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Finger Lakes Distilling NewsletterFebruary 2012
In This Issue
Tastings
Chocolate...mmm
Employment Opportunities
Latest News
Cocktail Ideas
Quick Links

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Upcoming Tastings and Events
 
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Friday, February 17:
FLD Tastings @ The Ice Bar
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
Watkins Glen
5-9 pm

Monday, February 27:
A Brisket A Brasket... with Spirits
Santos Party House
96 Lafayette St, NYC
7-9:30 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

Tuesday, March 6:
Tasting & Seminar
Bottles & Corks
Corning, NY
6:30-8 pm

Tuesday, March 6:
American Whiskey Night
Pultneyville Grill
Pultneyville, NY
315.589.4512


Friday, March 9:
Tasting
Braun's Pour House
Elmira
5:30-7:30

Friday, March 9:
Tasting
Park Manor Wine & Spirits
Endicott, NY
4-7 pm

Tuesday, March 13
Whiskey Tuesdays
Stella's
Ithaca, NY
9 pm

Friday, March 16
Spirits Dinner
Statler Hotel
Ithaca, NY
6 pm

Saturday, March 17
Tasting
Gates Circle
Buffalo, NY
3-6 pm

Sunday, April 8:
CLOSED
Easter Sunday

Saturday, April 12:
Titanic Dinner
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
Watkins Glen, NY
6 pm

Saturday, May 5:
Kentucky Derby Party
Finger Lakes Distilling
5 pm

May 11 - 15:
Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Details TBA   



Please come out to see us!
  
  

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Dear Friend of FLD,    

Happy Valentines Day.  Love is in the air!  We love the mild winter that we've experienced in the Finger Lakes so far- 50 degree days in January are unheard of.

We also love the extra elbow room in our production area downstairs.  With our move to the new building, we were able to free up space in order to accommodate additional fermentation tanks that are set to arrive tomorrow.  Increased fermentation equals more FLD spirits for you- which hopefully you love!

We want to remind you that we are offering free tastings through the end of March.  So, bring your loved ones out and tell them tastings are on you.

The warm weather and longer days also remind us that the busy season really is right around the corner.  With that, comes increased tourism and staffing needs for the season.  We have been fortunate to have a dynamic staff over the past few years, but we still find ourselves in need of additional employees.  If you know of anyone (maybe you?) with an outgoing personality that may be interested in sharing our passion for locally-made spirits, feel free to contact us here

We were very excited to see FLD mentioned in a number of publications over the past few weeks.  If you missed it, McKenzie Bourbon Whiskey was selected by the Wall Street Journal as the spirit of choice for the Super Bowl!

Enjoy the rest of February and we look forward to seeing or hearing from you soon.

Best regards,
 
Brian McKenzie
President, Finger Lakes Distilling  

  

Kir Royale Chocolates

Amazing!  Christian from Preliminaires Chocolat created this newest addition by using a  perfect mix of Damiani Winery's Bolicelli sparkling wine and our Cassis liqueur.  This tasty little morsel has a perfect crunch when you bite into it and a fluffy sweetness inside. Highly addictive!  Visit our tasting room to purchase. We're open 11-5 today for any of you looking for that last minute Valentine's gift.



 


      

   

We need your help

 Interested in helping small American craft distillers grow while supporting local farms and boosting tourism to the area?
 
We would appreciate your support for  HR Bill #777.  This bill, similar to legislation passed for wineries and microbreweries, will help microdistilleries benefit from a lower excise tax tier. We currently pay roughly $3.50 per bottle in excise taxes - the same level of taxation that the big distillers are subject to. 
 
This reduction in excise tax, will assist small distilleries to invest in their businesses, hire new employees and increase production.  This bill will also support businesses that are essential to us like farmers, and those that are needed regularly to assist with operations like electricians, plumbers, and packaging manufacturers. 
 
The quickest and easiest way to show your support for craft distilleries is to click here and follow the instructions. We'd also welcome any letters of support that we can forward on to our local representatives. Please direct them to: 4676 NYS Rte 414, Burdett, NY 14818 Attn: Brian McKenzie. 
 
Thanks for your support.




FLD Now Interviewing

What was your impression of Finger Lakes Distilling when you first visited? Hopefully a good one! Do you have a desire to share your love of the Finger Lakes and our spirits with visitors? Now's your chance.

We are in the beginning stages of interviewing for additional staff to work in our tasting room, assist with bottling and possibly with marketing.  Experience in hospitality or retail is helpful, but not necessary.  Applicants should have a strong work ethic, chipper personality, and be willing to talk to and entertain customers.

We're also looking for someone to help with maintaining the buildings and grounds here at FLD - routine maintenance, landscaping, etc.

Please contact us if you are interested in any of these opportunities. 




In case you missed it...

The WSJ mention was definitely the highlight of the month, but we did get some other props.

Be prepared for whenever that cold weather decides to strike us with Amelia Sauter's hot toddy, featured on the Edible Finger Lakes blog.

Our friends at Nick & Toni's in NYC have been in the press a lot lately. Their barrel-aged Negroni - which contains our Seneca Drums Gin - was mentioned here. They also had a couple entries in Edible Manhattan's Great King Street cocktail contest, one that included our Cassis Liqueur.

"Whisky Woman" Allison Patel describes her first experience with our Pure Potstill Whiskey in a recent blog post.


 
  cocktailsCreative Cocktails

  

The Blinker

 

The Blinker

 

This vintage cocktail is very easy to make and is a great cocktail to enjoy before your Valentine's dinner given its beautiful color.

  

2 oz. McKenzie Rye Whiskey

1 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice

Couple of dashes of Grenadine (we used Stirrings)

Dash of Fee Bros. Grapefruit Bitters

 

Combine all ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into cocktail glass. No garnish needed. 

 

 

Sunshine Toddy

by: Amelia Sauter

 

  

Sunshine Toddy

   

1.5 ounces of bourbon (I use Finger Lakes Distilling)  

1 teaspoon of local honey  

juice from � of a grapefruit  

hot water

Heat a mug half-filled with water on the stove or in the microwave. Add bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey. Stir.

 

     

 

 Great King's Kir

Marci at Nick and Toni's Cafe entered this cocktail in an Edible Manhattan cocktail competition featuring Compass Box Great King Scotch. The Great King's Kir, landed in the top five during the preliminary round.  

2 oz Compass Box Great King Street Scotch 

1/2 oz Finger Lakes Distilling Cassis Liqueur 

1/2 oz Andrew's Central Park Honey Syrup*
Candied lemon chip for garnish**

 

 

Put Scotch, cassis and honey syrup into shaker full of ice and shake. Strain into a chilled whiskey glass and float a lemon chip on top.

 

*Honey Syrup: Mix 2 parts hot water with 1 part Andrew's Central Park Honey from Union Square Greenmarket. Keep at room temp until ready to use.

**Candied Lemon Chip: Slice lemons thin on commercial slicer into 1/16-inch thick circles. Leave in simple syrup overnight. Put on sheet tray with waxed paper and leave in 200 degree oven for 1 hour. Turn chips over and bake for an additional hour. Chip should be dry at that point. If not turn again and bake until dry. 

 

 
 
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.