History

Last Shot Distillery opened in December 2015 and is located two miles from Skaneateles town center, near Charlie Major Nature Trail. Grounded on a historic site where Earll & Kellogg Distillery operated from 1840-1864, and production stopped when the property was converted to a paper factory.

Co-owner and Master Distiller Chris Uyehara wanted to expand his career from his 37 years of experience as a chef. This arose through a connection with his daughter and a friend, which brought him together with co-owner John Menapace, who had the perfect site and the engineering expertise needed to house the distillery. Chris and John, both longtime residents of Skaneateles, formed a partnership to realize the dream.

Our mission is to bring a new perspective to the art of distilling and to build a family business centered around historical traditions and the community we love.

The history of Last Shot also includes Chris's participation in the Master Distiller show, which has helped focus attention on the brand through videos such as My Time on Master Distiller.

Production/Manufacturing

All products from Last Shot Distillery are produced using locally grown ingredients, and the company is described as a small farm distillery that lets the natural flavors come through.

Grains such as corn, wheat, malt, and rye form the basis of production, and there is an emphasis on using fresh-sourced ingredients to produce bright flavor notes.

In addition to the whiskey range, production also includes spirits such as gin and vodka, where gin is produced with New York State grain and Skaneateles Lake water to achieve a balanced, plant-based base with pronounced citrus and herbal notes. There is an emphasis on both tradition and innovation, which is seen, for example, in the Japanese-inspired approach to 4 Grain Malted Whiskey.

Whiskey Series

• 4 Grain Malted Whiskey — Chef Uyehara's Japanese-inspired whiskey, developed after his experiences on Master Distiller.
• Skaneateles Whiskey — Distiller’s Reserve, aged in used Bourbon barrels; distilled from corn, wheat and Triticale, a hybrid grain.
• Lightning Whiskey — made from corn, wheat and rye; aged in new American oak barrels and reflecting a spirited, grain-forward character.
• Bourbon Whiskey — single barrel, aged in new charred white American oak barrels with vanilla and oak notes.
• Moonshine Whiskey Yellow — 100% corn, Moonshine expression with warm corn notes.

Flavor profiles and details align with the local agriculture and the distillery's aim to produce clean, natural flavor experiences without relying on heavy added flavors.

Visit/Experiences

Available in Skaneateles and the region through several retailers, and the company also offers online selections.

Seasonal hours: - Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (seasonal) - Thursday: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM - Friday: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM - Saturday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM - Sunday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Address: 4022 Mill Rd, Skaneateles, NY 13152

Find Us In Your Local Stores: retail locations in, among others, Auburn, Sennett Still & Barrel, Baldwinsville, Camillus, Chittenango, Cortland, Fayetteville, Ithaca, Liverpool, New Hartford, Scotia, Skaneateles and more. Online shopping via order-form links such as Arsenal Wine and Liquor and New York Craft Spirits.

Online: https://arsenalwineandliquor.com/last-shot-distillery-order-form/ and https://www.newyorkcraftspirits.com/collections/last-shot-distillery

Philosophy

Our philosophy is to bring a fresh perspective to distilling, while building a family business centered around historical traditions and the community we love. We focus on local ingredients and craftsmanship, and we aim to share our passion and products with our customers through small-batch production and direct experiences in our region.