Overlooking Seneca Lake is the beautiful, new Finger Lakes Distilling building. Right off Rte. 414 in Burdett, you can’t help but do a double-look in the rearview just to take it all in. Right in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, the distillery serves as the largest of its kind in the region and an impressive add to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
Once inside, you might need a minute. The ceilings are about 60 ft. tall and you will be greeted by a huge copper still, wonderful aromas and a very welcoming staff. Barrels of aging whiskey and brandy are definitely something cool to see added to the region. Wine, we know and love, but blueberry liquor over ice cream? Sounds delicious.
It’s not too often you hear an authentic southern drawl in Finger Lakes Wine Country but the Master Distiller, Thomas McKenzie, is just a Southern farm boy from Alabama that fell in love with the region. McKenzie teamed up with another McKenzie, Brian, who serves a President. They have no relation, but they are making a great team in getting the distillery up and running.
I really love the fact that they use locally grown fruits and grains to make their spirits. They have everything from aged whiskey to Catawba brandy. Some of their other spirits include Seneca Drums Gin, Vintners Wildberry Vodka, Glen Thunder Corn Whiskey and some fun, sweet liqueurs. I have been following them on their blog, just to see if they have any other new product releases coming out.
Since micro-distilling seems to be taking off in the Finger Lakes, I thought some other distilleries deserved a mention. Swedish Hill and Knapp were at the forefront producing small amounts of wine into hard liquor. Now they have plenty of company with Rock Stream Vineyards, Six Mile Creek, Dundee Foods and Hidden Marsh Distillery. Beak & Skiff Apple Farms has built their distillery, set up their Copper Pot Still and are just awaiting NYS approval. Here’s to hoping it goes through soon because they promise their Apple Vodka to be the smoothest luxury vodka we will ever taste…can’t wait!
Listen to a live radio broadcast with Morgen McLaughlin, President of Finger Lakes Wine Country interviewing Brian McKenzie of Finger Lakes Distilling. www.blogtalkradio.com/FingerLakesWineCountry
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