Matchbook Distilling Company: And Now for Something Somewhat Different

Posted by nofowineaux in Distillery and tagged with Bad Saint, Distilling, Double Dutch, Elsewhere Blood Orange, Flatlander Aleppo, gin, Land of Muses, Late Embers, Limited Edition, liqueur, Matchbook Distilling Company, mezcal, Moon Blight, nocino, North Fork, Ritual Sister, rye, Some Night in Autumn., Vermouth, vodka, whiskey November 14, 2023

November 11, 2023

A walk around Greenport is always interesting. We like to window shop, check out the new stores and art galleries (of which there are several), read the menus in restaurant windows, watch the ferry come in, and check out who else is wandering around. This time, we just wanted to have a bit of a walk and enjoy a beautiful fall day (finally!) with our visitors from Connecticut, before taking them to Matchbook Distilling Company for a tour and tasting.

*The unassuming entrance is easy to miss.*

Although one could walk to 230 Corwin Street from the main part of town, we opted to drive and park in their parking lot. The GPS told us we had arrived at our destination before we came to the parking area, but fortunately we had been there once before and knew to continue a little further. Matchbook is located inside a former boat building facility, which is evident once you are on the tour by the high ceiling of the distilling area.

From the parking lot you walk into the tasting room, an airy space only open on Saturdays from 1-6, with a few small tables and comfy stools at the bar. The room is decorated with bottles and bottles of their products, plus blackboards listing cocktails. A panoramic display of their current offerings, by my count over thirty, is displayed on the bar. We were lucky enough to be greeted by Paul, one of the owners, who enthusiastically explained what they do and carefully curated our tastings based on what we told him of our likes and dislikes.

*Paul was an excellent guide to the varied products they make and how they make them.*

That was fortunate, because otherwise I don’t know how we would have chosen our three “Pick Your Sips” samples ($25). As it was, we ended up with nine different tastes, which we shared (our group included our designated driver, who sniffed but did not sip), some of which we liked very much, and others we were not so crazy about.

*Shoveling Jerusalem artichokes into a still.*

But before I get to the tasting, I should tell you about the tour, which took about fifteen minutes, and is free for the asking (I was told on the phone that I did not need a reservation.). Through a double door you walk into an airy, sparkling clean warehouse area, with pot stills of varying sizes and all sorts of equipment. A pair of workers were shoveling roasted Jerusalem artichokes into a still preparatory to making Late Embers, their mezcal-like liquor. (That combined with their Elsewhere Blood Orange liqueur would make quite a margarita.) You need to get someone with a better background in chemistry to explain it to you, but apparently Jerusalem artichokes and agave both produce inulin, which is what you need to make mezcal. However, unlike agave, Jerusalem artichokes (which are not at all like artichokes), grow profusely and can actually be invasive. Matchbook was in the midst of processing some 3,000 pounds they had gotten from an organic farm on the South Fork.

They also use organic grains for their whiskeys, and try to make use of various excess materials from the farms and vineyards of the North Fork. Paul commented that they were very fond of being on the North Fork, both for its rural peace and the availability of produce. One example he gave was how a winery may have an off year, and end up with a wine they do not care to bottle under their own label. However, through the magic of distilling and other processes, that so-so wine can be transformed into a lovely amaro or vermouth.

My favorite part of the tour was a glimpse into the lab, where the mad scientists of Matchbook come up with their ideas. A board thick with post-its was testament to their creativity. As I describe each of the liquors we tasted you will see what I mean, as they are made from everything from pineapple to black walnuts. On the tour, we got to smell a huge vat of guava.

After the tour and tasting, we bought several bottles to take home. I will note that their goods are not inexpensive, but they are unique. They also may be sold out. I asked at my local liquor store why they don’t carry more Matchbook products, or carry them more regularly, since the store has an excellent array of local wines, and they said they just can’t rely on always getting what they want, since Matchbook is always trying new things.

