane over pecan and apple wood for a sweet smokey finish that sips like a bourbon.

What drew you to work with botanical artist Lara Call Gastinger, and how did her visual interpretation of plants influence the sensory experience of that spirit?

Founder Ian Glomski, using his scientific background, wanted to encapsulate the botanicals of our Gins partnered with chemical elements and knew that Lara was the artist for the job 

Can you walk us through how your temperature-controlled fermentation tanks help express the botanical identity of your spirits — especially in a region with such dynamic seasonal shifts?

Complex lesser known ingredients like Damson plums and Conifer spruce are not household names but we take joy in informing people of their local relevance yet unique flavor profiles 

To read more about Vitae Spirits Distillery, please visit https://www.vitaespirits.com/