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Written By: Chris Carter 
Somerset County in western Pennsylvania was the site of the Whiskey Rebellion, a major tax protest in the early 1790s. That region is also home to Monongahela rye, which was once known as the predominant spirit in the United States (and even highly regarded overseas).
Since Prohibition, however, few remember its unique flavor—or the county’s place in whiskey history. At Ponfeigh Distillery, founder Maximilian Merrill (North Carolina State ’96) aims not only to help revive a beloved spirit, but also to stake Somerset’s claim in whiskey history and culture.
Maximilian’s ancestors settled in western Pennsylvania in the late 1800s, eventually building a dairy farm in 1942. “When they came into that fertile valley, one of the gentlemen helping them build a barn screamed, ‘PONFEIGH!’ And for 80-plus years, we thought that meant ‘wonderful’ and ‘beautiful,’” he explained. Later research showed that the man was actually from Ponfeigh, Scotland, and their land reminded him of home.
Maximilian grew up on that land, where multiple generations enjoyed their libations out of the public eye. Yet he didn’t always realize how rich the local history was. He started researching over 20 years ago, learning that Somerset County had 14 distilleries until Prohibition. So, Maximilian created a business plan 13 years ago, quit his job six years ago, and (after pandemic setbacks) opened Ponfeigh Distillery in November 2023.
A Unique Community
Maximilian studied ecosystems assessment at North Carolina State University, followed by watershed hydrology for graduate school—both at the College of Forestry. Sigma Pi introduced him to an eclectic group of gentlemen from all walks of life. “We had the African American cowboy from a farm, the grunge guy who liked to paint his nails, the pristine, preppy guy, the rock star—everyone in Rho Chapter was so interesting,” Maximilian recalled. “Sigma Pi taught me not to judge a book by its cover, as the Chapter was so accepting of unique people and backgrounds. I learned to love everything about people, including their differences.”
Some of the brotherhood’s best memories came from intramural sports, such as an interfraternity tug-of-war contest. “Because of the weight limit and how scrappy we were, they let us have extra men on the rope,” Maximilian said. “We had the whole house cheering for us as our underdog Fraternity won that contest. I think that’s something we will all remember.”
Restoring a Legacy
Since Ponfeigh opened for business in November, construction has continued across the distillery, including a tasting room and a whiskey museum. The tasting room was completed in June, followed by a grand opening country music concert on July 13. Next year, an outdoor amphitheater and barrel barn will be finished.
When the museum is complete, Maximilian looks forward to sharing western Pennsylvania’s history of Monongahela rye. The rye grown from the region’s poor soil produces a sweeter spirit compared to the Midwest—which, before Prohibition, was so beloved that the region produced more whiskey than Kentucky and Tennessee. Ponfeigh is one of a few local distilleries working to bring back this unique spirit.
Ponfeigh got an early taste of success this year, winning two Double Platinum awards at this year’s ASCOT Awards (which recognize excellence in the spirits industry). “All those years of hard work, waiting for those barrels to age, finally came to fruition,” Maximilian said.
Earlier this year, Maximilian was named the 2024 Somerset County Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “It’s really tough. Don’t ever give up. You will make it. Every day brings a new challenge, whether it’s steep competition or just someone on the internet trying to ruin your day. You’ve just got to keep going.”
Sharing the Blessings
Maximilian has had the pleasure of hosting many Fraternity brothers since Ponfeigh’s inception. Some have even invested in parts of the distillery (such as its barrel investment program), and more have ordered bottles of whiskey online. Fellow Sigma Pi alumni live all over the country, and Maximilian always tries to catch up when possible.
“Having a group of men to lean on is ever-important—probably more today than it ever was,” Maximilian said of the Sigma Pi experience. “When a man joins a Fraternity, he has people to hold him accountable when he’s wrong and to pick him up when he’s down. I think those Fraternity benefits outweigh any problems of the past.”
Ponfeigh’s visiting room is now open with full tours, and its spirits are always available at ponfeighdistillery.com. You can also reach Maximilian at maximilian@ponfeighdistillery.com.