Manhattan Cocktail Classic Recap

Why would I be posting about an event that happened over a week ago? If you attended the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, you would understand. It was the type of event that might put you out of commission for a period of time...a five-day festival centered around "The Cocktail", parties 'til the wee hours, pouring tastings for 7-8 hour stretches, all located in the heart of NYC.

The event got widespread media attention. Here is an article that appeared in the Wall St Journal and here is a clip that appeared on CBS News.

The weekend kicked off with the gala event held at the NY Public Library on Friday night. We were greeted by Oompa Loompas at the door.

(photo courtesy of Nikola Tamindzic)

If that didn't give you the impression that things were a bit over-the-top, it was very apparent when you saw "Queen Victoria" enjoying a martini over the Hendrick's display.

(photo courtesy of Nikola Tamindzic)

Probably one of the best parties I've been too. The setting was incredible, cocktails were on the money, and we made some great contacts. Pictured below (L to R) Alexis Kahn (our NYC sales representative), me, Jenny, Noah Shannon (Alexis's husband) and our good friend Steve Shaw, who represents several high-end spirits brands while also supporting one of our favorite Finger Lakes wineries, Shaw Vineyards.

(photo courtesy of Eric Strauss)

We were back at work on Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Micro Spirits Odyssey. The venue (Butter) was packed all day and the staff from Hush Cocktails came up with some incredible drinks. I also sat on a panel at the event, discussing the benefits of our industry to NYS agriculture. Below is a picture of Jenny and me pouring our wares for a serious spirits enthusiast (he liked them).

(photo courtesy of Phil Anema)

What an incredible event. Kudos to Lesley Townsend and all the people that made it a success. Can't wait until next year!

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Click here for the latest news at Finger Lakes Distilling - recap of our Bourbon release, info on the latest products, and some great cocktail recipes.

Come pick up a bottle of Pear or Currant Brandy this weekend!

63 hours 'til Bourbon

And down the stretch...Bourbon release (and KY Derby) are just a couple days away. Can't wait to see everyone and see the reactions at the tasting bar. We're really proud of Batch #1 which is almost completely bottled at this point.

Getting some nice pre-release buzz.

John Hansell, our friend at Malt Advocate, posted this on his blog today.

There was also this great piece in the new Ithaca Post today.

See you Saturday!

6 days 'til Bourbon

It's been way too long since our last post, but we've been busy working hard at the distillery. In addition to getting things spiffed up for spring, we've got new batches of corn whiskey (100% corn and malted corn), vodka, and blueberry (even better than before).

The biggest news, however, is the event scheduled for this upcoming weekend. On May 1, we'll be releasing our first batch of McKenzie Bourbon. This extremely limited release is expected to sell out very quickly, so plan on joining us to celebrate this Saturday.

We thought it was appropriate to launch Batch #1 on Kentucky Derby Day, seeing as though bourbon and horse racing go together so well. There are lots of people that insist bourbon can only be made in Kentucky, but we're ready to prove them wrong.

McKenzie Bourbon is made from local corn and rye. It's aged a total of 18 months - mostly in new charred 10 gallon barrels before finishing in local chardonnay casks.

The end result is a very rich and old-fashioned tasting bourbon. It will be priced at $45 for a 750 ml bottle.

Guests on Saturday will enjoy the music of Long John and the Tights from 2-5 pm. Wear your Kentucky Derby hat for a free tasting. We're also holding a small Derby Party for customers after regular business hours. Please call the distillery at 607.546.5510 if you are interested in learning more.

Go Big Red!

It was a huge weekend for Cornell sports. The men's basketball team is on a roll, beating both Temple and Wisconsin to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in history. The men's hockey team also had a big weekend, taking the ECAC Championship and securing a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

To celebrate, we whipped up an impromptu Big Red Martini:

2 ounces Vintner's Wildberry Vodka

1 ounce FLD Raspberry Liqueur

1 ounce simple syrup

splash of fresh lime juice

shake, strain into martini glass and garnish with cherry

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Back in my college days, I would have already been out celebrating at this hour. Tipping back some artificially colored (green, of course) cheap domestic beer and having the time of my life.

Well now that we are all much more mature and the purveyors of fine spirits, what recommendations do we have for St. Patty's Day cocktails?

I really don't think you can go wrong with beer on a day like today - Guinness, Murphy's, or Smithwicks being my favorites. Irish whiskies seem appropriate, but the major brands that are most commonly available never have enough taste for me. Irish cream liqueurs? No thanks.

How about trying our McKenzie Rye in an Irish coffee? The spicy characteristics shine through and make a delicious dessert-style coffee when adding sugar and some fresh whipped cream. Also seems very worldly to have a Scottish-named, American whiskey used in an Irish coffee. Try it out.

For those of you that insist on making all things green today (I've even seen St. Patty's undergarments on the market), we recommend the following:


Chartreuse Martini

3 ounces Seneca Drums Gin

0.5 ounce Green Chartreuse (French herbal liqueur)

Shake or stir with ice and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a twist or fresh mint leaf.


Whatever you choose, here's hoping the wind is always at your back and that you have a happy and safe St. Patty's.

Joining the DISCUS Craft Distillery Advisory Council

For years, the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has helped the largest spirits companies in the world shape public policy and perception with regards to high proof alcoholic beverages. A few weeks ago, it became clear to me that the growing craft distilling industry had caught their attention. I received a call regarding the formation of a Craft Distillers DISCUS membership. I also had the honor of being asked to sit on the 11-member Advisory Council for Craft Distillers. I consider this a testament to what we're doing at Finger Lakes Distilling, as there are now over 200 small distilleries they could have chosen from to serve in this capacity.

This news was released today and I'm thrilled to be involved. I believe we can help DISCUS achieve their goals of promoting the responsible enjoyment of spirits. We can also attest to the economic benefits of the craft distillation movement - new jobs, tax revenues, value-added use for agriculture products, tourism, etc.

I'm looking forward to getting involved with this organization, learning from its more established members, and helping to promote our industry in any way we can.