Our next stop of the day took us to our first distillery visit of the trip, and wow--Finger Lakes Distilling 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! read more

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I had a good feeling I was going to like Finger Lakes Distilling, but I didn't realize how much I would love it. Had tried their McKensie bourbon at a bar or top and liked it, so was happy that it was on the itinerary of our wine and spirits tour. The space, like most wineries/distilleries/breweries up here, overlooks a lake (Seneca in this case) which is very scenic. Inside of the place was very nice and the staff could not be friendlier. I can't underscore the importance of the latter. Selection here is awesome. Some places make 2 bourbons and call themselves a distillery. These guys do whiskey, gin, vodka, varietals and other specialty stuff. I focused on the whiskeys which were awesome. I can see why these guys have won so many medals. I tried the small batch, cannoli infused bourbon, applejack, rye, straight bourbon, bottled in bond, single malt and Applejack. Everything was at least noteworthy. Single malt was awesome, which is the biggest thing I look for as the true test of a distillery. They had just started making the applejack, and it one of these best I've tried. People don't what the hell this is, but it's basically cider-based whiskey; it's great for cooking, drinking and was the first American-invented spirit going back to colonial times. Don't sleep on it. Only one I wish I had tried was the pot stilled, but I had enough to know it's probably good. I took home the applejack and the single malt, as those are really my go to's, however there was a lot worth trying. Also nice to see them offer number of cool cocktail options for those less inclined to drink pure alcohol. We ended the visit with some cigars infused with their cordials, which were an awesome surprise. This place is destination worthy. People think of wine when they think Finger Lakes, but there's more up here than that. This places exemplifies that. Will be back, and will buy their stuff locally. read more

Had a fun time. Went in by myself. Had a good day, felt accomplished and needed a break. I had one of their Vodka Spritzers. They had options to infuse it with different flavors. I chose blueberry and ginger. It was delicious. I loved that she added 4 plump delicious blueberries on a toothpick in the drink. The bartender/hostess Lisa was super nice and helpful. I sat and had my cocktail. Chatted up with some tourists, it was all very pleasant and relaxing. I love their Vodka that is made with grapes. It's nice and smooth. Would make an excellent Martini. The vibe is super welcoming. I was in there during a slow time, of day in the middle of the week, but they still had a fair amount of business during this time. It was just what I needed, quite pleasant conversation, and a cool cocktail. I imagine it can get quite crowded and loud during the weekend. They have some cool gift items, martini shaker sets, Olives and Olive juice, and some different flavored syrups that they actually use behind the bar. The cherry on top for me would have been if they served Martinis. The bartender was so sweet, when I ordered one, she said it had been a while, but was willing it give it a go. I declined and asked for her suggestion, and as a result I had my wonderful cocktail mentioned above. So, all was good in my world. Plus Lisa and I had fun making a new creation. She said she never did made it with blueberry and ginger! It was fantastic and refreshing. My reason for declining the martini, was because for me the perfect Martini is served in a chilled Martini glass. Which I don't think they had. I did find it odd that you can buy everything you need to buy and take home to make a martini, but do not have it on the menu. Hopefully in the future they will make their own signature martini, perhaps blueberry. Cause I tell you that blueberry syrup, in a chilled Martini glass, with a splash of vermouth, with their grape Vodka, and the blueberry garnish, would have been sublime! I will definitely be back and In the end I was super happy with the drink, it was much more refreshing than a martini. Thank you Lisa it was an excellent suggestion. I ended up buying a bottle of Vodka, and the blueberry syrup. The blueberry syrup had a hint of vinegar in it, and I thought it would make an excellent reduction sauce for my deserts. I also thought I could make a nice salad dressing with it too. Or maybe it's just time for me to chill my Martini glasses at home. Ooh, I almost forgot. They have out outdoor seating, and a woman came in and ordered two drinks, and mentioned she was sitting outside because she has her dog. The bartender told her dogs are welcome both inside and outside. I loved hearing this, maybe next time I will bring my dog. This is also one of the things I love about this side of the finger lakes, dogs are welcome in a lot of businesses. read more