Land of Muses $42

My husband likes gins, so we started with their botanical gin. The aroma is herbal and floral, but we found the taste a bit harsh, with some bitterness. By the way, you can schedule an interesting experience at Matchbook, the opportunity to blend your own gin from the vast array of additions they have.

Limited Edition Some Night in Autumn Rum about $40

Okay, this is strange, but Paul told us this rum is made by distilling a turkey! The result is a funky rum, with a sweet aroma and a bit of an umami taste. We can’t decide if we taste the meat or not, but we think it would mix well in a daquiri or with pineapple juice. Don’t buy this for a vegetarian!

Flatlander Aleppo $60

The Flatlanders are corn whiskies, and this one is made from 60% Dent corn, 18% Danko rye, and 13% malted barley, distilled “with East End Aleppo peppers” in a red wine cask. See what I meant by mad scientists? I liked it so much that I bought a bottle. The aroma is of peppers and spice, but the taste is not overly spicy, and it finished smooth. I look forward to making a cocktail with this, perhaps with some lime juice and agave syrup.

Double Dutch $95

I told Paul I like whiskies and ryes, so this is one he suggested. It is made with Danko rye and cherry eau-de-vie (and their website even lists the farms which grew their raw materials). I was concerned it would be too sweet, but it is well balanced, like an already-made old fashioned, and would be good on ice. All I need is a slice of orange and a bourbon-marinated cherry. Again, I like it so much that I buy a bottle.

Bad Saint $75

This is their single malt whiskey, but we do not care for it, finding it a bit harsh, with almost a plastic taste. Maybe they need to age it longer. I’ll stick to Laphroaig.

Late Embers $60

This is the mezcal-like liquor I mentioned before. You could fool me into thinking it came from Mexico! It is smoky and vegetal with a bit of a starchy taste.

Ritual Sister $70

They describe this as a “spirit distilled from pineapple,” and one step in the complicated process they detail on their web site involves roasting whole pineapples in a pit for days. Our friend has noted that she likes botanical tastes, so this was one recommended to her by Paul. We like this—whatever it is! It definitely tastes pineapple-y, but also smoky, and is light and pleasant.

Elsewhere Blood Orange $40

This is an after-dinner drink or a mixer for a margarita in place of Courvoisier. It smells a bit like orange candy, and is sweet, but not overly so

Moon Blight $40

Another liqueur, this is like a nocino, made from black walnuts and plum wine, plus some pinot noir. It smells delicious, with aromas of plums and clove. We all like the taste, as well, and detect a note of cardamom as well as plums, herbs, and spices. Again, you should read the description on their web site about how this came to be. I buy this too!

*We saw one couple at a table enjoying cocktails.*

Reasons to visit: you like cocktails as well as wine; you want to try something different; the tour of the facility is fascinating; you’d like to learn more about distilling; the chance to try liquors and liqueurs you won’t find anywhere else; I particularly liked the Flatlander Aleppo, the Double Dutch, and the Moon Blight, but it is worth having a conversation with your server about your likes and dislikes so they can customize a tasting for you.

Matchbook Distilling Company: And Now for Something Completely Different

Posted by nofowineaux in Uncategorized, Vodka and Whisky and tagged with Bold, Bright, Distillery, dunder, Flatlander Aleppo Pepper, gin, Greenport, Late Embers, ligueur, Lin House, liquor tasting, Mad King Hopped Apple Brandy, Matchbook Distilling Company, Metamodernity Bourbon, mezcal, North Fork, Punchy, Ritual Sister, vodka, Wall Flower, whiskey March 2, 2022

#matchbookdistilling

February 26, 2022

We had a plan. The young members of our group (see my blog about Jamesport Farm Brewery) would enjoy ice skating on the rink in Greenport, while three of the adults would make the short trek to Matchbook Distilling Company. The best laid plans…the rink was closed! But the blacksmith shop was open, plus hot chocolate at Aldo’s and several rounds on the carousel (where the youngest caught the brass ring for the first time), kept them occupied while, indeed, we three meandered through the back streets of a residential neighborhood until we came to an unassuming, low-slung warehouse building. Inside was a fascinating and unexpected scene, one to which we hope to return.

