ABOUT US
The Devil’s Half Acre Distillery, established in 2016, is the only military veteran owned and operated distillery in the State of Maine. Our spirits have local character, are artisanal, and expertly handcrafted. Distilled with fresh Maine water, sourced directly from our land, and locally sourced botanicals, our distillery provides only the highest quality Spirits.
Our Core Values are focused on quality of product (spirits) and the customers we will serve. Our guarantee is that our Gin will be top-shelf quality, at a price point everyone can afford. Whether you’re a mixologist that enjoys unique cocktails, or traditional Gin and tonic, the homemade character of our Gin will make every sip a memorable moment.
It's time to rediscover Gin with Jigger and Jones American Gin. Premium quality performance with subtle notes of Juniper, citrus and spice. It finishes with earthy undertones and a smooth feel. J&J satisfies both the mix drink and neat Gin drinkers. Join the quest to rediscover what Gin should taste like.
Meet The Team
Matthew T. Murphy
President, Director of Operations
With 15 years of military leadership experience, and an equal amount in small business sales and development, Matthew has the drive and logistics/strategic capability for success.
Larry F. Murphy
Director of Sales and Marketing
Larry has 40+ years of B2B and B2C sales, marketing, and CRM skills and experience in various industries. He developed his sales career early in life working in print for a weekly newspaper, then a highly respected Business magazine. From there he went to work for two advertising agencies where he developed his marketing skills and knowledge. Knowing that he could run his own business, he opened an advertising agency in the mid 1980’s.
Vietnam Era Veteran, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command.
James Beaupre, PhD Chemical Engineering
Chief Science Officer
James is currently the Innovative Engineer at University of Maine, Orono; the first such engineer world-wide. He is also a highly sought-after Spirits Industry Consultant. As an inventor, James is credited with multiple patents in Chemical Engineering, and the creator of many spirits recipes world-wide. With a BS and PhD in chemical engineering, and years of hands-on distillery industry experience, the Devil’s Half Acre Distillery is extremely fortunate to have such a valuable team member.
HISTORY
Who were “Jigger” Johnson and Fan Jones.
At its height in 1860, Bangor, Maine was the world’s leader in shipping timber around the world. 250 million board feet of timber were floated down the Penobscot River to Bangor harbor. Records show that more than 3,000 ships moored in the harbor, so many in fact that you could walk across the river, on their decks, from Bangor to Brewer. The ships came from around the world: China, Europe, Australia, and the West Indies.
Timber was traded for molasses and rum, which the loggers imbibed with enthusiasm. Though Maine was dry since 1851, Bangor stayed resolutely wet. In 1890 the city had 142 saloons and brothels; many of the saloons were located in a section of downtown known as The Devil’s Half Acre.
Prior to COVID, the Bangor Historical Society provided tours of where the Devil’s Half Acre once existed. Thanks to the efforts of BHS, the Acre lives on.
One of the more notable and legendary figures of that time was a shrewd but elegant business woman by the name of Fan Jones. Fan owned a well-known bordello called the Sky Blue House of Pleasure. Legend has it Fan had the chimney of her establishment painted sky blue so sailors and lumberjacks could easily locate it as they arrived in town. Many folk songs were written about her by sailors and lumberjacks – like the following:
"Fan Jones, she ran a cathouse
Way down on Harlow Street
If you’re a woodsman
Head straight there
And your friends you’ll surely meet."
During the same period of time, there was a legendary lumberjack who lived in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. His name was Albert “Jigger” Johnson. Legend has it Jigger would catch bobcats alive barehanded, and would exhibit his daring at public events. It is reported that he would venture over to Bangor during his time off from the woods; perhaps to share a drink with Fan Jones.
WHERE TO FIND
JIGGER AND JONES
Albion –
Mini Mart
Alton –
Alton Grocery
Amherst –
Amherst General Store
Augusta –
Damon’s Beverage
Bangor –
Base Exchange
Damon’s Beverage
Inpanema
Novio’s Restaurant
Rack City
Tesoro Italian Restaurant
The Tarrantine Restaurant
Bar Harbor –
Town Hill Market
Belfast –
Meanwhile Restaurant
Biddeford –
Market Basket
Blue Hill –
Tradewinds Variety
Bradford –
Bradford General Store
Brewer –
High Tide Restaurant
Mason’s Brewing Company
Paradis Shop ‘n Save
Calais –
Tradewinds Variety
Caribou –
Freshies
Sleeper’s Market
Carmel –
Rick’s Mini Mart
The Village Market
Ye Old General Store
Clinton –
Galusha’s
Cornish –
Call’s Shop ‘n Save
Dedham –
Lucerne Inn
Dexter –
P & L Country Market
Toot’s
Dixfield –
Towle’s Corner Store
Dixmont –
Orcutt’s Variety
East Millinocket –
Ellis Family Market
Eastport –
R&M IGA Foodliner
Eddington –
The Eddington Store
Ellsworth –
Friends & Family Market
Global Beverage
Fairfield –
Friends & Family Market
Farmington –
Ron’s Market
Fort Fairfield –
Hillside IGA
Fort Kent –
Paradis Shop ‘n Save
Glenburn –
Tocci’s Checkout
Village Variety
Greenbush –
Applebee’s Superette
Greenville –
Indian Hill Grocery
Hampden –
Freshies
R&K Variety
Hermon –
C & K Variety
Danforth’s
Holden –
Stomper’s
Houlton –
Andy’s IGA
Hudson –
Roger’s Market
Island Falls –
Jerry’s Food Store
Kenduskeag –
Sam’s Qwik Stop
Kittery –
Pine Tree Country Store
Lagrange –
Lagrange General Store
Lincoln –
Lincoln Why Not Stop
Lisbon –
Bootleggers
Lisbon Falls –
Food City
Lubec –
Lyons Market
Machias –
Freshies
Madawaska –
Bob’s Service Center
Paradise Shop ‘n Save
Mars Hill –
Mars Hill IGA
Milford –
Freshies
Mt. Desert –
Freshies
Naples –
UFO Store
Newry –
Barking Dawg Market
Patten –
Ellis Family Market
Old Orchard Beach –
Potvin’s Market
Old Town –
KANÙ restaurant
Tim’s Little Big Store
Orrington –
Freshies Snow Corner
Orono –
Bell’s IGA
Leadbetter Quick Stop
Orono Thriftway
The Common Loon
Woodman’s Brew Pub
Otis –
Otis General Store
Penobscot –
Northern Bay Market
Pittsfield –
Bud’s Shop ‘n Save
Plymouth –
Plymouth Village Store
Portland –
Bow Street Beverage
Old Port Spirits & Cigar
RSVP
Presque Isle –
Freshies
Star City IGA
Randolph –
Goggin’s IGA
Rockland –
Beverage Barn
Saco –
Madden Beverage
Sanford –
The City Tobacco & Beverage
Scarborough –
Oak Hill Beverage
Searsport –
Tozier’s Market
Sherman –
Sherman Thrift Way Supermarket
Skowhegan –
Damon’s Beverage
Laney’s Pit Stop
West Front Market
South Berwick –
Nature’s Way Market
Swanville –
Swan Lake Grocery, Inc.
Topsham –
Bootleggers
Unity –
The Depot Country Store
Warren –
Andes Variety
Waldo –
Weaver’s Roadside Market
Waterville –
Damon’s Beverage
Front & Main Restaurant
Westbrook –
Friendly Discount
Market Basket
Wilton –
Steve’s Market
Windham –
Patman’s Redemption
Winterport –
Deb’s Variety
Freshies
CONTACT
The Devil's Half Acre Distillery