While summer serves as a perfect excuse to hightail it out of the area, savvy staycationers know it’s also the ideal time to stop and appreciate the entire state.
Especially considering that—from Buffalo to Brooklyn and beyond—the quality and diversity of local craft distilling is at an all-time high. And New York Distilled Spirits Competition Grand Tasting provides the perfect platform, to see what the Empire state has to offer.
Sponsored by the New York State Distillers Guild—whose mission is to support the development and promotion of locally produced distilled spirits, and advance the industry through education and pro-distillery legislation—the Tuesday, July 17 event takes place at Brooklyn Brewery from 6:00-8:30pm, and serves as an all-you-can-sip showcase of exclusively Made in NY spirits.
In fact, selected participants are actually award-winners from the inaugural New York Distilled Spirits competition. Look for Black Dirt Distillery, which sources ingredients specifically grown in the lush, Hudson Valley region (such as the the jonagolds in their silver medal-winning applejack, and the rye in their gold medal-nabbing rye), and Iron Smoke in Fairport, a farm-to-glass operation, that uses applewood to infuse their small batch whiskey (they scored silver and bronze, respectively, in the flavored whiskey and straight bourbon categories).
Big Apple residents will be pleased to find the boroughs represented as well, through Brooklyn’s own Widow Jane (whose bourbon shared the Best in Show Distinction with Lockhouse Distillery’s limited release barrelled gin), and bronze medalist Van Brunt Stillhouse, which transports the bounty of upstate farms to industrial Red Hook, transforming wheat, corn and rye into American whiskey, rye moonshine and single malt (all three will be sampled at the event).
On the food front, BK’s Mabel’s Smokehouse will also be in attendance, to help offset the conspicuous consumption of alcohol with their delectable BBQ sandwiches.
$25 tickets help raise funds for the New York State Distillers Guild, and cover a full array of spirit samples, food, and one free beer; with additional beer purchase available as pay-as-you-go.
So although more exotic locales may beckon come summer, take a moment to remember why you (heart) NY.
For more information and to buy tickets, go here.
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