If you’re planning a trip to and are looking for things to do in New York’s Finger Lakes region, you certainly have tons of options! Depending on what time of year you’re going, you’ll be greeted with a variety of outdoor activities, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and snapping pictures of beautiful waterfalls. However, if you’re looking for a nice indoor activity (maybe to get out of the rain or into some air conditioning!), distilleries can be a fun adventure. 

Without further adieu, let’s cover the 12 distilleries in the Finger Lakes region of Western New York so you can plan your trip!

What Is Krupnik?

You’ll notice that a few of the brands we listed have a Krupnik, so we wanted to cover it briefly before we get started.

Krupnik is a traditional Polish liqueur made from honey and spices, which may include nutmeg, vanilla, and cloves. Interestingly, it was originally crafted by monks in the 1500s. It’s separated from other liquors by its warm, sweet flavor profile. It’s great when sipped neat or in cocktails. This is a popular spirit in Poland and among Polish communities worldwide, especially during festive occasions.

Twelve Distilleries in the Finger Lakes Region of Western New York:

#12: Woodlawn Distilling

This is a fourth-generation farm and first-generation distillery located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. You’ll find that they are family-owned and operated, and the distillery opened recently – in 2021. This distillery is fun because they have a ton of dogs, and they’ve used their dogs names to label their spirits!

Spirits Offered by Woodlawn Distilling

Woodlawn Distilling offers a variety of spirits, most of which are not aged or not aged for long (since they just opened not too long ago), but don’t let this stop you from stopping in. They have moonshine, whiskey, plain and flavored vodka, gin, amaretto, and “koffee” liqueur.

Hours

Thursday: 5:00pm-10:00pm 

Friday: 4:00pm-10:00pm

Saturday: 1:00pm-10:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Woodlawn Distilling Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Linwood, NY, at 2007 York Road West. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 443-2624 or contact@woodlawn-distilling.com. 

#11: Black Button Distilling

Black Button Distilling is a gem in Western New York. In fact, they are New York’s “first grain-to-glass distillery since prohibition.” This sets them apart from other local distilleries for sure! They opened their doors in 2012, so they’ve been in business for long enough to have some outstanding aged spirits. They also utilize a unique “column to pot to column” system to craft their bourbon, a process they call “Rochester Style Bourbon Making.” Their dedication to superior spirits truly shines through in their offerings.

Spirits Offered by Black Button Distilling

Black Button has a wide variety of spirits available: more than ten whiskies, three liqueurs, six gins, and one vodka. Among their most popular spirits are their Four Grain Straight Bourbon and their Black Button Bespoke Bourbon Cream.

Hours

Thursday 03:00 pm – 09:00 pm

Friday 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Saturday 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Sunday 11:00 am – 05:00 pm

Black Button Distilling Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Rochester, NY, at 1344 University Avenue, Suite 7000. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 730-4512 or cheers@blackbuttondistilling.com.

#10: Smokin Tails Distillery

Smokin Tails distillery was born in the midst of the global pandemic in 2020, right after Peter won a “Master Distiller” award. Their beautiful walnut bar and tasting room were built and set up in only 13 days. What a great way to start a distillery! You’d never know, though, because their business is booming and their shelves are full of flavor-packed spirits. If you’re looking for delicious New England moonshine flavors, Smokin Tails Distillery has an extensive lineup that is sure to impress at every sip.

Spirits Offered by Smokin Tails Distillery

Smokin Tails Distillery has a variety of spirits, including nine different moonshines, and eleven bourbons, whiskies, and ryes. They brag that they’re the home of “$5 tastings,” so make sure to stop in and see what they have to offer! They also have four “sippin’ creams” – be sure to try those, too!

Hours

Friday: 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Saturday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday: 11:30am – 4:00pm

Smokin Tails Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Phelps, NY, at 3 Church Street. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 880-1776 or Knuckleup@smokintails.com.

#9: O’Begley Distillery

O’Begley Distillery might not have a ton of spirits on offer, but the ones they do have are spectacular and crafted with meticulous care. The grain for their spirits is grown locally, and they handle everything from grain milling to bottling right at their distillery. O’Begley Distillery was started in 2011, and since then, they’ve been dedicated to small batch, pot still-crafted spirits. It took them three years to build their distillery by hand, and the dedication shows.

