Massachusetts’ Bully Boy Distillers

By Rick Garner

Bully Boy Distillers is owned and operated by MA brothers Will and Dave Willis, who first became interested in brewing/distilling as children after stumbling upon a collection of Prohibition-era spirits hidden in an underground vault of their family’s working farm that once served as a speakeasy. With names like “Medford Rum” and “Cow Whiskey,” these precursors to today’s craft spirits were harsh and remarkably undrinkable, but they had character. The Willis boys’ interest quickly evolved from cider production to stovetop distilling to starting their own full-scale craft distillery.

Paying close attention to the caliber of ingredients used in its products, Bully Boy hand-produces premium spirits in small batches, emphasizing quality over quantity. As homage to the farm, the distillery is named after Bully Boy, a favorite farm workhorse. Will and Dave’s great-grandfather named his beloved horse using a term coined by his college roommate, none other than Teddy Roosevelt: “Bully,”  meaning superb or wonderful.

Bully Boy Distillers is proud to carry on MA’s tradition of small-batch distilling and handmade beverages ~ white rum, Boston rum, vodka, white whiskey, and wheat whiskey ~ that taste as superb as the quality of their ingredients.  The attention to detail has paid off, as Bully Boy spirits have received exceptional ratings from the Beverage Tasting Institute’s International Review of Spirits. Bully Boy made its official Worcester debut with a complimentary tasting event at The Armsby Abbey earlier this year, and is available for purchase at Julio’s Liquors – Westboro, Vin Bin – Marlboro, Wine Nation – Millbury, Mass Liquors – Worcester, and at many other locations viewable on the BB website, www.bullyboydistillers.com.

And once you’ve purchased the Bully Boy beverage of your choice, why not try one of the Willis brothers’ favorite recipes?

 

ACK Mojito (by American Seasons, Nantucket)

  • Bully Boy White Rum
  • Beach Plum Syrup
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Lemon Wedge
  • Basil and Mint Leaves

Shake and top with soda over ice

The Big Stick (compliments of Island Creek Oyster Bar)

  • 2 1?4 oz. Bully Boy White Rum
  • 3?4 oz. Raw Sugar Syrup
  • 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
  • 3 drops absinthe
  • Pour over ice, drain into a chilled lowball glass

Garnish with a long lime twist

Bully Boy Daiquiri (from Jim Garrels at Pi Pizzeria on Nantucket)

  • 21?2 oz. Bully Boy White Rum
  • Splash Luxardo Marachino Liquer
  • Splash Cherry Heering
  • 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
  • Splash of Grapefruit Juice
  • 1?2 teaspoon Sugar

Shaken, served straight up

Knock Knock (Dune, Nantucket)

  • Orange Dulce infused with Bully Boy White Rum
  • Mix with orange simple syrup and lime

Light and Stormy

  • 2oz. Bully Boy White Rum
  • 8 oz. Ginger Beer
  • 1 Slice lime

Sally’s Iced Tea

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy White Rum
  • 4 oz. Home Brewed Iced Tea
  • 4 oz. Lemonade

Garnish with Fresh Mint

Vodka Cranberry Bog Martini (by American Seasons, Nantucket)

  • Bully Boy Organic Vodka
  • Nantucket Conservation Cranberry Puree
  • Lemon Juice
  • Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
  • Splash of Chocolate Liquor

Shake and serve in a chilled glass

Rhubarb Cobbler (mixed at L’Esxpalier)

  • Bully Boy Organic Vodka
  • Rhubarb Syrup
  • Rose Garnish

The West Chopper

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic Vodka
  • 7 oz. Lemonade
  • Splash Pomegranate Juice

Shake and serve over Ice

The Bitter End (by The Biltmore Bar and Grill, Newton Upper Falls)

  • 2 1?4 oz. Bully Boy White Whiskey
  • 1?4 oz. Asperol
  • 1?4 oz. Le Combier Orange
  • Dash of Orange Bitters
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Touch of Lime Juice and Agave Nectar

Bully Day (Trade)

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Grapefruit Juice
  • Fresh Mint

Bully Boy Julep (L’andana)

  • Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Canton ginger liqueur
  • Agave nectar

Garnish with mint and lemon

The Deadline (Lineage)

  • Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • St. Germain
  • Benedictine
  • Lime

The Float

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy White Whiskey
  • 1 can San Pelegrino Limonata
  • 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Ice

Give a good stir and float Angostura bitters on top

High on the Horse

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • 1 oz. sweet vermouth
  • 2 oz. orange juice
  • Shake and serve on the rocks and top with a splash of bitters
  • Indian Summer  (by Henrietta’s Table, Cambridge)
  • 1 1?2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • 4 oz. Apple Cider
  • 1 tsp Local Wildflower Honey
  • 6 Fresh Mint Leaves

Matt G’s Lime Tea

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Generous splash of Newman’s Own Limeade
  • Muddled mint
  • Serve over ice

Newmarket (Post 390)

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Chateau Lamothe Sauterneess
  • Luxardo Maraschino
  • Orange Bitters
  • Luxardo Cherry

Raised in the Fog (by American Seasons, Nantucket)

  • Bully Boy White Whiskey
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Egg White
  • Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
  • Splash Kubler Absinthe
  • Splash of Tonic

Shake and serve over ice

The Root of All Evil (Kingston Station)

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Root Tea
  • Splash of soda
  • Ward 4s (crafted by The Bristol Lounge)
  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • 3 dashes Aperol Bitters
  • A blend of Lemon Juice, Honey, and Fresh Grapefruit

White Boy Manhattan (Area Four)

  • Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Cocchi Americano
  • Regan’s Bitters
  • White Rooster
  • 2 parts Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • 1 part Cocchi Americano
  • Regan’s Orange Bitters

Stir over ice and serve down with an orange peel

Whiskey Ginger

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • 8 oz. Tonic
  • 4-6 crashed mint leaves
  • 1?2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
  • 1 slice of lime

The Willis Fix (compliments of Temple Bar)

  • 2 oz. Bully Boy Organic White Whiskey
  • Housemade rosemary-pineapple syrup
  • Fresh lemon juice

Serve over crushed ice

Photo: The Willis Brothers (Will on left, Dave on right) by Heath Robbins Photography