While Kentucky and Tennessee are widely considered the premier homes of American whiskey, New York whiskey carries its own kind of clout and it’s definitely worth celebrating.
This Saturday, Oct. 24, a New York State Whiskey Celebration is at the tasting room at Sagaponack Farm Distillery, featuring premium, artisanal liquor from East Northport-based Twisted Cow Distillery. The afternoon will consist of sampling cocktails made from both Twisted Cow as well as Sagaponack’s own homemade whiskey, as well as beers from Sag Harbor’s Kidd Squid Brewing Co. and barbecue bites from Townline BBQ.
Founded in 2022 by former Wall Street CPA John Pawluck, Twisted Cow sources its organic heirloom grains and corn for its spirits from sixth-generation Foster Farm, the same family who owns Sagaponack Farm Distillery. The Fosters, specifically siblings Marilee and Dean along with distiller Matt Beamer, formed Sagaponack Farm Distillery back in 2012. About 99.9 percent of their materials have come straight from the Foster Farm, initially crafting and releasing their first bourbon back in 2023, the first estate-grown bourbon whiskey made on Long Island.
“Twisted Cow hand curates grains and corn from the 6th generation Foster Farm in Sagaponack, where the crops are of the highest quality, and bursting with unique, natural flavor,” according to the East Northport distillery’s website. “Harder to grow, lower in yield, the soil, the salt, the water, the air offer a superior environment, resulting in extraordinary grain that carries into extraordinary spirits.”
Presently, Twisted Cow holds a trio of whiskeys, including Blue Hopi Bourbon, Hickory King Bourbon and a commemorative America 250 anniversary bourbon.
While Twisted Cow and Sagaponack Distillery share a direct supply chain, the distilling process utilized by the two greatly differ. Twisted Cow uses modern iStill technology — Dutch manufactured, highly efficient, automated distilling and fermentation equipment — employing on-the-grain distillation, which results in high-proof, non traditional mash bills. Sagaponack Distillery, on the other hand, uses traditional Arnold Holstein copper pot stills, which results in a more classic mouthfeel and terroir-driven regional graini character.
All this, and more, will be discussed and discovered on Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. Barbecue bites from Townline will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. with live music from Chris Kline from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Sagaponack Farm Distillery is located at 369 Sagg Road in Sagaponack.