Spirits Offered by O’Begley Distillery

O’Begley Distillery offers four different spirits: Old Kilfountan Whiskey (Irish style), Poitin Whiskey (a traditional White Whiskey), Chocolate Cream Liqueur, and Whiskey Cream Liqueur. All of their spirits are delicious, so be sure to give them a try if you’re in the Finger Lakes region!

Hours

Wednesday: Noon – 5 PM

Thursday: Noon – 5 PM

Friday: Noon – 5 PM

Saturday: 11 AM – 6 PM

Sunday: Noon – 5 PM

Monday: Noon – 5 PM

Tuesday: Noon – 5 PM

O’Begley Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Dundee, NY, at 5430 NY-14. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 750-8560 or obegleywhiskey@gmail.com.

#8: Antler Run Distilling

Antler Run Distilling is another grain-to-glass distillery in the Finger Lakes region of NY. The distillery is run by a father-son combo, Doug and James Quade. Antler Run Distilling opened in 2019 and has been producing delicious spirits (and outstanding views from the distillery) ever since. They have “ award-winning spirits acknowledged by Distillery University, Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits competition & the Great American International Spirits competition.”

Spirits Offered by Antler Run Distilling

Antler Run Distilling has a small variety of spirits, but what they do, they do very well. One of their most popular offerings is their “Cherry Stuff,” having won two awards. It’s a cherry spirit, great in coke or just on its own. In fact, all six of their spirits have won at least one award! Check them all out here: Products.

Hours

Wednesday: Noon – 5 PM

Thursday: Noon – 5 PM

Friday: Noon – 5 PM

Saturday: Noon – 5 PM

Sunday: Noon – 5 PM

Antler Run Distilling Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Keuka Park, NY, at 3133 Antler Run Rd. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (315) 694-7958.

#7: Barrelhouse 6 Distillery

Overlooking breathtaking Keuka Lake, Barrelhouse 6 Distillery is full of soul and passion. They love crafting their spirits, and it truly shows in each bottle. They also host a variety of events, from tours and classes to bottling parties and more. 

Spirits Offered by Barrelhouse 6 Distillery

Barrelhouse 6 Distillery has seven different spirit offerings: Brothers’ 1910 Bourbon Whiskey, Brothers’ 1910 Empire Rye, Brothers’ 1910 Bourbon Cream, Brothers’ 1910 Peppermint Cream, Sisters’ 1924 London Dry Gin, Middle Finger Moonshine, and Brothers’ 1910 Vodka. Each of their spirits has won at least one award. Their most awarded spirit is the Brothers’ 1910 Empire Rye with five separate awards!

Hours

Thursday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Friday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Saturday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Barrelhouse 6 Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Hammondsport, NY, at 9558 Middle Rd. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (607) 868-3310 or info@barrelhouse6.com.

#6: Finger Lakes Distilling

Finger Lakes Distilling is a New York State Farm Distillery; in fact, they were “the region’s first stand-alone distillery.” This distillery is located on scenic lake Seneca, and they have a wide selection of award-winning spirits. The distillery itself is designed after traditional Scottish whisky distilleries, making it a fun sight to see. You won’t be let down if you visit this distillery on your next trip to the Finger Lakes region!

Make sure you reserve your spot for one of their amazing classes or tours, especially if you like gin!

Spirits Offered by Finger Lakes Distilling

There are 22 bottles featured on their products page, including a variety of whiskies, gins, vodkas, liqueurs, and more. To see the full catalog, check out their PDF. From their McKenzie Straight Bourbon to Mac’s Vodka, their spirits are highly-awarded and enjoyed by locals and in 15 states across the United States.

Hours

Sunday-Thursday: 11AM – 5PM

Friday-Saturday: 11AM-6PM

Finger Lakes Distilling Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Burdett, NY, at 4676 NYS Route 414. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (607) 546-5510 or info@fingerlakesdistilling.com.