*This is the entrance, next to a small parking lot.*

Matchbook Distilling makes liquors and liqueurs—which is sort of like saying Disney makes rides. And what a ride we had! In the sleek tasting room, we sat in high chairs at a bar and perused the three tasting flights on offer. Categorized as Bright, Bold, and Punchy, each included tastes of three products. The Punchy was $20, and the Bold $25. Though the pour may seem small to those used to beer and wine flights, remember the higher alcohol content of these drinks. It was plenty, and even allowed the three of us to taste all six of the samples we got—plus a seventh in response to our enthusiasm.

My usual tasting buddy and I opted for the Bold flight—out of which I bought bottles of two of our sippers—and the third member of our crew got the Punchy one. He, by the way, had actually been to Matchbook before, when he participated in the Gin Experience, in which you get to create your own unique gin by combining the many ingredients on offer, an experience he thoroughly enjoyed. You have to make a reservation to do that, and, until recently, you also needed a reservation to do a tasting, which is partly why we hadn’t been there before. However, it seems that on a Saturday afternoon they will take walk-ins. I would call or email to check on that.

As we were finishing our tasting, we were invited to accompany a group setting out on a tour of the facilities, which they do at regular intervals on the weekend. The tour only takes about fifteen minutes, and is very impressive. Our guide led us through some doors at the far end of the tasting room, and we entered a cavernous warehouse facility, filled with gleaming machines, wooden barrels, and huge bags of grains and other ingredients. For example, we saw large vats filled with halved blood oranges, for their blood orange liqueur. They process 8,000 pounds of blood oranges to make 6,000 bottles, we were told.

*I like orange liqueurs, so this is on my list for next time.*

Back in the tasting room, we saw a list of snacks, though we didn’t need any, and also of cocktails on offer.

I learned all sorts of random bits of distilling lore, including that they use something called a dunder pit to make some of their rum, which is an open pit in the manner of Jamaican rum producers. Basically, it is analogous to the everlasting stocks some cooks will make, with some of a previous batch added to each next batch, leading to deep and complex flavors. Matchbook’s dunder pit is already three years old. They also make a point of using organic and local ingredients as much as possible.

Like Channing Daughters, my favorite winery for all its experimentation with new flavors and combinations, Matchbook calls themselves an R+D distillery, in that they are constantly trying new things. I guess I’ll have to go back.

In no particular order, these are the drinks we tried:

Flatlander Aleppo Pepper $63

Described on their website as “New York Corn Whiskey with Aleppo Peppers, aged in a Red Wine Cask,” this looks like any whiskey, but has a taste all its own. It smells of allspice and pepper and smoke, elements that are also in the taste. “It has a kick,” sagely observes my tasting buddy. I could see sipping this neat, or with just a drop or two of water.

Mad King Hopped Apple Brandy $53

I find the aroma of this somewhat medicinal, and the taste as well, but our friend likes it.

Wall Flower $35

This is a dunder rum, made partially with the product of the dunder pit. It has a lovely flowery aroma, and would be wonderful in a daquiri.

Ritual Sister $68

Have you ever had a liquor distilled from pineapple? No, neither had I. Our server described how, over at the Lin Beach House (where a group of the Matchbook people live) they made a fire in a pit and roasted pineapples for three days, partly as Covid lockdown distraction. The result in an almost too-easy-to-drink tipple, with smoky and fruity tastes.

