The legendary Bradford was delectable — but the melon didn’t ship well, and it all but disappeared by the 1920s. We make watermelon rind pickle, molasses, and brandy - all 19th century products. In the midst of planning our brandy project, tragedy struck our state as nine worshippers were murdered at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. Bradford Watermelon. CBS News. In any case, I going to try growing a few but a couple of things make this new venture a bit tricky for me. I did, and another customer drove across several states for the Bradford watermelon that is being introduced again to chefs, gardeners and food enthusiasts around the world. Distilled with a clean, unbelievably smooth fruity finish this Brandy is available in very limited quantities in the Tasting Room. “Here, a gift,” says Bradford, handing me a quart Mason jar of watermelon-rind pickles when I visited. The heirloom Bradford Watermelon, long thought extinct, is being reintroduced to chefs, gardeners and food enthusiasts around the world! Please note that watermelon brandy is 41% alcohol proof! Bette folds the money and nods thanks. If you missed the 2015 inaugural batch, the 2016 bottling of Bradford Watermelon Brandy is now available at the Six and Twenty Stillhouse in … Clemson Extension Agent and Host of "Making It Grow" Amanda McNulty visits Nat Bradford, a direct descendent of the original grower, in Sumter, SC. By the 1860s, the Bradford watermelon was the most important late-season melon in the South. })(120000); “The Bradford is just about the sweetest melon, almost like a dark caramel, or cotton candy,” said Baker, 50, leaning over one of the oblong, dark green parent melons in Crum’s field. The Bradford Watermelon’s natural sweetness makes it ideal for brandy-making, so Around 1840, Nathaniel Napoleon Bradford of Sumter County, S.C., crossed the Lawson with the Mountain Sweet. Nat Bradford is making watermelon molasses, watermelon brandy and watermelon rind pickles, all of which are possible because of the exceptional fruit characteristics—extremely sweet, thin rinds, delicious flesh and large (up to 30 pound) fruits. Watermelons have been grown in the southern U.S. since the late 18th century. The heirloom Bradford Watermelon, long thought extinct, is being reintroduced to chefs, gardeners, and food enthusiasts around the world! Every last bottle sold out. These natural sugars are ideal for consumption by the yeast prior to distillation. The Watermelon Brandy is made from the famous Bradford watermelon, a rare heirloom variety that is known for its sweetness and ties to the Palmetto State. Because it was so soft, it didn’t ship well, and so by 1922, the commercial crops had stopped. Other heritage produce is sure to follow. The Bradford was prized because of its fragrant, sweet and soft flesh. Diversifying, Bradford collards will find a spot on the family farm. The most luscious watermelon the Deep South has ever produced was once so coveted, 19th-century growers used poison or electrocuting wires to thwart potential thieves, or simply stood guard with guns in the thick of night. 3K likes. Six & Twenty Distillery and The Bradford Watermelon Company are pleased to announce the 2015 Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy. setTimeout( By Bradford Watermelon In General, Home, Newsletter Tags Bradford brandy, Watermelon Drinks, watermelons 1 7. Brandy! Show Details. My stash from Bradford Watermelon Company. He loved our commitment to local and heritage seeds, and gave us a call about making brandy with the Bradford because we were weird enough to … Taste: I tried raising cantaloupe one year. 2020 Bradford Watermelon Presales announcement and terms: Due to the high number of requests to reserve Bradford Watermelons this year and the limited supply available, and in order to assure you, our valued customers, are guaranteed your reserved watermelon, we are pre-selling through our website. High Wire Distilling Co. in Charleston made a splash crafting 130 bottles of Bradford watermelon brandy that sold out at $79 a pop. 0 out of 5 $ 39.00. In a shaker, mix the next four ingredients well and pour into the glass. A sample of these ingredients include the previously extinct Nostrale rice, Jimmy Red grits, or the Bradford Watermelon.  =  Saving The Sweetest Watermelon The South Has Ever Known : The Salt The Bradford boasted sweet flesh so coveted, 19th-century growers turned … bradford family watermelon brandy Announcing the Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy. Garnish with orange slices and serve. 2.9K likes. More than a century ago, the Bradford Watermelon was the sweetest, juiciest watermelon around; now, thanks to the latest generation of the Bradford family in S.C., they're back. . Most watermelons fall close to a 10 on the brix rating, which measures sugar, but the Bradford came in … bradfordwatermelons.com/2015/11/bradford-family-watermelon-brandy You could pierce the rind with a butter knife and the sugary juice could be boiled to make molasses or even distilled into Brandy. The brandy is handcrafted from the sweet juice of the Bradford Watermelon and is unbelievably smooth, with a clean, fruity finish. display: none !important; fresh-squeezed lemon juice 3–5 mint leaves, to taste 1.5 ounces Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy . Specifically, each is being made from Sumter County's legendary Bradford watermelons -- considered the sweetest and juiciest of all watermelons (hence all the exciting punctuation.) Melon connoisseurs prized the Bradford for its sweet, fragrant flesh and soft rind, so tender that it could be pierced with a butter knife. 