#5: Hollerhorn Distilling

Hollerhorn Distilling is a very sleek, no-nonsense distilling brand in the Finger Lakes region. Their bottles are elegant and their spirits are great, unique sippers. They teamed up with Black Button Distilling for one of their products, Ginship, and they partnered with South Hill Cider for their South Holler aged apple brandy.

Spirits Offered by Hollerhorn Distilling

In addition to the spirits listed above, Hollerhorn Distilling also offers five maple syrup spirits, made for maple syrup crafted in the Finger Lakes region. These spirits are floral and sweet in nature, something you’ve probably never experienced before! However, they don’t stop there. They also have several whiskeys, a few other brandies, and one grappa. Their spirits certainly don’t disappoint. We recommend you check them out if you’re in the area.

Hours

Friday: 11 AM – 10 PM

Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM

Sunday: 11 AM – 9 PM

Hollerhorn Distilling Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Naples, NY, at 8443 Spirit Run. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 531-2448 or hello@hollerhorn.com.

#4: Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery

Back in 2007 when the family that owns this distillery was considering distilling ventures, there were only a half dozen NY distilleries. Why not go all out?

The Martin family ordered a custom-built 400-liter Christian Carl column pot still with two columns from Germany! The first of its kind in this region, the Martin’s still has “2 columns consisting of a 4-plate column for high-end brandy production and a 21-plate column for premium vodka production.” It’s a beast that’s still pumping out fantastic spirits more than 16 years later.

Spirits Offered by Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery

Hidden Marsh Distillery offers 14 different spirits, only one of which –surprisingly– is a brandy! In fact, half of their spirits are whiskeys! They also offer three delicious liqueurs; Judd’s Grape Pie, Judd’s Cherry Pie, and Judd’s Apple Pie. Their lineup of spirits also includes two vodkas and a maple liqueur.

Hours

Every Day: 9AM – 6PM

Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Seneca Falls, NY, at 2981 Rte 20. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (315) 568-8190.

#3: Old Scotland Road Distillery

“A little Kentucky, a lot of Western New York.”

Opened in the midst of the global pandemic back in 2020, Old Scotland Road Distillery was the first legal distillery in the town of Newstead, located near Akron, New York. This veteran owned and operated is best known for its “Handlebar” Whiskeys, which are “Sweet. Biteless. An all-night sipper.”

You can request a tour here or visit their enclosed, heated, year-round patio and tasting room any time of the year!

Spirits Offered by Old Scotland Road Distillery

There are six spirits on their website: Handlebar White Corn Whiskey, Handlebar White Rye Whiskey, Handlebar Cinnamon Moonshine, Handlebar Star Anise Moonshine, Handlebar Bourbon Whiskey, and Morluski’s Krupnik. Three of these spirits have won awards; they’re listed in bold. All of their spirits are handcrafted in small batches by the owner and veteran himself!

Hours

Monday-Saturday: 12PM – 6PM

Sunday: 1PM – 6PM

Old Scotland Road Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Akron, NY, at 7010 Scotland Rd. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (716) 359-2073 or dlhyder@yahoo.com.

#2: Iron Smoke Distillery

Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport, NY, was founded in 2011 by musician Tommy Brunett. They blend whiskey production with Applewood smoke from BBQs – something that’s incredibly unique! 

The distillery itself features custom-built copper stills from Kentucky. They use locally sourced grains that are lightly smoked, giving their products a very distinct flavor. This approach, alongside their creative use of local ingredients and innovative distilling techniques, sets them apart in the craft spirits market.

Their “Watering Room” was founded in 2018, and they serve up not only their own spirits but also “the finest New York State Vodka, Rum, Wine, Gin, hooch, giggle juice, anti-freezes and grandma’s cough remedies.” They also have about 22 beers available for patrons. We love the snarky vibe of this distillery, and we think you will, too. They host local musicians on a regular basis, and the Watering Room always has a great atmosphere.

They ask that you schedule tours at least a week in advance and register online by emailing them with the subject line “I’d Like to Schedule a Tour.” 

Spirits Offered by Iron Smoke Distillery

Iron Smoke Distillery offers nine different products, one of which is a bourbon cream, and three of which are flavored whiskeys. All of their products are popular, but their Rock The Barrel 2 Limited Release is probably the most coveted. Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible rated it a 95.5! You won’t be disappointed by any of the spirits in their lineup; they’re all fantastic.

