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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.

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About
ABOUT US

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.  

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SPIRITS
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Meet The Team

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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. 

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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.

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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.

MEET THE TEAM
HISTORY

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.

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WHERE TO BUY
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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

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Contact

CONTACT

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