Since 2007, Finger Lakes Distilling has been raising spirits at their flagship location in Burdett, perched above the pristine expanse of Seneca Lake. The distillery has been a beacon for tourists seeking a stronger alternative to the famously wine-driven businesses along the lake’s eastern rim. Customers can enjoy flights of spirits, cocktails, and even take a crack at making their own customized bottle of gin. The well-known line of McKenzie whiskey and gin—namesake of owner and president Brian McKenzie—features widely among the state’s restaurants, bars, and bottle shops. Additionally, the distillery provides bulk spirits to other wineries and cideries for custom projects such as port, sherry, and apple pommeau, serving to fortify relationships with area producers while contributing to the collective success of all. But now the distillery has expanded to 1143 Elmira Road (Route 13), Newfield, where a sister location is poised to serve a year-round hometown crowd.

The original idea behind the Newfield operation was barrel storage. “We were just filled to the gills with whiskey barrels and bottling supplies, so we considered building something here [in Burdett], but then the property became available in Newfield,” explains Brian. “It was intriguing because it had a pole barn that was exactly the same size as ours, and there was an old garage that looked like it had some potential. The building’s going to serve as a rickhouse [barrel site] and bottling area, but all the fermentations and distilling will still take place here at our original facility.”

The new venture will bring new customer opportunities while at the same time continuing to grow the brand.

“This expansion nearly doubles our operational footprint,” says Brian. “The Newfield spot will allow us to better serve both our existing customers and the many travelers along Route 13, providing a convenient and welcoming space to enjoy our spirits.”

The distillery plans to use its New York farm license to expand their product offerings to include local beer, cider, wine, and a limited selection of snacks. One of the major differences the brand is facing between the Burdett location and this one is location—it will now be positioned off of the tourist trail and firmly in local territory.

“Here on Seneca we have people from everywhere,” says Brian. “Everyone comes to us in their group. We’re used to it being way more tourist driven. For Newfield to be successful, we’ll have to draw locals and people from Ithaca. There’s plenty of liquor stores in Ithaca, but we’re kind of on the outskirts and I think we’ll be able to capitalize on that. There’s just so much traffic there. About four to five times what we have on Seneca.”

With nearby Cornell University and Ithaca College, the hope is to pull from the robust student population and their visiting families seeking fun local activities. Not only that, but just a three-minute drive down the road is Robert H. Treman State Park, a natural wonder bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to its trails, gorges, and myriad waterfalls. It’s only too logical that the Newfield branch of Finger Lakes Distilling will serve as a beacon for weary hikers looking to kick back and relax. This potentially enormous stream of business is bound to convert new visitors into dedicated fans of the distillery’s award-winning spirits.

Locals traveling to and from work will now have a great option for purchasing beverages to take home to the dinner table, or even pick up a cocktail to go. To have a grocery-like array of wines, beers, spirits, and ciders available is special for the area. And the cross-promotion it provides for other local businesses stays true to the Finger Lakes ethos of raising all ships. Flights and simple food options will be provided and customers can enjoy a number of different craft cocktails at the bar. An eye to creative mixology is definitely on the menu.

“It’s going to be more cocktail oriented,” Brian explains. “We want to elevate the cocktail scene with a really nice ice program [craft ice—clear, and the right size, shape, and content for the drink and the glass] in place. We’re still going to do our flights, but we’re also still trying to get a sense of what’s going to work.”

The advantage of a joint facility in a completely new area allows for evolution and the freedom to explore new ideas. Plans for the space include activities and educational events about spirits and distillation, guided barrel house tours, and space rentals for small, intimate events.

The true test will arrive as the region warms up, exams end, and the seasonal influx of visitors return. In the meantime, the fledgling location is now operational and currying favor with Newfield’s stalwart year-rounders. Customers can enjoy the tasting room and bar from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday. The limited seasonal hours are slated to expand with the advent of warmer weather. Find out more at fingerlakesdistillery.com or call the Burdett facility at (607) 546-5510.

As plans remain liquid, there’s a strong sense of adventure and progress about the adjacent operation. “We want to have experiences that are unique to the spot,” says Brian. “Maybe single barrel selections, where customers get to taste a few barrels, and we pull a bottle for them to order. But so far we’re off to a great start.” He laughs and adds, “Considering that we opened in the middle of the winter.”