Cooperstown Distillery: The first and only distillery in Otsego County
Cooperstown Distillery is the first and only distillery in beautiful Otsego County. This is another treasure like the Baseball Hall of Fame. The distillery is influenced by baseball and inspired by the literature of James Fenimore Cooper.
Cooperstown Distillery was created by Gene Marra, a seasoned wine maker and restauranteur. This is a farm distillery sourcing and utilizing over 51 percent of New York state-based agricultural products.
A different style of whiskey is their Spitball Cinnamon Whiskey that has 50 percent less sugar content than mass-marketed competitors. It was named “Spitball” as a nod to the controversial baseball pitch during the early days of the game. One can drink it straight, on the rocks, or as a mixer in Manhattans or Whiskey Sours.
Their Glimmerglass Vodka is made from 100 percent New York state wheat grown in the Finger Lakes region, and is an exceptionally smooth vodka. The vodka is distilled six times, then charcoal-filtered twice using their unique custom filtration process.
This vodka finished silver in the 2014 Denver Spirits Competition. Gin lovers would like their Fenimore Gin, a handcrafted recipe of 15 botanicals that includes juniper berry and citrus peel, as well more esoteric botanicals like eucalyptus, chamomile, star anise, and native New York lilac.
Rum is getting more popular with different varieties. Their Sam Smith’s Boatyard Rum made from 100 percent non-GMO sugar cane, is quite smooth. This Caribbean-style rum is aged a minimum of two years. Their Cane High Spiced Rum is a proprietary blend of exotic Chai-style spices infused with their two-year-old amber rum.
Gene wanted to create a different bourbon than the traditional bourbon using 70 to 80 percent corn that makes it a bit sweet. Instead he uses rye and wheat.
Now they are helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic by making their own hand cleaners. More about this distillery and their products can be found at cooperstowndistillery.com.
