Cherry Liqueur Now Available!

We bottled our first batch of cherry liqueur last week and based on this weekend's sales, I think we have a winner. The liqueur is made by soaking fresh local cherries in our grape neutral spirit. We then dilute to 48 proof, sweeten it up a little, and then filter it. It remains very true to the flavor of the fruit, with a natural tartness that gives it some complexity.

Have any ideas for cocktails with this liqueur? If so, please submit them through our website. We'd love to hear from you. I've tried it along with our Seneca Drums Gin and lemon in an Aviation. I also think it might do well in some whiskey cocktails.

As with most of our cordials, Cherry Liqueur is only available at the distillery. We have begun distributing our Cassis (black currant liqueur), however, so look for that at your favorite retailer.

Grappa

I can't believe the number of people that have come into the tasting room asking for grappa. Grappa is very special to me, as it was one of the first spirits I ever enjoyed. My Aunt Jo and I were travelling in Italy and one of my fondest memories of the trip was sitting at a cafe on St. Mark's square in Venice sipping on some delicious grappa. Still, I can't believe how many people are asking about grappa.

Grappa, or pomace-brandy, is made by fermenting grape skins, seeds, etc. It is traditionally made with the leftovers from the winemaking process. The result is a very aromatic spirit that can also be a little rough around the edges. Until recently, it has been difficult to find high quality grappa in the U.S., so many people have been turned off by the "lighter fluid" options on the shelves. When grappa is done right, however, it can be complex and delectable. It makes an excellent digestivo after a big meal and also can be a great addition to morning coffee.

We began grappa production this past week with some local Muscat grapes. Not a lot of Muscat is grown in the Finger Lakes, but we made a point to find some as its floral and citrus aromas translate well into distillates. We also plan on making grappa from some other varietals.

Below are some pictures of us processing the grapes and of the skins fermenting. We hope to have our first grappa bottled for the holidays.

Rye Whiskey

We've been working hard trying to get ready for our first aged-whiskey release. We are targeting the release of McKenzie's Rye Whiskey to coincide with WhiskyFest NY in Manhattan on Nov 10.

We were pleased to see a mention of our Rye on Lew Bryson's blog this a.m. Lew is a renowned whiskey and beer writer and the managing editor of Malt Advocate.

Here's a sneak peak at our Rye label. Be on the lookout for this handcrafted, old fashioned American whiskey in mid-November.

Picture in Malt Advocate

You whiskey lovers out there may have seen this...Thomas and I (and our Holstein still) showed up on the back page in this quarter's issue of Malt Advocate. Someday soon, we hope to see our whiskeys featured there too!

Some dates for your calendar...

Thurs, Sept 10: Tasting at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, Ithaca, NY 7-8:30 pm

Fri, Sept 11: Tasting at Northside Wine & Spirits, Ithaca, NY 4-7 pm

Wed, Sept 16: Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Distillery 5-7 pm (call (607) 535-3003 for reservations)

Fri, Oct 2: Tasting at Lisa's Liquor Barn, Rochester, NY 4-7 pm

Sat, Oct 10: Tasting at Hogan's Octoberfest, Mandells Restaurant, Elmira, NY 4:30-7:30

Sun, Oct 18: Live music at the Distillery 1:30-4:30


Please come out to see us!

Update

Things have been crazy busy at the distillery, but no excuse for neglecting our blog posts. We've expanded our product line to 8 items now: Vintner's Vodka, Vintner's Wildberry Vodka, Seneca Drums Gin, Glen Thunder Corn Whiskey and 4 different liqueurs, Cassis, Maplejack, Blueberry and Raspberry. We've got some aged whiskeys coming out this fall and a number of other liqueurs in the works.

We are distributing throughout the Finger Lakes from Elmira/Corning up through Rochester.

We have had a lot of local press in Rochester lately.

Here is a story that was featured in the Democrat & Chronicle.

Also, check out this piece that aired on Wham-13 News.

Finally, Michael Warren Thomas interviewed me on his weekly radio show, The Grapevine. You can download the program here.

Race Week!

Heading up to the Glen for this weekend's big NASCAR race? Make sure you've got some of our recently-released corn whiskey on hand.

It's available in pint-sized bottles for $12 at the distillery and at several retailers in the Elmira-Watkins area.




Glen Thunder is a fine-tuned, true American corn whiskey, made to honor one of America’s greatest raceways, Watkins Glen. For more than 60 years, the world’s best drivers and most die-hard fans have come to "The Glen." Its legendary road course has seen everything from the early days of racing in the streets, to the wild spectacle of the Grand Prix, to today’s high-tech open-wheel and stock car races.

Racing at The Glen is all about balance and power, and the same goes for Glen Thunder. The mellow corn flavors give it the feel of a smooth ride, but don’t be fooled, because under the hood, it’s still got plenty of horsepower. Enjoy Glen Thunder over ice, mix it in your favorite cocktail, or take it how we recommend, straight out of the bottle.