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    Finger Lakes Distilling

    4.4 (88 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Spirited R.

    Our next stop of the day took us to our first distillery visit of the trip, and wow--Finger Lakes Distilling did not disappoint. What surprised us most? This was our very first time visiting, and we hadn't even realized they had been established since 2007! Knowing that they had been perfecting their craft for over 17 years, we were eager to dive into the tasting experience and see what they had to offer. The tasting room had a laid-back yet polished feel, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to guide us through their lineup of small-batch, handcrafted spirits. The distillery prides itself on using locally sourced grains and fruits, and you could tell from the first sip that quality and attention to detail were at the heart of their process. The Tasting Lineup I opted for a tasting of four different spirits, and after enjoying those, I was encouraged to try two more--a bonus that made the experience even better. Here's what I sampled: 1 Straight Bourbon - This was beautifully balanced, with sweet corn and vanilla upfront, followed by a warming spicy rye kick on the finish. Smooth yet complex, it was a fantastic introduction to their bourbon lineup. 2 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - A true standout, this one had rich caramel and toasted oak flavors, along with the perfect balance of spice and warmth. Aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof, it had a bold yet refined character that made it easy to appreciate. 3 McKenzie Straight Rye - If you're a fan of rye whiskey, this one is for you. It had that signature spicy rye bite, but what really made it unique was the sweet sherry cask finish, adding a layer of richness and complexity that lingered beautifully. 4 Bottled-in-Bond Rye - One of the most interesting pours of the day, this rye was bursting with flavors of chocolate, nougat, and dried red fruit. The influence of the barrel aging was prominent, giving it a decadent, almost dessert-like quality while still holding onto its classic rye spice. After those four, I couldn't resist trying two additional spirits: 5 Apple Brandy (Aged 10 Years) - A masterfully aged apple brandy that showcased deep, caramelized apple flavors, balanced with warm baking spices and oak influence. The 10 years in the barrel really allowed this spirit to develop incredible depth and smoothness. 6 Grappa - This was an unexpected favorite--simply sensational. Grappa can sometimes be overpowering, but this one was smooth, refined, and packed with rich grape flavors, making it one of the best versions I've tried. Taking a Piece of Finger Lakes Distilling Home While every single pour was impressive, the one that stood out the most for me was the Straight Bourbon--so much so that I had to bring a bottle home. It reminded me of a classic Rye Whiskey, with just enough spice to keep things interesting but smooth enough to sip neat. Final Thoughts Finger Lakes Distilling far exceeded expectations, and I can't believe it took us this long to visit! With their commitment to quality, incredible range of spirits, and inviting tasting experience, this is a must-visit for anyone exploring the Finger Lakes region--whether you're a bourbon lover, rye enthusiast, or just appreciate finely crafted spirits. It was the perfect stop to break up a day of wineries and breweries, offering something distinctly different yet equally enjoyable. Next time, I'd love to stay a little longer, maybe sip on a whiskey cocktail and take in the atmosphere even more. Cheers to great whiskey and new discoveries!

    My vodka spritzer with blueberry and ginger.
    Christine S.

    Had a fun time. Went in by myself. Had a good day, felt accomplished and needed a break. I had one of their Vodka Spritzers. They had options to infuse it with different flavors. I chose blueberry and ginger. It was delicious. I loved that she added 4 plump delicious blueberries on a toothpick in the drink. The bartender/hostess Lisa was super nice and helpful. I sat and had my cocktail. Chatted up with some tourists, it was all very pleasant and relaxing. I love their Vodka that is made with grapes. It's nice and smooth. Would make an excellent Martini. The vibe is super welcoming. I was in there during a slow time, of day in the middle of the week, but they still had a fair amount of business during this time. It was just what I needed, quite pleasant conversation, and a cool cocktail. I imagine it can get quite crowded and loud during the weekend. They have some cool gift items, martini shaker sets, Olives and Olive juice, and some different flavored syrups that they actually use behind the bar. The cherry on top for me would have been if they served Martinis. The bartender was so sweet, when I ordered one, she said it had been a while, but was willing it give it a go. I declined and asked for her suggestion, and as a result I had my wonderful cocktail mentioned above. So, all was good in my world. Plus Lisa and I had fun making a new creation. She said she never did made it with blueberry and ginger! It was fantastic and refreshing. My reason for declining the martini, was because for me the perfect Martini is served in a chilled Martini glass. Which I don't think they had. I did find it odd that you can buy everything you need to buy and take home to make a martini, but do not have it on the menu. Hopefully in the future they will make their own signature martini, perhaps blueberry. Cause I tell you that blueberry syrup, in a chilled Martini glass, with a splash of vermouth, with their grape Vodka, and the blueberry garnish, would have been sublime! I will definitely be back and In the end I was super happy with the drink, it was much more refreshing than a martini. Thank you Lisa it was an excellent suggestion. I ended up buying a bottle of Vodka, and the blueberry syrup. The blueberry syrup had a hint of vinegar in it, and I thought it would make an excellent reduction sauce for my deserts. I also thought I could make a nice salad dressing with it too. Or maybe it's just time for me to chill my Martini glasses at home. Ooh, I almost forgot. They have out outdoor seating, and a woman came in and ordered two drinks, and mentioned she was sitting outside because she has her dog. The bartender told her dogs are welcome both inside and outside. I loved hearing this, maybe next time I will bring my dog. This is also one of the things I love about this side of the finger lakes, dogs are welcome in a lot of businesses.

