Founder, Anthony Gruppuso, was not just a man who loved spirits. He was a man who read every book written on the subject, special ordered bottles from overseas, mastered the art of cocktail making, and aged his own negronis. He was a man who wanted to make spirits. From grain to glass with the highest quality ingredients, he wanted to crank up the still and create his own fire water, Mother Genever, eau-de-vie, kill-me-quick.
The journey from dream to still was long and difficult, but we kept marching forward, barreled through obstacles, and made it to where we are today. We are a team of dreamers – people who want the most from life, who are constantly striving to better themselves and the world around them. We want to share our passion and spread our mantra. We are not promoting being better through spirits, rather promoting being better through community events, being kind to your neighbors, sharing a drink with a new friend, following your dreams, and building a world full of love. The vibe of our tasting room, combined with our events and community outreach will help us become an epicenter of love and change, the effects rippling out through the community, the country, and the world.
Craft distilling in the US is where craft brewing was 20 years ago. Americans, most of them young adults, have found a fascination with the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into craft spirits and cocktails. There are many reasons for this newfound interest – the science behind distilling, local pride, small business support, the Instagram-ability of colorful or flaming cocktails, the search for something unique in a world of sameness, the high-class feel of cocktail culture. We are on the brink of a major change in drinking culture. Interest in craft spirits, and thus craft cocktails, is high in the five boroughs, where there are multiple successful craft distilleries. This interest is moving out to Long Island, and especially in up-and-coming, young areas such as Patchogue Village.
Craft distilling is in its infancy on Long Island and we are at the forefront of the trend, becoming Long Island’s first urban craft distillery. Situated in a constantly developing town, on the way to the Hamptons and Fire Island, we are at an ideal location to drive tourism to Patchogue Village and the island as a whole. The experience of the distillery establishes us as not just a bar or local hangout spot, but as a destination for craft spirits and education that people will travel to from far and wide.