Caveating this review with the fact that we did not do the distilled liquor tasting but got…read morecocktails instead. It's small and nice inside, but the cocktails are underwhelming. They aren't balanced and don't enhance the liquors. Either two sweet or too bitter or not much of anything it seems like the focus is quantity over anything else - they are 9 oz each! Personally I might go back to try the actual liquors but they could benefit from someone who could come in and craft a genuine cocktail - they just don't highlight the alcohols at all.

This was our first of two stops at distilleries and ran across this place and turned around and…read morewent here. I didn't know going into the place what to expect. We arrived and the bartender was nice and told us what they had and what you can choose. My wife went with a mix drink and I had to try all of the spirits that are available. They also had beer and wine from other participating locations. I was able to try 4 different spirtis. I started off which Chief Cinnamon, Wylder Rye, Whitecap Gin & Driftwood Rum. I have to say the range of different whiskeys are across the board from Cinnamon (lot of people have this) but Rye, Vodka,, Gin and Rum. that's a wide range of different types of spirits. The Whitecap Gin is where I started first. It's 100% locally grown corn sourced from the Finger Lakes region, they double distill this gin with grapefruit, lemon, and orange peel. What that means is that when they distill the gin, they do two runs through the still, the first run is the strip run which strips most the ethanol from the wash and the spirit run would be your second run that will remove the impurities and improve the overall taste and strength of the spirit. I liked the gin it had small amounts of juniper in it is how I like it, tasted citrus tastes, with a slight peppery on the end. It finishes at 90 proof. The second one that I tried was the "Chief Cinnamon Whiskey" which is made from a bourbon mash, which isn't like others that I've tried. They use three types of cinnamon, sticks, macerate the whiskey with no sweetness added. 70 proof, it has a good taste, still not the best that I've tried but it's tolerable. The third I tried was the Rye Whiskey with is 86 proof, it utilizes 100% locally grown grains. This whiskey has a bold rye pepperiness on the palate, balanced with a smooth buttery sweet finish. All Rye's have a sweeter note to them. Lastly I tried the Driftwood Rum, a New York Rum is hard to find I hear, and the first one that I've tried. Made from maple sap and molasses and aged in used bourbon barrels to give it a crisp golden color. This rum is smooth and buttery with hints of brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and oak comes in at 80 proof. This was my favorite of all the spirits. I purchased (2) bottles to go. Sent one to my co-worker who lives in Florida and originally from New York where he grew up at. This is a good distillery and stop. It just opened as it will get better. Decent amount of places to sit inside. When you think of the Finger Lakes, you don't think of distilleries, just grapes but they are expanding to many different places.

5 stars for excellent craft cocktails, nice property design, and great use of local ingredients…read more There is nice attention to details all around. Bravo! The bartender seemed... hmmmm... idk.... not interested in our presence? But that's ok. She did not lack drink making skills and that's worth 5 stars. It seems harder and harder to find an excellent drink. We had 4. Each great! Took home a bottle of vodka too. It is in the middle of nowhere (seriously) with no cell reception so best to know your way there and back.

We came across this on vacation and it was a big W. Service-Ambiance- and the drinks are second to…read morenone! Great local family business! 10 for 10.

Great place to sample their products or just have one of their numerous cocktails. Owners very…read morefriendly and genuinely interested in your opinion. Everyone very sociable and loved the old building housing the tasting room, no cold warehouse look. Definitely will visit again.

Friendly, small operation that has surprisingly lots of open hours. We happened upon here by…read moreaccident. Sadly they were out of their bourbon, but happily they sell smaller bottles which made a great thank you gesture.

Our first time here over the weekend…read more Located inside the Skaneateles Brewery, this is a small, but welcoming tasting room. We opted for two tastings, which gave us 8 different products to sample. All of them were ok, but the standouts were the 4 Grain and the 2 cream liqueurs. We also ordered two cocktails, one was a whiskey sour and the other was pear based. Again, they were ok, but we would like to see them up their game to showcase the spirits with a house made sour mix instead of pre-bottled. Regardless, the employees were knowledgeable and answered all of our questions.

I met a bunch of friends of mine who are beer drinkers out here today unbeknownst to me that it's…read moremore than a brewery but a distillery as well. Yes, I now know they have the word "distillery" in the title but my assumption was this was strictly a craft brew place... wrong. I consider myself a very casual beer consumer. My preference is bourbon. While my friends all enjoyed their craft brews, I sampled the $4 flight of spirits coming away quite satisfied with every single one. And, I'm picky when it comes to Bourbon. My flight choice included the Four Grain whiskey, the Skaneateles whiskey, the Bourbon, the crème brûlée, and the honey barreled. Yes, I know, that makes 5. Though the flight was only 4 choices the server was very gracious and let me try the maple barreled one... sweet, but yum! The Four grain whiskey was one of the highly decorated spirits winning numerous gold awards. Though my first choice is not whiskey, this was absolutely fabulous! Deep, rich flavor that won't overtake your palette. The master distiller gets a lot of praise for the work he puts into his creations, all of which are earned. I found the Skaneateles whiskey to be quite excellent as well with its smooth finish and flavorful draw. Their bourbon stands right up there with some of the best I've had. I found a hint of maple, cherry flavor but not oaky. The crème brûlée was a nice sweet spirit a kin to Bailey's or Frangelica's. It's something coffee drinkers would find pleasant to add to their drink. I also very much enjoyed the maple whiskey. Having a sweet tooth for these sort of things this New York-based foundation made for a sweet tasty drink. There is seating inside and out. The day we were there they had live music. No question, we will all definitely be back again. I look forward to the time we can sit outside as well.

