NYC Craft Distillers Festival
The craft spirits movement is sweeping the nation (& world) at rapid proportions and it's showing no signs of letting up. Small/Micro distilling operations are sprouting up everywhere, attempting to carve out a piece of the multi-billion dollar liquor industry. No better place to show-&-tell than the NYC Craft Distillers Festival at the Bowery Hotel. And although spirits from all categories set up shop at this event, I'm obviously going to keep this very whiskey-centric.
Now, with this being a craft spirits festival and a Prohibition Era themed event, of course distilleries used this opportunity to display their exclusive iterations on White Lightning aka Moonshine. And, as these distilleries are creating nuances and caveats in their whiskies in an attempt to distinguish themselves from competition, I was able to sample some great stuff. Manhattan Moonshine particularly stood out, uniquely using oats and rye instead of corn to create a smooth tasting white whiskey. But, the more unforgettable option was a Honey Habanero Moonshine from Belle Isle Distillery based out of Virginia. Even more mind blowing than the thought of that flavor profile was their signature cocktail that combined the moonshine (made with 100% organic corn) with fresh lemonade. I know that concoction sounds like lighting warfare on your stomach, but oddly enough, it was pretty amazing.
As the day went on the samples were becoming more complex and even sweeter. Virginia Distilling Co. blends whisky made at their distillery with a Scottish Highlands single malt and finishes it in port wine casks, creating a sweet, soft whisky that basically anyone would enjoy. Then, Cask & Crew almost made me walk to the nearest diner because their Walnut Toffee Whiskey pleasantly reminded me of Belgian waffles & maple syrup (at this point, I had quite a few samples and hunger might've began setting in).
But, even immersed in a massive room filled with some of the most creative takes on whiskey I've experienced, I wanted something familiar, something that never let's me down -- Bourbon. Of course I made my way to Widow Jane's table before the day was over and they are really onto something with their Baby Jane Heirloom Bourbon. Despite its young age, it was easily one of my favorites from the event. Then, I made my last stop of the event at the Taconic Distillery set up with their slogan "Got Bourbon?". Their 115 proof cask strength bourbon was the perfect finale. It's really one of those bourbons you could drink on any day, any occasion. I'll definitely be paying their distillery a visit very soon.
My enjoyment of these whiskey festivals is two-fold: it allows me to try some truly special offerings from brands you don't normally see in your favorite bar, but also helps me discover the stuff that I don't really rock with (not going to put any distillery on the Summer Jam screen). I was able to find some wild cocktail combinations I had no clue could live in harmony, but the flipside to that was also witnessing the point when creativity morphs into doing way too much. That's when you kind of just want to enjoy a solid bourbon that lacks a surprise peanut butter and jelly infusion flavoring or whatever these distilleries plan to conjure up next. But ultimately, that's exactly what these events are for -- trying the things you love, discovering the new talents of the whiskey world and dismissing those who don't quite cut it. I'll be back to do it all over again next year.
