New vodka company will be based out of Raleigh

The handcrafted, gluten-free vodka will be distilled in Kinston, North Carolina, officials announced Wednesday. The brand has been four years in the making for friends and industry leaders Cary Joshi, Mark Mullins and G Patel, who owns Eschelon Experiences, the restaurant group behind Raleigh favorites like Bare Bones, Cameron Bar & Grill and Mura at North Hills.

After the trio searched for sites across South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina to establish their distillery, Three Stacks Distilling Company, they selected a century-old, abandoned power plant in Kinston to produce their quality spirits.

“We love North Carolina; we live, work and play in the Triangle and value the fellowship we’ve found in Kinston. We are honored to give back to the communities that have supported and welcomed us,” said Joshi.

The three said that, in addition to Kinston's transportation and logistical benefits, the site they picked for Social House Vodka has two deep water wells to the Black Creek aquifer, which is known for its naturally purified water. Over the next few years, Social House plans to rehabilitate the historic power plant by utilizing energy efficient building technologies and up-cycling its waste into renewable energy or high nutrient feed for local farmers.

“We began this journey believing that when good friends come together, great things can happen,” said Joshi. “Whether enjoying a nice dinner, attending each other’s family events or catching up to talk shop, Mark, G and I realized it’s the shared moments, big and small, that forge life’s best memories."

Social House Vodka spirits will be sourced from local, non-GMO corn (that's what makes it gluten-free) and mashed, fermented, distilled, blended and filtered right in the plant.

"The great care we put into making our vodka happens even before we’re producing it -- it starts at the farm," officials said.

"We want Social House Vodka to embody the passion we put into our work, personal relationships and experiences," said Joshi. "If we can create something special that complements time with friends -- sharing a laugh, toasting a milestone, kicking back for some rest and relaxation -- that’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.”