WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield native Lisa Sawyer Derman has been in the alcohol beverage industry for 30 years. Now she is returning to her hometown roots of Kentucky to launch her New Jersey bourbon brand Five Springs Naturally Infused Bourbon.
Derman and her husband met in law school and settled down in Westfield to raise their family. During that time, Derman got involved in the alcohol beverage law. She became General Counsel of the Absolut Vodka company and then Chief Operating Officer of Stoli Vodka.
Most recently, she ran Macalleb Scotch for the North Division and Canada.
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Once her children were out of school, Derman decided she wanted to create her own brand.
“Being from Kentucky, it had to be bourbon,” said Derman.
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Just launched this summer, Five Springs Infused Bourbon — a female-founded and family-owned New Jersey company — is pouring three new innovative naturally-infused bourbons.
“We spent at least a year developing the taste profile,” said Derman. “We used different types of bourbon, and really just started using ingredients from the farmers market, and we were making cocktails. It took us a year to develop those flavor profiles.”
The three bourbons Honey Sage, Vanilla Maple, and Blood Orange are available online and in retailers, bars, and restaurants throughout New Jersey.
Derman said the Blood Orange makes the “perfect” Old-Fashioned cocktail.
“You just need to add a couple of dashes and bitters to it, and you’ve got an easy Old Fashioned. Once we started creating those old fashions for people, we knew that that was a winner, and that has been our best-seller,” said Derman.
The Vanilla Maple flavor was inspired by Derman’s kids who enjoyed drinking Espresso Martinis. She looked at flavors that would compliment an Espresso Martini and it just happened to be Vanilla Maple.
The Honey Sage was Derman’s daughter’s idea.
“She lives in Brooklyn, and had noticed that there were a lot of cocktail bars that were using a lot of herbs, and we were really interested in that. So, you know, we tried thyme, we tried basil, we tried lavender, and somehow the combination of the honey and the sage came together,” said Derman.
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She added it blends perfectly with Ginger Beer.
“We do a Kentucky Mule, which is the honey sage and ginger beer. And then also a lot of people are drinking it with tea, which has been fun. Like we do a honey sage tea with a little splash of peach brandy, and that’s been a great seller this summer,” said Derman.
Locally, Five Springs Naturally Infused Bourbon can be found in Westfield at Sweet Waters Steakhouse, the Publick House, and House of Wine & Liquor Westfield.
They are in more than 50 stores and restaurants across New Jersey and Kentucky.
Overall, Derman is very happy with her career change and excited to share her infused bourbon with the community.
“I invested 30 years working for corporate America, and you know, I’m willing to invest the years now in my own business, and it is the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Derman. “It’s been very rewarding, very challenging, you know? And it’s a change financially, but just feels great to finally be doing something that I’ve been thinking about for many, many years.”
For more information visit fivespringsbourbon.com or instagram.com/fivespringsbourbon.
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