5 oz. Six & Twenty Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy, $100. 1 2 ½ gal. In any case, I going to try growing a few but a couple of things make this new venture a bit tricky for me. Your email address will not be published. if ( notice ) }, Rediscovered in 2012, the sweetest watermelon ever grown is being reintroduced to gardeners, chefs and food enthusiasts around the world. The Bradford watermelon quickly acquired a reputation as the South's greatest watermelon.  ×  Nat Bradford is making watermelon molasses, watermelon brandy and watermelon rind pickles, all of which are possible because of the exceptional fruit characteristics—extremely sweet, thin rinds, delicious flesh and large (up to 30 pound) fruits. The heirloom melons can be purchased for $20 a piece. watermelon juice, preferably strained from a Bradford watermelon. BRADFORD FAMILY WATERMELON BRANDY. The Bradford was prized because of its fragrant, sweet and soft flesh. "If you had a Bradford, you took measures to protect it," Shields says. Please reload CAPTCHA. Out of stock Watermelon Molasses (dark) – 2 Jars. “Flags go up and flags go down,” he said. The melon was created by Bradford's forefathers around 1840 and was once one of … Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. Please enter an answer in digits: three × 4 = They are able to ship to almost every state, so you can have our historic brandy delivered to your door! Photo by Heather Grilliot Last year, Nat Bradford found a bulbing allium growing in a patch of woods on his farm in Sumter, South Carolina. Bradford Watermelon Company, Sumter, South Carolina. Molasses, Brandy, and CBS. Further, Nat plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the 2015 Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy sales to the creation of a Nat Fuller Scholarship at the Culinary Institute of Charleston which will support minorities as they learn the culinary arts. Nat Bradford holds a Bradford watermelon, known for its sweet, fragrant red flesh. You might be able to reserve one from the late-summer crop on the Bradford family website , but you’ll have to pick it up in South Carolina (or content yourself with some watermelon brandy or watermelon molasses, whenever that is back in stock). Sustainable farm specializing in heirloom crops, plants, seeds, and products. Think of it as the poster child for the story of our food culture. 3K likes. Show Details. Most watermelons fall close to a 10 on the brix rating, which measures sugar, but the Bradford came in … (function( timeout ) { Watermelons rest in front of a still at Six and Twenty Distillery, awaiting their turn to become watermelon brandy, a historic South Carolina spirit. To make it, the staff processes 250–300 Bradford watermelons (one melon yields one bottle of brandy) in a day, pressing out the seeds and paring the sweet red flesh away from the rind. I successfully grew beautiful plants were covered with large melons…that tasted like dirt! It’s time! You, too, can try a Bradford watermelon, though it’s nearly always sold out. By the 1860s, the Bradford watermelon was … The heirloom Bradford Watermelon, long thought extinct, is being reintroduced to chefs, gardeners and food enthusiasts around the world! You could pierce the rind with a butter knife and the sugary juice could be boiled to make molasses or even distilled into Brandy. The Bradford watermelon quickly acquired a reputation as the South's greatest watermelon. You could pierce the rind with a butter knife and the sugary juice could be boiled to make molasses or even distilled into Brandy. 0 out of 5 $ 21.00. This cultivar’s history begins during the American Revolution, on a British prison ship bound for the West Indies in 1783. The Bradford Watermelon, long thought to be extinct, quietly survived on the Bradford family farm in Sumter, South Carolina. But even with all that mayhem, the Bradford watermelon eventually fell out of fashion. The brandy is handcrafted in small batches exclusively from the sweet juice of Bradford Watermelons grown by Nat Bradford himself. The moving forgiveness modeled by the survivors inspired many, and Nat Bradford felt the desire to use his product to help heal race relationships in a more meaningful way than simply removing a Confederate Battle Flag. No joke, they were virtually inedible. 3 min read / CBS News. ); What could this trio of gift ideas possibly have in common? About Six & Twenty You, too, can try a Bradford watermelon, though it’s nearly always sold out. Heather Grilliot/Courtesy of Bradford Watermelons. var notice = document.getElementById("cptch_time_limit_notice_93"); Bradford Watermelon Company - Bradford Watermelon Products. The melon was created by Bradford’s forefathers around 1840 and was once one of the most important and coveted melons of the South. See more ideas about watermelon, bradford, pickled watermelon rind. Time limit is exhausted. notice.style.display = "block"; Ingredients: ¼ cucumber, peeled and chopped 1 Tbs. In a shaker, mix the next four ingredients well and pour into the glass. Please reload CAPTCHA. Tune in THIS Sunday to CBS Sunday Morning at 9am EST on your local CBS station to watch... Read More. The heirloom Bradford Watermelon, long thought extinct, is being reintroduced to chefs, gardeners, and food enthusiasts around the world! But even with all that mayhem, the Bradford watermelon eventually fell out of fashion. Bradford Watermelon Company, Sumter, South Carolina. Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy! Bradford Watermelon Company, Sumter, South Carolina. Most watermelons fall close to a 10 on the brix rating, which measures sugar, but the Bradford came in … It’s free! Their Brix is over 12. Taste: I tried raising cantaloupe one year. In addition to its tender rind, the Bradford Watermelon has a naturally high sugar content. Watermelons! ... explaining Bradford brandy was a once-coveted Southeast spirit. More than a century ago, the Bradford Watermelon was the sweetest, juiciest watermelon around; now, thanks to the latest generation of the Bradford family in S.C., they’re back Shields convinced the Bradfords to restore the watermelon to its original glory and share it with the masses by planting more of the watermelon. It is distilled and bottled in very limited quantities at Six & Twenty Distillery in upstate South Carolina and can be purchased now for $99.99 at the Six & Twenty Distillery store. We are very excited to announce that Cordial Wine now has our Bradford Watermelon Brandy available for distribution and shipping! Dec 10, 2015 - Products derived from the Bradford Family Watermelon and developed by The Bradford Watermelon Company. May 5, 2015 - [caption id="attachment_44222" align="alignright" width="289"] Because it was so soft, it didn't ship well, and so by 1922, the commercial crops had stopped. Watermelon Pickles – 2 Jars. Announcing the Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy. We make watermelon rind pickle, molasses, and brandy - all 19th century products. Pickles! Watermelon brandy was distilled all over the lowcountry during the 19th century. These are supposedly the sweetest watermelons available on the market today. Their sweetness is one reason this type of watermelon fell into disfavor with growers and disappeared from the marketplace for almost 100 years. Garnish with orange slices and serve. “David knew we loved to experiment with our spirits. The ‘Bradford Family’ watermelon is an heirloom with a classic narrative of glory, loss, and revival. (Our recommendation: ask Slow Food Columbia where to get yours.) Time limit is exhausted. Bred by Nathaniel Napoleon Bradford in Sumter, S.C., in the 1840s and 1850s, it’s one of the oldest surviving North American watermelons. Because this is a hand made, craft item, orders are on a 2-3 week backorder. Read more about our brandy here. Join COLAtoday to read this article. About Our Label Fresh Watermelons Sales & Upcoming Products. Watermelon Pickles – 3 Jars. Molasses! The heirloom Bradford Watermelon, long thought extinct, is being reintroduced to chefs, gardeners and food enthusiasts around the world! You could pierce the rind with a butter knife and the sugary juice could be boiled to make molasses or even distilled into Brandy. DIRECTIONS: For the brandy smash: Fill a small bar glass 2/3 to the top with ice. The 2016 Bradford Watermelon Molasses is now available on the website. John from http://www.okraw.com/ shares with you his top 8 advanced tips for picking a sweet and juicy watermelon every single time. CUCUMBER MINT SPRITZ. We maintain the breedline of our 170 year old heirloom Bradford Watermelon and others. The most luscious watermelon the Deep South has ever produced was once so coveted, 19th-century growers used poison or electrocuting wires to thwart potential thieves, or simply stood guard with guns in the thick of night. Recently, High Wire Distillery in Charleston made a batch of watermelon brandy. Your email address will not be published. It is considered to be the tastiest watermelon and has exceptional characteristics such as rich sweetness, delicious flesh, thin rinds, and large fruits (up to 40 pounds). Add to Cart Show Details. We have worked with local farmers to “revive” certain ingredients and utilize them in our dishes. 0 out of 5 $ 99.99. GETAWAYS FOR GROWNUPS: SIX & TWENTY. (864) 263-8312, sixandtwentydistillery.com. Once thought to be an extinct variety, Bradford Watermelons are back and they are absolutely delicious! The fruit was more than just a savory summer treat — its sweet juice was routinely boiled into molasses or distilled into brandy for cocktails garnished with fruit … This was the most important and famous melon of the South from the 1860s to the early 1900s. To make the brandy, High Wire owners Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall partnered with Sumter-based farmer Nat Bradford, who is a direct descendent of the watermelon’s original producer. Grateful for the generosity, I counter with cash. No joke, they were virtually inedible. Six & Twenty partners David Raad and Robert Redmond carefully researched the nuances of the brandy-making process and the result is a taste right out of history. By the 