    a picnic area with red chairs
    Michelle A.

    Distillery with big pretzels- the view from the chairs is superior to the view from the deck.

    a view of the ocean from a porch
    Erica S.

    Stopped by here with some friends while on a wine tour! This is a fun spot to try something different while exploring the wineries in the area. There's plenty of outdoor seating and you can try flights or cocktails. I got the gin and tonic and was given a couple options of gin. I enjoyed the flavoring and the strength of the drink. A couple of my friends sipped on various flights and ended up buying a couple bottles. It was very refreshing to sit on the deck and take in the view of Seneca lake while sipping on a variety of drinks.

    Bar area
    Tamara C.

    Beautiful group of people! Great whiskey and cigar selection! Our bartender the GOAT. Thank you for being such a gracious host

    View from behind the patio area
    Patricia B.

    Came for a tasting with a few girlfriends and had a great time. We made a reservation for the covered patio. We had the space to ourselves and the rep that did our tasting (Doug) was wonderful. He had great stories and fun facts that he sprinkled throughout the tasting. I surprisingly really liked the soju. I would also recommend sampling the grape brandy. It is unlike anything I have ever had. The bourbon whiskey was nice as well. I bought some of the cassis for making kirs with the white wine I plan to purchase from one of the wineries in the area. The view of the lake from the patio is so beautiful. If you are in the area, I recommend making this a stop.

    Graham K.

    Was in the region with my girlfriend for Deck the Halls weekend, but we are both cocktail people as well so we decided to go off the passport path. Glad we did. For $5 for 4 tastes, you can mix and match any combination of their distinct whiskeys, bourbons, gins, vodkas, and even a shoju (Korean liquor) The staff was incredibly knowledgeable about all of their offerings and we chatted for a while about different flavor profiles, distilling processes, and mixing potentials. They also sell cigars that have been flavored with some of their spirits. Awesome stop. Well worth it.

    Beautiful views thru their glass; cool, almost "steam-punk" looking equipment!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great tasting menu and friendly staff. Nice reprieve from the hot day with refreshing drinks as well on the menu.

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    3 years ago

    Nice location, great staff. In my opinion, the spirits are OK but not great. They have a nice outdoor patio as well

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Awesome place! We had several drinks and enjoy ed the view of Seneca Lake. Service was great and so relaxing.

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    3 years ago

    Interesting spot to visit. The best item is the Seneca Drum gin. Very accommodating, nice views, friendly atmosphere.

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    3 years ago

    Love it here. Love the gin and the bourbon. Staff was wonderful and helpful. Will definitely return!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Finger Lakes Distilling

    Review Highlights - Finger Lakes Distilling

    “Brian McKenzie (the owner) did a fantastic job explaining how they produce their Whiskey, Gin and Vodka.”

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    Schooner Excursions

    Schooner Excursions

    4.7(31 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Set sail for True Love, a truly enjoyable time!…read more Bottom Line Up Front: We had a wonderful, relaxing, and fun time for a good price. The Good: The history of the John Alden designed schooner is worth reading before you go. We had some more "salty" members of our group that recognized the name of the schooner from the 1956 movie "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra and after that we were on board for a wonderful time. We even were seated in the seats once occupied by Gene and Bing. We purchased our tickets after being approached by Terry who negotiated a decent price with us because he wanted a full boat for the next trip. Captain Bill was an experienced Captain and is well known in the area. He got us underway and was a delightful host regaling us with stories about the "True Love", Seneca Lake and surroundings, as well as, some stories about racing the "True Love" and his crew, Spencer and Marena. Captain Bill even assisted another sailing boat that was in distress and precariously close to the lake edge. The trip was two hours long and on time. The crew served non-alcoholic and adult beverages (some free, some for a price) while underway and also sold some souvenirs (Whisky and glasses). The Bad: There was nothing bad, from start to finish, this was a very enjoyable trip and the crew definitely enjoyed sharing their love of the "Trie Love" with the joyful passengers. The Ugly: Absolutely nothing other than we could not be out for longer. If you find yourself in Watkins Glen, this is definitely an enjoyable to kick back, relax, and let the wind fill your sails. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so I am going to end my post with a few that we snapped along the way. May you have fair winds, and following lake waters!

