Finger Lakes Distilling Newsletter

Dear Friend of FLD:

Happy Valentines Day! We're definitely in the mood for love here at FLD, with some great specials going on and a fresh batch of Christian's wonderful chocolates available, made from our fruit liqueurs and whiskey. Come see us if you need a last minute gift for your sweetheart.

Even though it is the slow season, we're finding plenty to keep us busy. We're really excited to be working with a new distribution partner for our McKenzie line-up. We're still not ready to announce our big expansion plans for this year, but we're hard at work with the planning and preparation. Stay tuned.

I'll leave you with a great new video we recently had produced that captures the FLD story and our approach to crafting our high quality spirits.

Finger Lakes Distilling - An Intro

Hope to see you soon,

Brian McKenzie

President, Finger Lakes Distilling

FLD Partners with Winebow for Distribution of McKenzie Spirits

You may have wondered how we built a network of retail stores, bars and restaurants that support FLD by offering our products. Up until recently, it's been through the hard work of our employees, friends, and family and word-of-mouth generated by our quality spirits.

With over 400 accounts now in NYS, NJ and IL, we've decide the time is right to partner with an established distributor to service our customers outside the local region and build on our previous success.

To that end, we have begun working with Winebow Inc, a mid-size distributor of fine wines and spirits. We think Winebow is the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to the wholesale business and our McKenzie line-up fits very well in their portfolio of U.S. craft spirits and imported brandies, tequilas, and scotch.

Winebow is now selling our McKenzie Whiskies and Distiller's Reserve Gin in all NYS markets outside the Finger Lakes area. They are also selling these products in NJ (distributed jointly with Hunterdon Brewing), IL, and Washington D.C. They will be rolling the McKenzie line out in MA, CT, and Columbia County, MD in the very near future. We'll continue to self-distribute our other products - Vintner's Vodka, Glen Thunder Corn Whiskey, grappa, brandies and liqueurs. Retail pricing for the McKenzie products will stay pretty consistent with what you currently see on the shelf.

We're very excited about the potential for growth this partnership offers FLD. We look forward to entering these new markets and working side-by-side with the experienced network of Winebow sales representatives to expand awareness of the FLD story and our McKenzie brand.

Production Update - New Batch of McKenzie Rye Now Available

Hey Rye Whiskey Fans!

The newest batch of McKenzie Rye is now available so stop in and grab a bottle or two. This is the first batch we've bottled that is a combination of our smaller 10 gallon barrels and standard 53 gallon barrels. The larger barrels have gone through more extensive aging, resulting in a smoother, mellower spirit with complex nuances. You'll find strong caramel notes balanced by a pleasant earthiness, increased clove and cardamom spice. The whiskey also exhibits our signature dried fruit notes from finishing in sherry barrels.

Winter Project #1 - Enclosing the Deck

2012 was a great year for FLD, thanks to all of you. We welcomed more visitors than ever, and realized that, during the busy season, our tasting bar starts to seem very small. To help alleviate the crowding at the tasting bar and to ensure that we can cater to our customers in a timely fashion, we found ourselves frequently packing up spirits and barware and heading out on the deck. But on cool or windy days, even with heaters, it could be a bit uncomfortable (sometimes, the whiskey wasn't even enough to ward off the chill!).

So, to provide our guests with a fabulous (read: warmer) experience, we put Joe to work.

And, viola! - he enclosed the deck. As you can see, it is still a work in progress. The outside siding still needs to be installed.

The new tasting area will be used primarily for large groups during busy weekends, FLD events and small gatherings. And the best part is that on those beautiful summer days we can pop out the windows and enjoy the breeze off the lake!

Valentines Day Gift Ideas

Looking for a fun and tasty gift for your sweetie?

May we suggest...

"Liquor with Love"

We have created two packages sure to satisfy everyone's love for fine crafted spirits and chocolate. These offers are good through Sunday, Feb 18.

10% off when you purchase two Liqueurs and a box of 4 chocolates.

With any spirit purchase of $50 or more you get a complimentary box of 4 chocolates.

If something bubbly is what you had in mind for that special someone, then how about a Seneca Cherry Nova?

Seneca Cherry Nova

For the month of February, FLD teamed up with Lakewood Vineyards, our friends across the lake, to create a refreshing and fun cocktail. We're offering tastings of this bubbly concoction in our respective tasting rooms, so come visit and have a sip.

Cheers!