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So impressed with Natalie--she's officially our Bourbon Cousin. So professional, kind, and Natalie did such a fantastic job explaining the products, and facilitating our tasting. Natalie is a prime example of what an educator in the industry should be here in the Finger Lakes. We look forward to our next visit, and certainly hope to see our Bourbon Cousin, Natalie in the foreseeable future--Cheers read more

Let me start off by saying the distilleries in the area were disappointing and we almost gave up hope and Finger Lakes was the last stop before flying back to CA. We met Dan when they opened at 11am on 9/16/23 and he was a true professional when it came to customer service. My wife and I enjoyed talking bourbons and other distilled spirits w/him and he and let us know Brian would be giving us our tour. Brian has a great personality and a love for the craft of distilled spirits. There is one thing that he said that really impressed before he started the tour " no question is a dumb one and I can be as simple or technical as you would like ". The goal was for everyone to enjoy themselves, it was a fabulous tour and the selections to taste after the tour was top notch. We took Bond Bourbon, Wild Berry Vodka, Gin and the Raspberry Liqueur back to CA. The location and view of the lake is the perfect dovetail! Brian's Mom is a classy lady and a pleasure to chat with. She just beans with pride about her son and the employees. For all my CA people whether you are from the: Bay Area/ Sac-town/Central Valley & Coast/L.A. area or San Diego if you are in the area please visit and support Brian, Dan and Mom at Finger Lakes Distilling you will come away impressed and satisfied. Lastly, Brian I'm stealing the term you used " Distiller's Cut" from you! We will be back in 2025! - Adrian read more

Distillery with big pretzels- the view from the chairs is superior to the view from the deck. read more

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Stopped by here with some friends while on a wine tour! This is a fun spot to try something different while exploring the wineries in the area. There's plenty of outdoor seating and you can try flights or cocktails. I got the gin and tonic and was given a couple options of gin. I enjoyed the flavoring and the strength of the drink. A couple of my friends sipped on various flights and ended up buying a couple bottles. It was very refreshing to sit on the deck and take in the view of Seneca lake while sipping on a variety of drinks. read more

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Newfield NY location. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, tasteful interior. Going to be a great addition to Newfield. The owners of State BBQ and Bakery and Finger Lakes Distillery seem like professional business people, can't wait for extended hours and food options. I only visit during Hunting months, but like what I see thus far. GoodLuck read more

One of the one distilleries I saw by the wineries so we decided to hop it. My bf got a whisky tasting and I got one of each. Mine had a gin, vodka, whiskey and another. The ambiance was great and we made friends with some locals. We didn't stay long as we had been drinking all day. read more

Would rate this higher stars if I could! Service was the best we've had in the finger lakes, the view was amazing & it's a cute place in general. We wish we found it earlier in our trip so we could enjoy it longer. Natalie took care of us & we loved her!!! read more

Very gorgeous setting for a boozy outing. My party tried a few flights, along with a few standalone drinks. We also had some nibbles-the pretzel was great, as was the charcuterie board. I personally preferred the sweeter liqueurs, but the rest of my party enjoyed most of the whiskeys. I tried the Bloody Mary, but as it was made with whiskey, it was not my thing. Ended up buying 2 bottles of liqueurs and 1 of whiskey(for the hubby). Highly recommend for a casual day trip! read more

Beautiful group of people! Great whiskey and cigar selection! Our bartender the GOAT. Thank you for being such a gracious host read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Bar area - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

Came for a tasting with a few girlfriends and had a great time. We made a reservation for the covered patio. We had the space to ourselves and the rep that did our tasting (Doug) was wonderful. He had great stories and fun facts that he sprinkled throughout the tasting. I surprisingly really liked the soju. I would also recommend sampling the grape brandy. It is unlike anything I have ever had. The bourbon whiskey was nice as well. I bought some of the cassis for making kirs with the white wine I plan to purchase from one of the wineries in the area. The view of the lake from the patio is so beautiful. If you are in the area, I recommend making this a stop. read more

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Was in the region with my girlfriend for Deck the Halls weekend, but we are both cocktail people as well so we decided to go off the passport path. Glad we did. For $5 for 4 tastes, you can mix and match any combination of their distinct whiskeys, bourbons, gins, vodkas, and even a shoju (Korean liquor) The staff was incredibly knowledgeable about all of their offerings and we chatted for a while about different flavor profiles, distilling processes, and mixing potentials. They also sell cigars that have been flavored with some of their spirits. Awesome stop. Well worth it. read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

Great tasting menu and friendly staff. Nice reprieve from the hot day with refreshing drinks as well on the menu.