    Excellent sailing experience The crew was great and was…read morevery eager to make sure we had a great time The boat was in excellent condition

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    Schooner Excursions
    Schooner Excursions
    Schooner Excursions

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    Dragonfyre Distillery - Gift boxes are avaliable

    Dragonfyre Distillery

    4.8(16 reviews)
    46.3 mi
    •$$

    Get out of your every day, mundane routine of the same 'ol same 'ol breweries and distilleries and…read moretake a scenic ride to Marathon to this quiet, quaint and cool distillery... Dragonfyre. You will be happy you made the trip. Sure it's off the beaten path but isn't that what life is all about? Find a beaten path then make the best of its experiences. When you arrive you will be greeted and treated by the proprietor. A genuine, hard-working distiller who loves his craft. See his passion come to life in this distillers whiskeys. My suggestion would be to do what we did and get yourself a flight of the various options and decide for yourself which one is right. There's Apple-based whiskeys, whiskey's distilled in maple barrels, to 110+ proof heavy duty stuff, there's a nice selection for all. Oh, and don't forget to try the slushy's. Don't bother with the sampler, dive right into the largest one they offer. You probably won't be the one driving back at that point. These are outstanding! Inside the gift shop you'll be astounded by the array of dragon themed trinkets and gifts. Even the restroom holds its own uniqueness. You can sit inside or outside, either way you will be glad you took the trip.

    So cool and worth the drive. Much has changed with the process and the number of offerings since my…read morelast visit 2-1/2 years ago. During COVID owner Vince did a virtual event, but the experience here cannot be enjoyed quite the same unless in person. From 5 to 10 or so, all are very good with my favorites falling in both old and new. Such a fun and interesting place , the same to be said of the Owner and his whiskeys. I cannot say enough we were there for almost 2 hours and even picked up a few Christmas gifts. always an adventure and fun!

    Photos
    Dragonfyre Distillery - Something new for the New Years!
Dragons Gold Special Edition Cabernet Barrel Finish.

    Something new for the New Years! Dragons Gold Special Edition Cabernet Barrel Finish.

    Dragonfyre Distillery - Look for the Dragon Wagon, or Castle Dragonfyre at an event near you in central NY!

    Look for the Dragon Wagon, or Castle Dragonfyre at an event near you in central NY!

    Dragonfyre Distillery - Who's home?

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    Who's home?

    Krookid Leyk Distilling - Flight!

    Krookid Leyk Distilling

    4.6(5 reviews)
    13.9 mi

    Caveating this review with the fact that we did not do the distilled liquor tasting but got…read morecocktails instead. It's small and nice inside, but the cocktails are underwhelming. They aren't balanced and don't enhance the liquors. Either two sweet or too bitter or not much of anything it seems like the focus is quantity over anything else - they are 9 oz each! Personally I might go back to try the actual liquors but they could benefit from someone who could come in and craft a genuine cocktail - they just don't highlight the alcohols at all.

