History

The Southern Tier Distilling Co. distillery is located in Lakewood, New York, in the building where the original Southern Tier Brewery was based, and our history runs deep within these walls. We are a New York State Farm Distillery, and our small-batch spirits are kept to the highest standards. We focus on farm-to-glass by using only local ingredients in our products. When you choose a Southern Tier bottle, you get the finest product right down to the last drop.

The Beginning

In October 2015, Southern Tier Distillery was awarded the New York State Farm Distiller’s License. Since then we have worked not only to produce one outstanding spirit, but several spirits to satisfy different palates. Nearly 90% of what goes into our products comes from local farmers. With the opening of our tasting room in August 2015, we were able to present customers with tastings of each of our spirits; the positive reception showed that we should do more – and quickly. The idea for the distillery did not come only from copying the brewery’s approach, but from building a distillery next to our brewery in Lakewood, and through farm-to-glass principles we created The Empty Bottle to offer handmade cocktails.

Development and Beyond

Rumor of our distillery led to rising orders, and we quickly began distributing to local counties while our growth continues nationwide. Visit our tasting room and enjoy our products. Tours Every Friday.

Visits and Experiences

The Empty Bottle is the official tasting room for Southern Tier Distilling Co. and is located at the distillery in Lakewood, NY. Tasting and cocktails are a regular part of the experience, and there are often live events and happenings.

Products in Our Portfolio

We manufacture bourbons, whiskeys, vodka, and gin – and The Empty Bottle is the place for a tasting experience. Our history is closely linked to our brewery and our approach to craft and local roots.