We have achieved a new high. With an average age of 67.5, our fun group just got kicked out of a bar in Seneca. From being told that we were the most fun crew they had ever served to, within 10 minutes, being denied service on any more alcohol and kicked out. We had a paid hired driver!! We were having fun. We're we a little loud? Perhaps. We're we having a very good time. You betcha. If you plan on going to Finger Lakes Distillery, please reconsider. The manager is s Supreme RICHARD!! Good thing we're going home tomorrow morning. read more

Awesome place! We had several drinks and enjoy ed the view of Seneca Lake. Service was great and so relaxing.

We greatly enjoyed the wines and service at this place. The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was nice and relaxing. This place is dog friendly. The wines were refreshing and tasteful. The rose was impressive. We highly recommend this place. read more

Nice location, great staff. In my opinion, the spirits are OK but not great. They have a nice outdoor patio as well

This place is GREAT! And a must-stop during trips out to the FLX! We were lucky enough to go out to Seneca Lake to stay at the Plum Lodge Motel in their YURTS (super cool -- check them out!) for our anniversary. Before checking in, we hiked Watkins Glen and then decided we deserved a tasting at Finger Lakes Distilling, based on a friend's rec. We're so glad we did! Our bartender did a great job guiding us through the various tasting options. We had so much fun! Ended-up doing THREE different flights, to be able to try almost all of the spirits they offer! Left with a bottle of the McKenzie Single Barrel Bourbon -- YUM! Everyone was masked and protocoled during the COVID-19 pandemic -- we felt very safe there! Hope you'll go, and have some fun! And support small business and local! read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Beautiful views thru their glass; cool, almost "steam-punk" looking equipment! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

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All I can saw is WOW, what a great place. Of all the wineries distilleries and breweries we visited, this was our favorite experience. First of all, it's such a cool building, and the tasting room is really cool. Great view too. We had our two large dogs and they were very accommodating. Franklin and Finley hung out with us in the tasting room the entire time and they even had homemade dog treats to give them. Some places tolerate dogs, Finger Lakes Distilling encourages dogs! The tasting was so fun. Our dude was so engaging, energetic and passionate. They make great cocktails too! We walked out with a bottle of bourbon. read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Franklin and Finley hanging in the tasting room, getting tons of attention. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

Never been to a distillery, so stopped by this place. The place was squeaky clean, and they make their own hand sanitizer. Employee who did our tasting was very nice and knowledgeable. My fav was their soju. And I got one of their cool shirts! read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

80-90% proof alcohols here The gentleman who helped us was so, so knowledgeable and friendly. He was very adaptable and willing to share his insight on different liqueurs based on our taste preferences. I would definitely trust him with all of my liquor choices in any situation. Here's what we got: Whiskey Lovers' - McKenzie Pure Pot Still Whiskey - like a lighter Jameson - McKenzie Straight Bourbon - a lot more bitter - McKenzie Straight Rye - a little bit too harsh - Mckenzie B-I-B Wheated Bourbon - very different, probably second favorite so far The FLXperience - Vinter's Vodka - made with grapes instead of grains - Seneca Drums Gin - on the drier side - McKenzie Straight Rye - a little bit too harsh - Maplejack Liqueur - Apple brandy that they age in a barrel for a couple of years, then they add fresh maple syrup to it. Definitely on the sweeter side, maple forward. - Yobo Soju - super light, mildly sweet. Interesting soju made with grapes instead of the traditional rice, sweet potatoes, wheat, barley, etc. I really liked this soju read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Drinks menu - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Fabulous drinks! Especially the "The Treehouse" invented by wonderful Natalie! So delish! Stop in and enjoy the spirits and the view! read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Natalie! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Excellent friendly staff.. Very informative and personable. Try the Berry Metro Cocktail! read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

Interesting spot to visit. The best item is the Seneca Drum gin. Very accommodating, nice views, friendly atmosphere.

