The new Eight Oaks Craft Distillers, Route 309, Lynn Township, had an open house on Feb. 20-21.

Adding to the fun was a display of paintings on wood panels by Kempton artist Jon Bond.

Bond said he is releasing new sets of prints and gift items, some of which were in the Spirits of the Paint show.

He tied his artwork to the distillery because it supports local organizations.

Chad Butters, distillery manager, said four kinds of drinks: gin, vodka, rum and apple jack are made at the site, in what resembles a big red barn.

For the open house two drinks were added as Jon Bond specials: The Pinnacle and Sacred Oak.

Bond has many different views of The Pinnacle, the highest point in Albany Township, in his Kempton studio.

“My work is spiritual and shows my love for the land, said Bond, who spends a lot of time outdoors.

Butters said the apples come from Scholl’s orchard near the Albany Township line. For use that day, apples had just been turned into fresh cider.

“We grow our own wheat,” said Butters. They have a farm near Leaser Lake. Kevin Utt works the land at Leaser Lake and produces the wheat, rye, barley and corn.

Co-owner Logan Snyder said the “eight” is used in the name but as the connection is with the Butters family, he asked Carly Butters to tell the story.

Her great-grandfather worked away from home so he wrote letters to her grandfather.

At the end of a letter he included an “8” for the eight letters of “I love you.”

From there, the idea went to her father and on down to her brother and herself.

What most interests me is supporting local agriculture, said Chad Butters.

“This is the last place we lived and we considered a winery or brewery and stumbled across the idea of a distillery,” he said.

Butters went to Washington state and served an internship, though he said he would still be learning in 10 years.

The wheat harvested in July is stored in a big white barn behind the new construction built by Greg Snyder in the style of a barn.

When it is brought into the millhouse the bags go into a probox which is lifted to a hopper that automatically weighs it.

The grain is beaten and screened and ready for cooking. It is transferred to the main building by an auger.

A John Deere tractor, part of Willard Snyder’s collection, was in the room as a centerpiece.

The tractor will be replaced by a huckster wagon as part of integrating history into the business.

The mash tub is from Germany and Butters considers it the best available.

The tub was fired up for the first time Dec. 2, 2015. A cooling jacket is filled with water to control temperature.

Bond then took some time to describe his works.

He said wood panels were used before stretched canvas. He painted a carousel with a pole in the center and a wheel on the top.

The post represents his father and birdhouse gourds represent the six children. Wind can make the wheel whirl. In the distance is The Pinnacle, which he termed his mistress.

There was a bubbling sound in the distillery and Butters said that was carbon dioxide.

“We can hear what’s going on. It takes eight days for molasses to ferment,” he said. It was as recently as 20 years ago that scientists found how the magical process works.

Bond’s next painting was of the Fredericksville tavern where he has eaten many meals. It shows so much history and he terms it “The Last Supper.”

The distillery uses only local water, which Butters says contributes to the quality of the product.

Three things contribute to the spirit: soil, environment, and weather. The spent grain is given to farmers for use as fertilizer.

Bond showed three pictures of rocks. Two may have been part of a falling down rock wall and one that is a close-up where one’s eye is drawn to a leaf caught in a crevice.

Tours of and private events at the distillery may be scheduled at eightoaksdistillery.com.