| Upcoming Tastings and Events | |
Friday, January 20:
Spirits Dinner
Cornell Club of NYC
NYC
6 pm
Friday, January 20:
Fluid Fridays (Tasting)
Union Square Wines
NYC
6-9 pm
Friday, January 27:
Fluid Fridays (Tasting)
Union Square Wines
NYC
6-9 pm
Friday, February 17 - Sunday February 19:
Ice Bar
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
Watkins Glen
Tuesday, February 21:
Tasting Seminar
Bottles & Corks
Corning, NY
6:30-8 pm
Tuesday, February 28:
Good Spirits - an Edible Manhattan Event
82 Mercer, NYC
6-9 pm
Wednesday, February 29:
Art of the Mix
Rochester Contemporary Arts Center
Rochester
6-9 pm
May 11 - 15:
Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Details TBA
Please come out to see us!
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Dear Friend of FLD,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that 2012 is off to a good start. We're anticipating a great year here at FLD and look forward to sharing all the news with you. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy. We just got through the holiday rush to find our warehouse building complete and ready to occupy. Read about our big move here. As I write this, I'm flying back to the Finger Lakes from San Francisco. The purpose of the trip? To accept a Good Food Award for our McKenzie Rye Whiskey and Cherry Liqueur. It was an unbelievable weekend and we look forward to building some west coast distribution soon. We're lining up some exciting events to keep things interesting during the cold winter months. Please stay tuned for details. A great way to do that is through our Facebook page. Sign up today to get all the news on happenings at FLD. We just surpassed 2,500 fans and hope to double that in 2012!  Beautiful (though ominous) winter day in the FLX This time of the year is a perfect time to come sample our spirits. It's pretty quiet, so our staff can give you some extra attention during your visit. We'll also be offering free tastings through the end of March, so come out and see us. Best regards, Brian McKenzie President, Finger Lakes Distilling
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FLD Recognized at Good Food Awards
This past weekend we traveled to San Francisco to attend the Good Food Awards Ceremony. Award recipients are recognized as being producers of exceptionally delicious products that also promote sustainability and social good.
We are happy to announce that McKenzie Rye Whiskey and our Cherry Liqueur received honors for best spirits. The weekend was filled with meeting other recognized distillers, cheese makers, brew masters, chocolatiers, coffee roasters, mixologists, as well as west coast imbibers during the tasting event on Saturday.
Brian with Colleen Anunu of Gimme! Coffee, also a Good Food Award recipient
Serving up some McKenzie Rye Manhattans in the Beer & Spirits Garden
With over 1,000 applicants, we feel extremely honored to be recognized by the Good Food judges this year. During our free time we visited the St. George Distillery. Work, work,work! We had a very entertaining tour of the production area and a tasting by the tasting room manager/staff comedienne, Andie. If you are in the San Fran area, we highly recommend a visit- don't miss seeing the life size replica of a Great White Shark or the story of the cowbell-carrying monkey on the Absinthe bottle. 
Our talented tour guide, Andie, performing for the crowd
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Free Winter TastingsThat's right! As an added incentive to come out in see us this winter, we will be offering free tastings from January through the end of March. The tastings include (3) quarter ounce samples of any of our 16 products. We also offer mixers and samples of the food products sold at the distillery. As a reminder, we're open 11-5 pm everyday and offer retail sales, as well. |
 The Big Move
What does 426 barrels, 9,372 bottles of product, and a handful of very worn out FLD employees amount to? A complete, well stocked warehouse building at FLD!
 Of course, the warm dry winter we had been experiencing came to an abrupt halt the day we started the move. Still, the 12 degree temperature did not get in our way.
It's very exciting to have some space back in our production area as we await some new fermentors and equipment upgrades.
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Cornell Club Dinner
For those of you in the NYC area, we are collaborating with the Cornell Club on a Spirits Dinner this Friday, January 20. Each course is prepared using a FLD product in the recipe and will be paired with a cocktail. FLD President, Brian McKenzie, will be discussing the history of our distillery and production techniques used to create the spirits that will be tasted that evening. To make your reservation call Kerry Strassel at 212.692.1381.MENU
Cocktail Reception Chef's Selection of Seasonal Hors d'oeuvres The Idlewild - White Pike Whiskey, with Aperol, Sweet Vermouth and Orange Bitters First Course Orecchiette with Nantucket Bay Scallops
Tomato, Vintners Vodka, Fresh Basil and a Proscuitto Crisp Finger Lakes Restorative
Finger Lakes Distilling's Vintner's Vodka , muddled basil, lemon, and jasmine tea. Second Course
Organic Mesclun Green Salad
With a Pear Brandy Poached Pear, Hudson Valley Ewe's Blue Dressing,
Candied Pumpkin Seeds and Micro Sprouts Pear Brandy Sidecar Third Course Pan Roasted Filet Of Beef Crusted With a Mélange Of Peppercorns, Finished With a Rye Whiskey and Demi Glace Reduction
Served with Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes, Melted Escarole and Honey and Rye Glazed Baby Carrots Mckenzie Rye Manhattan Dessert Bar
Cobbler, Bread Pudding, and Sweet Corn Flan With Corn Whiskey A Selection Of Liqueurs And Grappa
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In case you missed it...
Our Glen Thunder Corn Whiskey got a nice plug in WIRED magazine. Check out page 60 in the January issue.
Back in December, we were featured on the front page of the Hornell Evening Tribune. Click here to read the story.
Thomas Earl provided his typical colorful commentary in the Edible Finger Lakes Behind the Bottle feature. He discusses our McKenzie Bourbon and how he likes to enjoy it (predictably, not in a fancy cocktail). Pick up a copy in our tasting room, if you haven't already done so.
Finally, Brian was interviewed by a new online publication, Current Ground. He discusses the history of Finger Lakes Distilling and the challenges of being an entrepreneur in the liquor industry.
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Creative Cocktails
This month's cocktail is from our friend, Marcella. Might keep this one in mind for Valentine's Day next month as it makes for a beautiful pink cocktail, without being too sweet. Enjoy!
Italian Love Bite
1.5 oz. Aperol 1 oz. Dolin Blanc (or other dry vermouth) 1 oz. Finger Lakes Distilling Pear Brandy 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice 1 egg white (equivalent to 1 oz.) dash salt dash club soda Combine all ingredients, except for club soda, and shake. Add ice and club soda, shake again, and strain into chilled martini glass.
Please send us your ideas for cocktails using our products. With your permission, we may feature your cocktail in a future newsletter. If selected, we'll send you an FLD hat or T-shirt.
Want to know more about our spirits? Just visit Our Products for details and tasting notes on our gin, vodka, whiskey, brandy, fruit liqueurs and other products.
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Coming...next month...
What are these interesting-looking boxes doing near our bottling line? We've got a new product launch in the works and can't wait to tell you more about it in February's newsletter.
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