ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. — On a quiet stretch of farmland in Southern Maryland, history, hard work, and a little humor fill every barrel at Tobacco Barn Distillery.

The business sits on land once used for growing tobacco. Today, the rows of crops are corn and grain, fueling a true “ground-to-glass” operation. Tobacco Barn Distillery is owned and operated by three friends, veterans Scott Sanders and Sean, along with Dan, the farmer who owns the land. Together with their wives, they handle everything from planting and harvesting to distilling and bottling.

For co-owner Sanders, it’s a second act rooted in service. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1976 and followed his father’s path as a Navy pilot, flying the E-2C Hawkeye. Over a 33-year career, he commanded a reserve squadron at Na

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