Southern Tier Distilling Company
Overview
Southern Tier Distilling is located in Lakewood, New York, as a farm-to-glass sister to the local brewery. The distillery produces small-batch bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and gin with a clear focus on local ingredients and offers tastings and tours in the tasting room The Empty Bottle.
History
The history traces back to the brewery’s establishment in 2002, and in 2015 the distillery was created beside the brewery in Lakewood. The tasting room opened in August 2015, and in October the same year the company was awarded the New York State Farm Distiller’s License. Shortly after, distribution began to local counties, and the distillery has since worked with small-batch production and local sourcing as central elements of its development.
Raw Materials and Production
The production’s core is local ingredients: nearly 90% of the ingredients come from New York State. The distillery works in small batches and experiments with recipes that draw on brewing traditions from the existing brewery operation. The technical installations include 1,100-gallon stills, and the production includes bourbon, whiskey, vodka and gin. Storage capacity includes a rack house with over 500 barrels, which indicates an active aging and release process for their bourbon lines.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The bourbons are aged in oak barrels and stored racked five high in the distillery’s rack house. The facility holds over 500 barrels, and the distillery describes a patient maturation process for their bourbons before release.
Whiskies
The range includes bourbon, American whiskey, vodka, gin, and whiskey-based liqueurs. Several products and flavor variants are mentioned in recipes and blog posts – including Pumking Whiskey, Pumking Coffee & Cream Whiskey Liqueur, King Abides Whiskey Cream Liqueur, Cinnamon Candy Apple Whiskey, Smoked Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and a 7 Year Bottled in Bond release.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Age | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumking Whiskey | ||||
| Pumking Coffee & Cream Whiskey Liqueur | Whiskey liqueur | |||
| King Abides Whiskey Cream Liqueur | Whiskey liqueur | |||
| Cinnamon Candy Apple Whiskey | ||||
| Smoked Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | |||
| Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | |||
| 7 Year Bottled in Bond | Bourbon | 7 year | A release described as a 7 year Bottled in Bond and presented as one of the distillery’s oldest bourbons. | Limited |
Visiting the Distillery
Visits take place at The Empty Bottle Tasting Room, where guided tours and tastings are available. Tours must be booked in advance, cost $15 per person, showcase the distillery’s 1,100-gallon stills and rack house, and require participants to be 21+ to taste. Contact information and booking-related addresses and emails are provided in the distillery’s contact details.
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery’s stated values center on the farm-to-glass principle, prioritizing local ingredients, small-batch production, and a handcrafted approach. Emphasis is placed on experimental recipes and transferring brewing traditions to spirit production.
Latest News
Old Is New — 7 Year Bottled in Bond – 2023-05-17
The distillery announced the release of some of their oldest bourbon stocks and mentions a 7 Year Bottled in Bond as a new release in their lineup.