Mixology Spirit: Marc Guskey
We took a day trip across Connecticut to the “quiet corner” to catch up with our friends at Black Pond Brews in Dayville, CT. The brewery has a small-town vibe and a cozy tasting room with an impressive lineup of beers on tap. Owner Marc Guskey welcomed us warmly and treated us to one of their most popular cocktails: the Machu-Rita. Crafted with our Agave Spirits and Black Pond’s Machu Picchu Jalapeño Saison, it’s a bold spin on a margarita—the saison adds depth and a touch of spice that perfectly complements our Agave Spirits’ peppery, earthy notes.
If you’re a fan of Connecticut’s craft beer scene, read on to learn more about Marc and Black Pond Brews. And take a moment to watch this short video they created, which highlights the shared commitment we both have to The Spirit of Hard Work.
Batchers: Hi Marc! For those in our audience who may not be familiar with Black Pond Brews, please take a moment to share what guests can expect when they visit.
Marc: We are a small-town brewery with an inviting atmosphere that is focused on family and community. In addition to showcasing our craft brews, we have a great restaurant along with a full liquor license, which means we also offer cocktails.
Batchers: What inspired you to open the brewery?
Marc: We started off as home brewers and got encouraging feedback from friends. We entered some competitions and our beers won some awards. Eventually, we decided to open a brewery and the rest is history.
Batchers: Got a good story about a really hard night at Black Pond??
Marc: A couple memories come to mind. The first time we hosted line dancing at the brewery, we had 100 people show up — much more than we had planned for. Besides me, I only had one bartender scheduled, plus one person working in the kitchen. We got so so busy I had to ask my wife and a friend to help with the dishes and run food!
I’m also reminded of the time when we closed on our new, present location — it was the height of the pandemic. You might recall that lumber was hard to get a hold of during that time, so we spent a lot of long days and nights breaking down pallets to used for the front of the bar. I was also able to secure a big slab of rough-cut pine, which I planned down myself and used for all the trim and shelves. I built everything in the brewery tasting room, including half of the tables.
Batchers: It’s a bit rare for us to meet folks building cocktails that combine beer and spirits. Do you have a certain approach for creating such recipes?
Marc: Not really. Having a full bar at the brewery motivates us to integrate our beer into interesting drinks. Our “process” is essentially experimental– we try combining different beers and ingredients to see what works well. We’re always trying to create something truly unique that sets ourselves apart from other breweries.
Batchers: Tell us a little bit about the Machu Picchu Jalapeño Saison that is featured in your cocktail?
Marc: Machu Picchu is one of our flagship beers. We have it on tap all the time and we have it on hand at all beer tastings we do because people ask for it everywhere we go. Machu is a saison-style beer made with fresh Jalapeños.
Batchers: When you’re not working at Black Pond, what do you like to do for fun?
Marc: The brewery takes up a lot of my time. But when I have some rare spare time you might find me hunting, fishing, or cooking.
Batchers: What is your favorite Litchfield Distillery spirit to build cocktails with (and why)?
Marc: I’d have to say Litchfield’s Maple Bourbon. It’s not too sweet or overpowered by the maple. It’s my favorite bourbon to make an Arnold Palmer with.
Batchers: What does The Spirit of Hard Work® mean to you?
Marc: As a business owner, I have to work hard for what I have and my family is right by my side – day in and day out. The Spirit of Hard Work means putting in long days and late nights to ensure everything gets done — no job is too small.
Marc’s featured cocktail is called the Machu-Rita and features Black Pond’s Machu Picchu Jalapeño Saison. The beer adds some fruity citrus notes along with a perfect touch of jalapeño spice, which pairs amazingly well with our Agave Spirits. If you’ve never tried a cocktail with beer as an ingredient, we’re here to tell you it works — and is deliciously refreshing!
Ingredients:
- 2.0 oz Litchfield Distillery Agave Spirits
- 6.0 oz Black Pond Machu Picchu Jalapeño Saison
- 1.0 oz Tres Agave Margarita Mix
- Rim glass with Tajin
- Garnish: Lime Wheel
Method: Rim a pint glass with Tajin. Fill with ice and add Machu Picchu. Add Agave Spirits and Margarita mix in cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into pint glass. Garnish with lime wheel.
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To learn more about Black Pond Brews, visit their website and connect with them on Facebook or Instagram. They are located at 1001 Hartford Pike in Dayville, CT. To contact, please call (860) 208-5295 or email info@blackpondbrews.com.
About Mixology Spirit:
Mixology Spirit is a Litchfield Distillery blog series dedicated to sharing the stories of creative and passionate mixologists who embody The Spirit Of Hard Work®. Think you got what it takes to be featured? Drop us a line at info@litchfielddistillery.com.
©2025 Litchfield Distillery. Photography & Editing Credits: Tony Vengrove
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