1860s, the Bradford watermelon was the most important late-season melon in the South. Robert Redmond of Six & Twenty is a descendant of the infamous Southern moonshiner Louis Redmond, so pairing Bradford Watermelons grown by Nat Bradford himself with Six & Twenty’s deep roots in distilling history blends two strong, Southern stories and creates one distinctly Southern product. Nat Bradford holds a Bradford watermelon, known for its sweet, fragrant red flesh. eight We maintain the breedline of our 170 year old heirloom Bradford Watermelon and others. It boasts a smooth, crisp flavor with a watermelon finish and can be purchased online and shipped to you from Cordial Fine Wine here. Most watermelons fall close to a 10 on the brix rating, which measures sugar, but the Bradford came in … The Bradford was prized because of its fragrant, sweet and soft flesh. For the watermelon molasses: Put the juice in a stockpot and cook over a moderate simmer for two to three hours, reducing to about 1/10 the volume of the original liquid to achieve a light, syrup-like consistency. Our brandy is handcrafted exclusively from the sweet juice of the Bradford Watermelon and is distilled seasonally in small batches by Six & Twenty Distillery. Out of stock Watermelon Molasses (dark) – 1 Jar. timeout Contact Six & Twenty Distillery for information about purchasing at 864-263-8312 (store hours are noon-6:20). “David knew we loved to experiment with our spirits. }. (Or it could be the watermelon brandy that Bradford is now selling!) .hide-if-no-js { (Or it could be the watermelon brandy that Bradford is now selling!) watermelon brandy. The brandy was light and smooth, with a fragrant top note of watermelon. By Bradford Watermelon In General, Products 1 1 Six & Twenty Distillery and The Bradford Watermelon Company are pleased to announce the 2015 Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy. Sustainable farm specializing in heirloom crops, plants, seeds, and products. Then the pulp is fermented with yeast, becoming watermelon wine before it … We need real communion, to eat together — to break bread together.” With that in mind, he placed nine stars on the brandy label to represent the nine who were murdered that June 17. Along with the watermelon came the food culture. We are proud of our finished product and thankful to use it for a purpose larger than The Bradford Watermelon Company. I successfully grew beautiful plants were covered with large melons…that tasted like dirt! For the 2015 Bradford Family Watermelon Brandy, The Bradford Watermelon Company partnered with Six & Twenty Distillery of Piedmont, South Carolina. Orange slices For the watermelon molasses: (Yields 1 qt.) And so, in 2013, Nat Bradford collected a few mason jars of seeds and began growing more Bradford watermelon than ever before. Watermelon Brandy. 0 out of 5 $ 19.50. 7th generation Bradford Family Watermelon Farmer. They also sell the seeds + the pickled rinds (Nat’s grandmother’s recipe). Show Details. The Bradford Watermelon’s natural sweetness makes it ideal for brandy-making, so The Bradford Watermelon Company partnered with Six & Twenty Distillery to recreate a beverage once lost to history. You might be able to reserve one from the late-summer crop on the Bradford family website , but you’ll have to pick it up in South Carolina (or content yourself with some watermelon brandy or watermelon … See More. Watermelon brandy was distilled all over the lowcountry during the 19th century. DIRECTIONS: For the brandy smash: Fill a small bar glass 2/3 to the top with ice. "With this, I … Distilled with a clean, unbelievably smooth fruity finish this Brandy is available in very limited quantities in … No doubt, they would make Louis Redmond proud. 3109 SC-153, Piedmont, SC. People used to protect these melons with deadly force, sometimes even poisoning themselves in their zeal to keep thieves away! The Bradford boasted fragrant red flesh, pearly seeds and a rind so soft you could slice it with a butter knife. It can also be purchased directly from the distiller at Six & Twenty Distillery just south of Greenville, SC. Now, his family makes Bradford Watermelon brandy, molasses, and (Nat’s wife’s newest addition) watermelon beer. About Our Brandy By the 1860s, the Bradford watermelon was the most important late-season melon in the South. The Bradford was prized because of its fragrant, sweet and soft flesh. He loved our commitment to local and heritage seeds, and gave us a call about making brandy with the Bradford because we were weird enough to do it,” Blackwell said. function() { The legendary Bradford was delectable — but the melon didn’t ship well, and it all but disappeared by the 1920s. “What we need to do is change people’s hearts. This story will follow the watermelons from the field on it's journey to become various 25.04 2017 July 1, 2017. To purchase, visit Cordial Fine Wine’s website here or contact Six & Twenty at 864-263-8312. Makes one cocktail. Bring big flavor to your cocktails with these fruit infused mix-ins WATERMELON BRANDY The Bradford Watermelon Company Sumter, South Carolina For nearly 200 years, the Bradford family has cultivated their namesake watermelon, prized for its tender rind. It will be available while the supply of juice lasts, so quantities are limited.