Niagara Craft Spirits
Overview of the Distillery
Niagara Craft Spirits is a small NYS Farm Distillery in Cambria, New York, located near several wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail. The distillery produces small batches of handcrafted spirits: unaged and wood‑aged whiskeys, gin, and a 100% corn vodka. In the tasting room you can sample flights and get a view into the production area through a window. Due to a temporary closure, the site is closed until Spring 2024, but the products are also sold at nearby Honeymoon Trail Winery.
History
Niagara Craft Spirits has positioned itself as a local farm distillery in the Right‑To‑Farm community in Cambria, with a close geographic connection to the Niagara Wine Trail. The distillery’s lineup centers on the 1808 brand and includes both an unaged corn whiskey, a wood‑aged bourbon expression, gin, and vodka made from local corn. Over time the assortment has expanded with variants such as a smoked version of Silver Corn Whiskey, a higher‑proof expression, and a cinnamon‑spiced gin called Sinferno. Small batches and the use of locally grown ingredients have been recurring traits, and the tasting room with a viewing window and Saturday tours have served as a link between production and visitors.
Raw Materials and Production
Niagara Craft Spirits’ production philosophy centers on small batches and local ingredients. The distillery describes itself as a NYS Farm Distillery and uses locally grown corn as its main raw material, which is especially evident in their 100% corn vodka. The range includes both unaged (white) corn whiskeys and wood‑aged whiskeys, as well as gin and flavored variants. Several products are produced and aged on‑site, and the house offers tasting experiences in the tasting room. In addition to the smoked variant and higher‑proof version of their corn whiskey, a spiced gin is mentioned in the lineup. The publication describing the distillery does not provide details about distillation equipment, fermentation times, or precise technical parameters.
Aging and Barrel Types
The distillery’s range includes both unaged corn whiskeys and wood‑aged versions. 1808 Gold Bourbon is noted as produced and aged on site, while 1808 Silver appears as an unaged (white) variant. There are also experiments and alternative versions, including a smoked Silver variant and a 125‑proof edition, indicating variation in both raw material handling and bottling strength. Specific barrel types, sources of oak, or previous contents are not detailed in the available texts.
Whiskeys
The range is gathered under the 1808 name and covers several spirit types: 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey (unaged), a smoked Silver variant and a 125‑proof version, 1808 Gold Bourbon Whiskey (wood‑aged), 1808 Gin, Sinferno (hot cinnamon gin) and 1808 Vodka (100% corn). The products are produced in small batches and sold both in the tasting room and through local partners such as Honeymoon Trail Winery. The portfolio shows a mix of standard releases and flavor or proof variations, suggesting a practical approach to both classic and more innovative versions.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey | Corn whiskey (white) | Unaged / white | Unaged corn whiskey from the 1808 series; listed as part of the current range. | Current; Core range; For sale (also available at Honeymoon Trail Winery according to the producer) |
| 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey (Smoked) | Corn whiskey (smoked variant) | Unaged / smoked; smoked | Smoked version of 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey, listed as part of the range. | Current |
| 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey (125 proof) | Corn whiskey (high proof variant) | Unaged / high proof variant | Higher‑proof variant of 1808 Silver Corn Whiskey; the producer mentions a '125 proof' edition. | Current |
| 1808 Gold Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon / wood‑aged whiskey | Wood‑aged (not specified) | Bourbon whiskey in the 1808 series, produced and aged on‑site with local ingredients. | Current; Core range |
| 1808 Gin | Gin | Core gin in the 1808 series; the distillery also offers a spiced cinnamon version under the name Sinferno. | Current; Core range | |
| Sinferno (hot cinnamon gin) | Flavored gin; 1808 | Spicy, cinnamon‑flavored gin (described as 'hot cinnamon flavored gin'). | Current | |
| 1808 Vodka | Vodka (100% corn) | Vodka made from 100% corn from a nearby farm; the producer describes it as 'clean and smooth' and stronger than many other vodkas. | Current; Core range |
The Whiskeys’ Style and Flavor Profiles
In the available material, three main flavor directions emerge: smoky (in the smoked version of Silver Corn Whiskey), spice/cinnamon (in Sinferno, a hot cinnamon gin) and a clean/’clean and smooth’ character produced for the vodka. These directions come directly from product descriptions and show that the range spans smoky and spicy variants to more neutral, polished spirits.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery has a tasting room that offers tasting flights including a souvenir glass, and there is a viewing window into the production area. Tours are mentioned as available on Saturdays. Currently the distillery is closed until Spring 2024, but the company participates in local markets: you can meet them every Saturday from 9:00–13:00 at the Broome County Regional Farmers Market (840 Upper Front St, Binghamton, NY) and every first and third Saturday of the month from 10:00–14:00 at the Lockport Community Winter Market (210 Walnut Street, Lockport, NY).
Philosophy and Craft
The company’s stated approach is built on small batches, local ingredient usage, and agricultural roots as a farm distillery. The slogan 'Great Spirits, Small Batches' sums up the focus on craft and locality, and several products are produced and aged directly on site, underscoring a practical, locally oriented craft ethos.