Late Embers Sunchoke + Honey $60

I really like mezcal, so I was intrigued to try this version made with sunchokes. I’ve had sunchokes, a tuber with a crisp texture somewhat like a water chestnut. Well, apparently it has the same “chains of fructose molecules, called inulin” as agave, according to the Matchbook website, and has the advantage of growing like a weed in the Northeast. They use their firepit for this as well, and smoke and steam the sunchokes. It smells like a mezcal, and tastes like one, too. I buy a bottle. It is smoky and fruity and delicious, and that evening our friend combines it with reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, freshly squeezed lemon, lime, and orange juice, and a bit of agave syrup to make transcendental margaritas, which we have with seviche made with local bay scallops we pick up at Braun’s on our way home. (Then for dinner we have tuna steaks and Channing Daughters rosé, with Nofodoco doughnuts for dessert. Not too shabby.)

Metamodernity Bourbon $78

LIV makes a bourbon, but I like this one better. It’s made with corn, wheat, barley, and oats, and has some of the sweetness you expect in a bourbon, but also more flavor than most. It actually smells to me like a corn muffin! I buy a bottle of this, too, and find it makes a perfect night-cap, with just a touch of water and one ice cube.

Bling Nova Wheat Vodka $37

Because I got into a gin vs. vodka discussion with one of the people behind the bar, he suggests that I try their vodka, which he notes has more flavor than most. He’s right. It has a subtle taste of grains. If you’re looking to boycott Russian vodkas, you might try a bottle of this.

Reasons to visit: you like hard liquor and are open to trying new versions of old favorites; they are like a bunch of brilliant mad scientists, trying all sorts of unusual ingredients and methods; you’d like a tour of a distillery; you want to try your hand at blending your own gin; you want to try something new, not a winery or brewery or cidery; you’re on vacation in Greenport and want to do a tasting in walking distance of downtown.

*Some of the options for flavoring your own gin.*

Long Island Spirits: Time to Warm Up January 8, 2017

Posted by nofowineaux in Vodka and Whisky and tagged with Bull Moose Three Barrel Rye Whisky, Deepwells Botanical Dry Gin, LIV Standard Edition Vodka, Long Island Spirits, North Fork, Pine Barrens Reserve Botanical Dry Gin, Pine Barrens Single Malt Whisky, Ristretto Espresso Vodka, Rough Rider The Big Stick, sorbetto, vodka, whiskey, whisky January 10, 2017

http://lispirits.com/

It takes more than a little snow to keep us from doing a tasting.

There’s something about a cold snowy day that gets me thinking about whiskey rather than wine—and certainly not beer. So we headed to Long Island Spirits—formerly known as Long Island Vodka, or LiV, but now much more than just vodka. We hadn’t been there for two years, and, though the tasting room is the same, the menu has certainly changed, with many more options. In addition to their classic vodka, they have a new vodka that is corn based and tastes very different. Then there are a couple of gins and several whiskeys. Plus their line of sorbettos—after- dinner drinks comparable to Limoncello—has greatly expanded. And we didn’t even begin to explore their menu of cocktails.

Lots of options!

Plus cocktails…

Since we had the tasting room to ourselves on this Sunday after a big snowstorm, we took our time and enjoyed chatting with the server, who had plenty to tell us about our choices. They have two basic menus, with the vodkas and sorbettos and a gin on one, with any three for $11, and the whiskeys and bourbons and a different gin on the other, with any three for $16. We decided to share one of each group of tastings, which meant we got to go home with two cute little glasses to add to our collection.

The glasses are free with your tasting.

LIV Standard Edition Vodka $32/1 liter

Served practically frozen straight from the freezer, this is a good vodka for someone who finds most vodka rather tasteless. It has an intriguing smoky flavor and a smooth—almost too smooth—finish. I think it would add an interesting depth to cocktails such as a Bloody Mary, and you could also sip it straight or on the rocks. Our server informed us that it is made from corn, unlike their classic vodka, which uses Long Island potatoes, and is a new product. Good addition to their line-up, we think.

You can see they have quite an array of products.