    This was our first of two stops at distilleries and ran across this place and turned around and…read morewent here. I didn't know going into the place what to expect. We arrived and the bartender was nice and told us what they had and what you can choose. My wife went with a mix drink and I had to try all of the spirits that are available. They also had beer and wine from other participating locations. I was able to try 4 different spirtis. I started off which Chief Cinnamon, Wylder Rye, Whitecap Gin & Driftwood Rum. I have to say the range of different whiskeys are across the board from Cinnamon (lot of people have this) but Rye, Vodka,, Gin and Rum. that's a wide range of different types of spirits. The Whitecap Gin is where I started first. It's 100% locally grown corn sourced from the Finger Lakes region, they double distill this gin with grapefruit, lemon, and orange peel. What that means is that when they distill the gin, they do two runs through the still, the first run is the strip run which strips most the ethanol from the wash and the spirit run would be your second run that will remove the impurities and improve the overall taste and strength of the spirit. I liked the gin it had small amounts of juniper in it is how I like it, tasted citrus tastes, with a slight peppery on the end. It finishes at 90 proof. The second one that I tried was the "Chief Cinnamon Whiskey" which is made from a bourbon mash, which isn't like others that I've tried. They use three types of cinnamon, sticks, macerate the whiskey with no sweetness added. 70 proof, it has a good taste, still not the best that I've tried but it's tolerable. The third I tried was the Rye Whiskey with is 86 proof, it utilizes 100% locally grown grains. This whiskey has a bold rye pepperiness on the palate, balanced with a smooth buttery sweet finish. All Rye's have a sweeter note to them. Lastly I tried the Driftwood Rum, a New York Rum is hard to find I hear, and the first one that I've tried. Made from maple sap and molasses and aged in used bourbon barrels to give it a crisp golden color. This rum is smooth and buttery with hints of brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and oak comes in at 80 proof. This was my favorite of all the spirits. I purchased (2) bottles to go. Sent one to my co-worker who lives in Florida and originally from New York where he grew up at. This is a good distillery and stop. It just opened as it will get better. Decent amount of places to sit inside. When you think of the Finger Lakes, you don't think of distilleries, just grapes but they are expanding to many different places.

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    Krookid Leyk Distilling
    Krookid Leyk Distilling
    Krookid Leyk Distilling - Forgot name but yummy blackberry bourbon drink in flight

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    Forgot name but yummy blackberry bourbon drink in flight

    Myer Farm Distillers

    Myer Farm Distillers

    4.7(32 reviews)
    17.6 mi
    •$$

    A distillery wasn't on our original path but some one at a prior winery told us we must go for the…read morePeanut Butter vodka. Well that was intriguing!! We went and loved that! Reminded us of a Reece's, and would be delicious mixed in coffee! All the samples we had were wonderful! The woman serving was a delight and told us some of the history of the distillery and her family relation to it. It was near the end of the day but she didn't seem to care that we were there and chatted away happily afterwards! For those of you intimidated by a distillery, the woman next to us was about 80 and having the time of her life!

    While driving from Ithaca to Geneva on our recent trip to the finger lakes I noticed Myer Farm…read moreDistillers had a sign. Well lucky for us we stopped in on a whim (let's be honest I'm a sucker for good branding). The property is clean and simple, the tasting room was in line with what we experienced last last in Kentucky in more rural spots. They make gin, vodka and whiskey. I'm not much of a liquor drinker but my husband bought 4 bottles and said it's fantastic- he is very into bourbon and if he says it's good then it is. To my untrained palate it tastes like alcohol. It's $3 for 3 tastings and you can also get a cocktail. There is a fair amount of branded products and souvenirs. So it would be a good spot to pull together a gift basket for Fathers Day or Christmas. Absolutely worth a visit- a beautiful craft distillery with a friendly knowledgeable staff.

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    Myer Farm Distillers
    Myer Farm Distillers
    Myer Farm Distillers

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    The O'Begley Distillery

    The O'Begley Distillery

    3.5(21 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    •$$

    Plenty of parking. The inside is very clean, floors are…read morepretty and cool for the dog to lay down and cool off while we sample. The lady working the counter was friendly and helpful. We tried all the the samples-4 bourbons, 2 creams and 3 Absinthe's. My husband and I loved the regular Bourbon. The creams were flavorful. I didn't the the Absinthe ones because I don't like black licorice, My husband loved it - he bought two bottles to go. Bathroom was very clean.

    We were driving past this place and I said it's a distillery and wasn't popping up anywhere. let's…read morestop and see what this place is all about. I said it may be a bust but what the hell. We arrive and the woman came to us and said here is the list, I'll be back as she was finishing up a tasting with three other guys. You were able to select a single pour tasting, FLX Tasting which was three for $10, Whiskey Flight which was Reserve, SM, Bourbon for $16, Full flight for $22 and a cocktail flight for the same. The whole flight was 12+ and I'd not be able to drive if I did that. I decided on a few which the smoked bourbon, single malt and Distillers Reserve 7 year at 120 proof at $120 bottle. It was really good, but I couldn't justify paying that much for a single bottle, although I've paid $150 for a single malt two years ago. At the end of the day my favorite was the Smoked Bourbon at $70 for a bottle. It was good and different, but I think the Distillers Reserve was probably the best but at a better price then I'd gone for that. Overall this is a place for tasting and buying. But they do offer cocktails, beer and spirits by the glass. Seating outside is nice.

    Photos
    The O'Begley Distillery
    The O'Begley Distillery
    The O'Begley Distillery

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    Finger Lakes Distilling - beer_and_wine - Updated October 2026

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