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!

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.

A distillery that takes pride in what they do! Not only do they make well balanced drinks, but it…read moreis clearly a family run business that wants to do well for the community and for those coming to visit. We came for drinks, but came back because the owner and her son personally invited us to upcoming events. The atmosphere is perfect (with a great view) for a traveler stopping in. But it is also a place where locals can stop in and enjoy a friendly game or live music. I would highly recommend!!!

My wife and I stopped in for a quick drink and some snacks…read more Our server was very nice. I think her name was Amanda. I had a flight and all of them were very good. My only disappointment was they were out of bourbon and had to serve another one from another distillery. We both had the taco bar and it was very good. The building had a great decor with some crazy belt driven fans. The view from the porch was so cool.

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!

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.

We have been to this place many times always enjoy they bring in live music we love this place …read more Drink prices are more reasonable than some of the local competition. Girls making drinks are hard at it and we always get great service with a smile .

Three of us visited here in June and we all tried cocktails. None of us cared much for them,…read moreunfortunately. You can sit inside or out. They have a nice big porch area and also some picnic tables in the grass. Really nice place! Staff were friendly.

Set sail for True Love, a truly enjoyable time!…read more Bottom Line Up Front: We had a wonderful, relaxing, and fun time for a good price. The Good: The history of the John Alden designed schooner is worth reading before you go. We had some more "salty" members of our group that recognized the name of the schooner from the 1956 movie "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra and after that we were on board for a wonderful time. We even were seated in the seats once occupied by Gene and Bing. We purchased our tickets after being approached by Terry who negotiated a decent price with us because he wanted a full boat for the next trip. Captain Bill was an experienced Captain and is well known in the area. He got us underway and was a delightful host regaling us with stories about the "True Love", Seneca Lake and surroundings, as well as, some stories about racing the "True Love" and his crew, Spencer and Marena. Captain Bill even assisted another sailing boat that was in distress and precariously close to the lake edge. The trip was two hours long and on time. The crew served non-alcoholic and adult beverages (some free, some for a price) while underway and also sold some souvenirs (Whisky and glasses). The Bad: There was nothing bad, from start to finish, this was a very enjoyable trip and the crew definitely enjoyed sharing their love of the "Trie Love" with the joyful passengers. The Ugly: Absolutely nothing other than we could not be out for longer. If you find yourself in Watkins Glen, this is definitely an enjoyable to kick back, relax, and let the wind fill your sails. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so I am going to end my post with a few that we snapped along the way. May you have fair winds, and following lake waters!

Excellent sailing experience The crew was great and was…read morevery eager to make sure we had a great time The boat was in excellent condition

A distillery wasn't on our original path but some one at a prior winery told us we must go for the…read morePeanut Butter vodka. Well that was intriguing!! We went and loved that! Reminded us of a Reece's, and would be delicious mixed in coffee! All the samples we had were wonderful! The woman serving was a delight and told us some of the history of the distillery and her family relation to it. It was near the end of the day but she didn't seem to care that we were there and chatted away happily afterwards! For those of you intimidated by a distillery, the woman next to us was about 80 and having the time of her life!

While driving from Ithaca to Geneva on our recent trip to the finger lakes I noticed Myer Farm…read moreDistillers had a sign. Well lucky for us we stopped in on a whim (let's be honest I'm a sucker for good branding). The property is clean and simple, the tasting room was in line with what we experienced last last in Kentucky in more rural spots. They make gin, vodka and whiskey. I'm not much of a liquor drinker but my husband bought 4 bottles and said it's fantastic- he is very into bourbon and if he says it's good then it is. To my untrained palate it tastes like alcohol. It's $3 for 3 tastings and you can also get a cocktail. There is a fair amount of branded products and souvenirs. So it would be a good spot to pull together a gift basket for Fathers Day or Christmas. Absolutely worth a visit- a beautiful craft distillery with a friendly knowledgeable staff.