Hours

Tuesday: 4PM – 10PM

Wednesday-Thursday: 4PM – 11PM

Friday: 4PM – 12AM

Saturday: 2PM – 12AM

Sunday: 2pm – 7PM

Iron Smoke Distillery Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Fairport, NY, at 111 Parce Ave Suite 5B. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (585) 388-7584 or skully@ironsmokedistillery.com.

#1: Buffalo Distilling Company

Buffalo Distilling Company, originally a side project in a barn in Bennington, NY, now operates in Buffalo’s Larkinville area. This distillery combines rural charm with its new urban setting, making it a stand-out setting to grab a cocktail or pick up some spirits for the night’s festivities. 

Buffalo Distilling Company prides themselves on a farm-to-bottle approach, since they make all their spirits on-site. They use 100% local grains, honey, and fruits to craft their cocktails, showing their dedication to supporting local farmers and the community they’re a part of. They support farms like Hyman–Crest Farms, Smith Orchards, Ryan Apiaries, Pierce Milling, ADK Barrel Cooperage, and Niagara Malt. They are also an official NYS farm distillery, like some of the other distilleries we’ve seen in this list. 

They also have a vibrant cocktail room and event space that is always lined up with live music and events; you can see upcoming bands and events here: EVENTS. At the bar, cocktails are “crafted with [their] house-made bitters and syrups”.

To book a tour, use their form here. 

Spirits Offered by Buffalo Distilling Company

They currently have 15 different spirit offerings, including six different whiskeys, three vodkas (including a peppermint one), one gin, one brandy, two krupnik, one moonshine, and a very intriguing “Mafia Sauce.”

Hours

TUES & WED 10-5PM RETAIL ONLY

Thursday-Friday: 3PM – 11PM, COCKTAILS START AT 2PM

Saturday: 1PM – 11PM, COCKTAILS AVAILABLE ALL DAY

Buffalo Distilling Company Location & Contact

This distillery is located in Buffalo, NY, at 860 Seneca St. If you want to inquire about tours or events, contact them at (716) 254-3610 or Info@bflodistilling.com.

More Spirits Crafted in the Finger Lakes Region of Western New York

There are lots of distilleries located in the Finger Lakes region; so many that it will be tough to choose which ones to hit when you’re in the area! We highly recommend visiting the distilleries that have your favorite types of spirits. There are also a few more mentions that are listed on FingerLakes.com:

• Knapp Winery
• Swedish Hill Winery
• Rock Stream Vineyards
• Six Mile Creek Vineyards
• Beak and Skiff Apple Farm 

Another notable (and very interesting) distillery in this region is Mushroom Spirits Distillery. They craft spirits infused with mushrooms! They’re open Friday-Wednesday, 11AM-4PM.

Krooked Tusker is also located in the southern bit of the Finger Lakes region, making it another honorable mention. They’ve also gotten medals during the FLIWSC. Check them out here.

And, there are new distilleries popping up all the time! This is certainly not an exhaustive list!

Annual Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition

Every year, there’s a competition held in the Finger Lakes region: the Annual Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition. Many spirits on this list have won in different categories over the years. Keep your eyes out for each year’s winners so you know which spirits to try from this region! Barrelhouse 6 Distillery, Antler Run Distilling, LLC, and Finger Lakes Distilling all have spirits on the 2023 list of winners!

Looking for More Things to Do in the Finger Lakes Region?

There are so many things to do in the Finger Lakes region! Check out all of your options at FingerLakes.com, the area’s local guide to all of your options for outdoor and indoor activities!

Finger Lakes Activities: Things to Do on Your Trip to New York’s Finger Lakes

Find More Amazing US Distilleries at Distillery Nearby

Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg of distilleries in the United States. The US has a vibrant, exciting craft distilling scene that’s only a plane ride or road trip away from you. Traveling in the US? Check out Distillery Nearby’s directory for that state to find local watering holes and craft distilleries near your hotel!

See More New York Distilleries →

Browse Distilleries By State →