In keeping with the “spirit” of creativity, Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardiner has found a new outlet for the handmade oak barrels in which it ages its liquors.
Unlike winemakers”™ casks, barrels used by distillers have a much shorter life span: once used, they are a done deal. The ones used at Tuthilltown, which range in size from three to 53 gallons are getting a new lease on life, thanks to brewers and food purveyors who are using them to create new flavors for old standbys and give a little zing to traditional products.
Craft brewer Keegan Ales in Kingston is using Tuthilltown”™s casks to age special brands of beer.
“People who love to create new tastes are finding a use for our barrels,” said Brian Lee, distiller and partner of Tuthilltown, who will also be carrying bourbon-infused maple syrup created by Mikuni Wild Harvest in Massachusetts in mid-March.
Lee is  working with the barrel maker, Black Swan Cooperage in Minnesota, to patent a way to make the larger barrels age the liquor as quickly as the smaller ones do. “Since there is not much price difference in the size, it makes sense for us to try to work together to find a way to make the larger barrels produce the same results as the smaller ones in the same amount of time,” Lee said.
Tuthilltown Distillers has grown since HVBiz first visited in 2007, not just in the liquors it is offering, but in market growth, due in part to tasting rooms ”“ a vision  co-founder Ralph Erenzo helped to make a reality in New York.  “Ralph had a terrible car accident right before Christmas … he”™s getting the best of care, but he”™s not out of the woods yet. I”™ll be very happy when I see him walking through the door again, that”™s for sure.”
Though its bourbon has been recognized by England”™s Whisky Magazine, Lee says everything that goes into Tuthilltown”™s liquors is locally produced: Tantillo”™s Farm in Gardiner provides the rye and corn; Jenkins and Lueken Orchards and Dressel Farms in New Paltz provides the apples and apple cider. Local APPLES go into making Tuthilltown”™s APPLE vodka, “which is vodka made from APPLES , not vodka infused with the APPLE”™S flavor,” Lee said.
“Our products are truly Hudson Valley,” said Lee, “and for us, we know that keeping business local and helping our neighboring businesses and also bringing in visitors that help boost the economy. We”™re all helping keep each other going in one way or another. Thanks to Ralph”™s work with other distillers to get a tasting room on the property, we have a way to showcase our brands and to sell local products and a way to help our local economy keep going.”
Thanks for the support and positive comments. Again, thanks for the kind words!
Great article. Thanks for the support!