Monica Pearce
Monica Pearce
(1985 - present)
Tenth Ward Distilling Company
From Conservation Biology to Owner of Tenth Ward Distilling Company
All whiskey begins and ends with a story. Tenth Ward Distilling Company, founded in 2016 by Monica Pearce, certainly has a tale of its own.
A Unique Beginning. Monica Pearce, born in Philadelphia, PA, moved to Frederick, Maryland where she grew up and continues to live today. Monica graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science and Policy. She later graduated from Virginia Tech with an Executive Master’s in Natural Resources. She worked in the conservation biology field for Rare, a non-profit organization. Rare leverages “#BehavioralScience to inspire individual and community action for our shared waters, lands, and climate”. In Monica’s role as the Manager for Research and Monitoring, she travelled and worked to recover endangered species, including time spent in the Galapagos Islands. This experience was impactful to her life and how Monica runs Tenth Ward Distilling today. Monica stated that “The whiskey industry certainly changed that career path, but I have no regrets!” Being ready for a career change, and her love of whiskey, led Monica to empty her bank account and begin her journey as owner and “Boss Lady” at Tenth Ward Distilling Company.
A Passion for Distilling. Monica was driven to build her career around her love of whiskey. According to Monica, “Whiskey is so versatile! It gives us a platform to be creative in so many ways! Whiskey has a complexity to it and has so many more options you can go with as a spirit in general. From styles of whiskey to grain bills to yeast strains. Even after distillation, it can be aged, blended or infused. There are unlimited options in how to brand whiskey as well as how you drink it.”
What’s in a Name? Tenth Ward Distilling Company is a woman-owned craft distillery located in what used to be the Tenth Ward of Frederick City. Specializing in whiskey, gin, seasonal liqueurs, limited one-time-only releases and Maryland’s first and only absinthe, everything they make is non-traditional and unconventional, which is why Monica boldly states that she and her team “live fearlessly by their slogan — Ward Off Ordinary!” Their slogan is proudly declared on their Tasting Room wall.
An Extraordinary, Evolving Journey. Monica started Tenth Ward in a 1,600 square foot production and tasting room space in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. Her family helped her get Tenth Ward started and continue to help her today. She specializes in year-round spirits and canned cocktails. With the benefit of city foot traffic, success and opportunity led to quickly outgrowing that space. Within a few years, Tenth Ward evolved into 16,000 square feet of customer-facing space in the original location (tasting room, cocktail space), as well as their re-located distillery/production/storage space now located near the Frederick Airport.
As a business owner, Monica explains that “…you learn to take on any position within the company because at some point you are going to have to step in for someone. Leading our team is a huge aspect of the success of Tenth Ward. It can be a lot of fun and yet challenging at times.” Her favorite part is leading the strategy from release dates to barrel picks, to new products, to improving current products, and even designing promotional items. Monica says that starting and operating Tenth Ward has taught her patience and leadership.
Making Contributions/Impact in the Whiskey Industry. Monica’s slogan to “Ward Off Ordinary” is certainly true when it comes to the whiskey traditionalist. Tenth Ward is incredibly creative with their offerings while legally fitting into the parameters of what can be called a “bourbon” or “rye” whiskey. For example, they produce a “smoked” bourbon and a rye single malt whiskey.
Distilling is a male-dominated industry. Being a woman-owned distillery makes Tenth Ward different, and somewhat rare. Feeding off that, Tenth Ward tends to attract those who do not typically work in the whiskey industry. Monica was one of the first distillers to begin distilling rye whisky in Maryland after prohibition, the bourbon depression, and state legislation passing in 2014.
Monica is one of the founding members of the Maryland Distillers Guild (MDG), a former Vice President (and briefly President) of the MDG, as well as an active lobbyist to help pass the Bill in 2023 that made Maryland Rye whiskey the official State spirit. As an active member of the MDG, Monica was a strong advocate for establishing what is now an annual Maryland Rye Conference, various Maryland Whiskey events and programs throughout the year, and contributing to the award of a large State grant for the MDG to promote Maryland Rye. Monica says that she is “…driven to have a Rye Whiskey Trail to Rival the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”
She has been a member of the Frederick Tourism Council Board of Directors, as well as a member of the American Craft Spirits Association. Monica is an advocate for the distilling industry and spends her time fighting for a fair regulatory process for this growing industry.
Influenced by her education and first career passion, Monica ensures a minimal environmental footprint in all that she and her distillery do. Tenth Ward Distilling Company sources all grain from Frederick County Maryland, including 32 acres of rye grain per year. She uses locally grown malted rye.
Words of Wisdom. For those aspiring to be distillers, Monica suggests starting out as an apprentice. She suggests a newbie should “Offer your time for free or super cheap to just be able to shadow someone and learn the trade. It’s hard to find experienced distillers, so if you are a hard worker and can understand technically how a distilling system works, you can easily learn how to do it and will make yourself a very valuable asset.”
A Personal Touch. Monica and her family love drinking whiskey and spending time together when their schedules allow. Scotch and rye whiskey are Monica’s favorites. She enjoys sipping them with one small ice cube that melts slowly, opening up the flavor of the whiskey. Going forward, Monica Pearce and Tenth Ward Distilling Company are poised to continue blazing trails in the Whiskey Industry.