I went here with three buddies for a tasting. We all had…read moresomething different. Everything we tried was great!! We just had the bar mix for food. Our waitress was very nice. I think all 4 of us left with bottles.

Our next stop of the day took us to our first distillery visit of the trip, and wow--Finger Lakes…read moreDistilling did not disappoint. What surprised us most? This was our very first time visiting, and we hadn't even realized they had been established since 2007! Knowing that they had been perfecting their craft for over 17 years, we were eager to dive into the tasting experience and see what they had to offer. The tasting room had a laid-back yet polished feel, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to guide us through their lineup of small-batch, handcrafted spirits. The distillery prides itself on using locally sourced grains and fruits, and you could tell from the first sip that quality and attention to detail were at the heart of their process. The Tasting Lineup I opted for a tasting of four different spirits, and after enjoying those, I was encouraged to try two more--a bonus that made the experience even better. Here's what I sampled: 1 Straight Bourbon - This was beautifully balanced, with sweet corn and vanilla upfront, followed by a warming spicy rye kick on the finish. Smooth yet complex, it was a fantastic introduction to their bourbon lineup. 2 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - A true standout, this one had rich caramel and toasted oak flavors, along with the perfect balance of spice and warmth. Aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof, it had a bold yet refined character that made it easy to appreciate. 3 McKenzie Straight Rye - If you're a fan of rye whiskey, this one is for you. It had that signature spicy rye bite, but what really made it unique was the sweet sherry cask finish, adding a layer of richness and complexity that lingered beautifully. 4 Bottled-in-Bond Rye - One of the most interesting pours of the day, this rye was bursting with flavors of chocolate, nougat, and dried red fruit. The influence of the barrel aging was prominent, giving it a decadent, almost dessert-like quality while still holding onto its classic rye spice. After those four, I couldn't resist trying two additional spirits: 5 Apple Brandy (Aged 10 Years) - A masterfully aged apple brandy that showcased deep, caramelized apple flavors, balanced with warm baking spices and oak influence. The 10 years in the barrel really allowed this spirit to develop incredible depth and smoothness. 6 Grappa - This was an unexpected favorite--simply sensational. Grappa can sometimes be overpowering, but this one was smooth, refined, and packed with rich grape flavors, making it one of the best versions I've tried. Taking a Piece of Finger Lakes Distilling Home While every single pour was impressive, the one that stood out the most for me was the Straight Bourbon--so much so that I had to bring a bottle home. It reminded me of a classic Rye Whiskey, with just enough spice to keep things interesting but smooth enough to sip neat. Final Thoughts Finger Lakes Distilling far exceeded expectations, and I can't believe it took us this long to visit! With their commitment to quality, incredible range of spirits, and inviting tasting experience, this is a must-visit for anyone exploring the Finger Lakes region--whether you're a bourbon lover, rye enthusiast, or just appreciate finely crafted spirits. It was the perfect stop to break up a day of wineries and breweries, offering something distinctly different yet equally enjoyable. Next time, I'd love to stay a little longer, maybe sip on a whiskey cocktail and take in the atmosphere even more. Cheers to great whiskey and new discoveries!

We got the opportunity to sample some of the distilled products while at The Windmill in Penn Yan…read more All of their products had a great flavor and smoothness. The star of the show (IMO) is their buckwheat bourbon. This just had an amazing flavor. It has became a staple in our home bar. Make sure to give them a try.

Stopped here on a whim on the way out of town. I Am so glad that a did. The gentleman was super…read morenice and informative. He was great company. The spirits were all delicious as well. Make sure you stop by this hidden gem!

Plenty of parking. The inside is very clean, floors are…read morepretty and cool for the dog to lay down and cool off while we sample. The lady working the counter was friendly and helpful. We tried all the the samples-4 bourbons, 2 creams and 3 Absinthe's. My husband and I loved the regular Bourbon. The creams were flavorful. I didn't the the Absinthe ones because I don't like black licorice, My husband loved it - he bought two bottles to go. Bathroom was very clean.

We were driving past this place and I said it's a distillery and wasn't popping up anywhere. let's…read morestop and see what this place is all about. I said it may be a bust but what the hell. We arrive and the woman came to us and said here is the list, I'll be back as she was finishing up a tasting with three other guys. You were able to select a single pour tasting, FLX Tasting which was three for $10, Whiskey Flight which was Reserve, SM, Bourbon for $16, Full flight for $22 and a cocktail flight for the same. The whole flight was 12+ and I'd not be able to drive if I did that. I decided on a few which the smoked bourbon, single malt and Distillers Reserve 7 year at 120 proof at $120 bottle. It was really good, but I couldn't justify paying that much for a single bottle, although I've paid $150 for a single malt two years ago. At the end of the day my favorite was the Smoked Bourbon at $70 for a bottle. It was good and different, but I think the Distillers Reserve was probably the best but at a better price then I'd gone for that. Overall this is a place for tasting and buying. But they do offer cocktails, beer and spirits by the glass. Seating outside is nice.