Love it here. Love the gin and the bourbon. Staff was wonderful and helpful. Will definitely return!

This distillery was an absolutely a must go to!!! Not only were drinks on point (get the Bloody Mary) but the staff is AMAZING!!! The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell they are willing to go the extra 2 miles to provide a good experience. Add it to your itinerary!! read more

We had a large group and made a reservation for Saturday 6/27/2020 at 4:00. It was an easy process to book and a smooth transition to a space in back shortly after our arrival. What a selection of terrific products! We all found different favorites from the many choices and enjoyed shopping in the gift shop area. We chose here because of the selection and quality. We would definitely go back! Thanks Brian, Doug and Dan for the "spirited" education ;) read more

There aren't a lot of Distilleries around the Finger Lakes so finding this was a gem! Unfortunately, it was kind of at the end of all my wine tasting so I thought doing a whiskey tasting might be too much. I ended up drinking one of their cocktails. I really enjoyed my cocktail although I wish it was more on the spirit forward side. I like my cocktails more stronger so I probably should've went with their old fashion which my boyfriend got and it tasted wonderful. The next time I come I will try to do their whiskey tasting. They also have gin and other liquors for sale that really tempted me. The people who work there were also super knowledgable I kind of wish you could take a tour of the place! The tasting room is a little smaller compared to others but I was lucky the weather was so bad that I didn't have to wait. read more

Cute place, delicious drinks. We didn't stay long because it was a sunny day and they don't have enough shaded seating. The service was okay -- if we had been out of the sun we probably would've stayed all afternoon. read more

Bad service. We waited and wasted about 40 minutes of our time. It was a Wine trail event day, but they weren't really THAT busy. With that being said, the staff was kind and friendly in the brief time I was able to talk with them. Try the gin(s) for certain. I would've bought some for certain, had I not been waiting for an extreme while. The whiskey was solid as well. They took my cocktail order (I gave up on the tasting after 30 minutes of making eye contact yet getting no service) but never ended up serving me. Get extra people on the bar next time? I wanted to like it here BADLY. I wanted to go home with some nice liquors. But, oh well. read more

Great experience to taste grape based vodka, gin, whiskey and cordials. Such a great variation from the wine tasting! The owner Brian was extremely cordial and the staff was very knowledgeable! read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - View from the distillery! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

The best distillery in NY state IMO. Keep an eye out for their single barrel selections. Really excited to see what they release as their whiskey ages. read more

Loved visiting this distillery. The tastings were all very interesting.. wanted to try them all. Interesting they make a soju and it was very unique and delicious. Enjoyed the gins and whiskeys very much. Cocktails were tasty and good but could use a little more imagination. We had wonderful service when visiting. read more

I'm not an alcohol snob. Really, I'm not. I'll drink a $5 bottle of wine or well liquor any day of the week. But I wasn't all that impressed by Finger Lakes Distilling. Nothing I tried really wowed me, which was disappointing, because I'd hoped to bring home a souvenir. I also didn't care for any of the drinks being served the day I was there and I was kind of surprised to learn that they couldn't make anything else. I sadly sat and watched my fiance have a drink and counted down the minutes until we could leave. read more

Nice bartender and delicious gin and vodka. We did the tasting and then enjoyed a cocktail outside on their adirondack chairs. Worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

Finger Lakes Distilling - The best of the gins - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burdett, New York

A great alternative to all the wineries around. $5 for 4 tastings, you've got to be sure to pace yourself! The fruit liquors were our favorite, but there are a wide range of alcohols here. read more

Some interesting spirits here and abilities to have cocktails which is always a bonus. Guys behind the bar were knowledgeable and willing to really talk about the different varietals. read more

Wide variety of gins, whiskey, brandy, vodkas, grappas. Neat setup as you can see the distillery thru a see thru glass pane. Have a small gift shop area. Staff warmed up aftr a few mins, but initially seemed disengaged. read more