Thistle Finch Distillery
Overview of the distillery
Thistle Finch Distillery is located in a former tobacco warehouse in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and makes small-batch rye and bourbon spirits. The distillery's hallmarks are a hand-built 150-gallon copper pot still, a signature White Rye, and the use of locally sourced grain. Visitors will find a bar/restaurant, bottle sales, and weekend tours in a rustic, historic setting.
History
The distillery is housed in the old Walter Schnader Tobacco Warehouse, a brick building dating from the turn of the century, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The building today houses both the distillery and an associated craft brewery. Thistle Finch has established itself as a local player by building on the site’s industrial framework: they produce small batches of spirits, operate a bar/restaurant, and offer tours every weekend, which has made the place a gathering point for locals and visitors alike.
Raw materials and production
Thistle Finch operates with a technically detailed production: the grains (60% rye, 30% wheat, 10% malted barley) are milled to a fine, flour-like consistency for better starch conversion. In the mash process, the mash is gradually heated to saccharification, after which the cooling water is reused for the next run to save water and energy. The grain stays in the mash throughout the process ("on the grain") instead of being separated before fermentation. After cooling to about 95°F, the yeast is added, and the fermentation runs "hot and fast" in temperature-controlled fermenters for typically three to four days. The spirit is distilled in a hand-built 150-gallon copper pot still with four vent plates and a dephlegmator; the runs are intentionally de-tuned to achieve a lower average proof and minimize the need for water addition before barreling and bottling. Labels are applied by hand as part of the craft production.
Maturation and barrel types
The aged expressions mature in charred oak barrels at the distillery’s aging warehouse in Lancaster. The Bonded rye variants are documented with concrete age statements (e.g., 5 and 7 years), and the producer notes that some releases are drawn from some of their oldest barrels. The storage conditions and barrel types are classic American charred oak barrels with no further specified finish or origin of the oak in the available documentation.
Whiskies
The lineup ranges from unaged White Rye to bonded rye with several years of aging and various bourbon releases. At the center is Small Batch White Rye as the signature product, complemented by Straight Bonded Rye in 5- and 7-year variants, Burley Bourbon, and specialized flavor variants such as Black Coffee Rye and Black Pepper Rye. The products are sold both in the distillery's shop and via the bar's bottle sales, and certain bottles are released as special reserve batches.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thistle Finch White Rye Whiskey | Rye whiskey (white / unaged) | 40 % | Small Batch White Rye Whiskey, unaged bottle release sold as the producer's primary product. | Current; Core range; On-site shop sales and online | ||
| Thistle Finch - Bonded Rye Whiskey / 5 Years | Rye whiskey (straight / bonded) | 50 % | 5 Years | Charred oak barrels | Straight Bonded Rye Whiskey made from the distillery's characteristic mash bill, distilled in small batches and aged in charred oak barrels. | Current; Core range; On-site shop sales and online |
| Thistle Finch - Bonded Rye Whiskey - 7 Years | Rye whiskey (bottled in bond / straight) | 50 % | 7 Years | Charred oak barrels | Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, seven years of aging; the producer notes that this batch is rich in caramel and stone fruit. | Current; Core range; On-site shop sales and online |
| Thistle Finch Burley Bourbon | Bourbon whiskey (straight) | 43 % | Charred oak barrels | Burley Straight Bourbon sold in 750 ml bottles. Site information on the site notes both 43% and 45% ABV in different fields. | Current; Core range; On-site shop sales and online | |
| Thistle Finch Distiller's Reserve 7 Year Burley Bourbon | Bourbon whiskey (reserve, 7 years) | 50.5 % | 7 Years | Charred oak barrels | Distiller's Reserve 7 Year Burley Bourbon sold in 750 ml bottles with higher bottling strength. | Current; Core range; On-site shop sales and online |
| Thistle Finch Black Coffee Rye | Rye whiskey (flavoured/infused) | 40 % | Flavor variant based on the distillery's rye, sold in 750 ml bottles at 40% ABV. | Current; On-site bottle sales | ||
| Thistle Finch Black Pepper Rye | Rye whiskey (flavoured/infused) | 40 % | Spiced variant based on the distillery's rye, sold in 750 ml bottles at 40% ABV. | Current; On-site bottle sales |
Styles and flavor profiles of the whiskeys
The documented flavor notes range from sweeter, ripe notes to spicy infusions. A seven-year bonded rye is directly described as rich in caramel and stone fruit, while the distillery's flavor variants contain clear notes of coffee (Black Coffee Rye) and black pepper (Black Pepper Rye). There is also a general mention of a "surprisingly smooth" and "full-flavored" character for unaged products, suggesting a soft mouthfeel in the unaged expressions.
Visit the distillery
The distillery is open to the public with a bar/restaurant (Burley Bar), daily bottle sales, and weekend tours. Entrance to the tasting room is via the loading dock and an unmarked door; parking is available in the large parking lot on the left side of the street. The bar's hours and bottle sales times are listed on the site, and tours are offered especially on weekends.
The listed hours are Burley Bar & Restaurant: Tue–Fri 4:00–11:00 pm, Saturday 12:00–11:00 pm, Sunday/Monday closed. Bottle sales weekdays noon–4 pm; the site also lists daily 12–4 pm for bottle sales.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
Thistle Finch combines local ingredients and small-scale craft with customized technical solutions. Central choices include the use of locally sourced grain, "on the grain" production, a hand-built pot still, and measures to reduce resource use. These elements reflect a philosophy of creating characterful spirits through close proximity to raw materials and precise production control.
Sustainability
Reuse of fresh cooling water from the mash for the next run to reduce water and energy usage.
Prices and accolades
- Small Batch White Rye Whiskey — award-winning (Thistle Finch White Rye Whiskey)