LIV Ristretto Espresso Vodka $35/750 ml

They make this with actual brewed coffee and sugar, plus vodka. If you like Starbucks espresso, you’ll like this drink. Our server says she likes it mixed with chocolate syrup and cream for an after dinner drink. Yum.

Deepwells Botanical Dry Gin $35/750 ml

Our glass got a quick rinse after the espresso so that we could really taste and appreciate the varied flavors of this gin. Thoughtfully, our server also gave us some water so we could rinse out our palates. According to the label, it is made from 28 “local and exotic botanicals,” amongst which we were not surprised to find anise and orris root, since we detect a strong note of licorice. It smells like cloves and other spices and has a complex flavor. My husband, a devotee of martinis and Gibsons, likes the taste, but would not want it in a martini. Our server suggests it would be good in a Tom Collins, and I could see it going very well in a gin and tonic—or again, just on the rocks.

We had the room to ourselves.

Pine Barrens Reserve Botanical Dry Gin $45/750 ml

For the switch to the other menu, we get a different glass, with a little etching of pine cones on it. Our server suggests we start with this, so we can do a gin to gin comparison. It is quite different. This is a gin that is aged in whiskey barrels, which, we decide, makes it a good gin for someone who likes whiskey. It smells somewhat piney, and tastes like a cross between gin and whiskey. It also uses 28 botanicals. I have to say, it goes down very easy. My husband again says he wouldn’t want it in a martini, but I think it would be perfectly fine straight.

Pine Barrens Single Malt Whisky $80/750 ml

I like single malt scotch, so I was interested to see what this was like. The aroma is sweet and again a bit piney. It’s my favorite of the day. The LIV web site has an interesting description of how they make this: “Pine Barrens is the first American Single Malt Whisky to be distilled on Long Island. Instead of creating whisky from a regular mash, Pine Barrens uses an actual finished 10%ABV barley wine English styled Ale Beer that has a high hop count of 70 IBU’s.” As they say, it is incredibly smooth, with some tastes of spices such as nutmeg.

Rough Rider “The Big Stick” $60/750 ml

You may not know this, but Theodore Roosevelt took his Rough Riders out to Montauk for training before they rode up San Juan Hill. In any event, this rye whisky is made from winter rye, a cover crop that is used to enrich the soil after potatoes are harvested. The name may be a reference to the fact that it is 121 proof, in addition to Roosevelt’s famous quote! Though it is not as smooth as the Single Malt, it is still a good drink, with some nice spice tastes, though a bit sweet for me.

Bull Moose Three Barrel Rye Whisky $45/750 ml

Just for comparison sake, and because we have been having such interesting conversations about the drinks, as well as about various other North Fork venues, we are given a little sample of this other rye whisky. I find it less interesting than the Rough Rider, though I think it would make a superlative hot toddy. It is called “three barrel” because it is actually aged in three different kinds of barrels: new American oak, bourbon casks, and Pine Barren casks.

We get a small bottle of the Pine Barrens Single Malt to take home.

They have a small selection of gift items.

Reasons to visit: it’s winter and you need something to warm your innards; you’d like to try locally made, small batch, and really good spirits; you like vodka; you like gin; you like whisky.

Twin Stills Moonshine: All in the Family May 7, 2016

Posted by nofowineaux in Uncategorized, Vodka and Whisky and tagged with Apple Pie, cocktails, Coffee, Frikken Likken Good Tea, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, honey, LiV vodka, Mattituck Strawberry Festival, Moonshine, North Fork, o'Old School Lemonade, Portugal, Riverhead Cider House, Shine, Southern Sunrise, Strawberry, tastings, The Red Neck, Twin Stills Moonshine, whiskey May 9, 2016

http://www.twinstillsmoonshinedistillery.com/

We asked our server about the honey used in the delicious honey-flavored whiskey, and he turned to a woman next to him and asked, “Ma, where do we get our honey?” After proudly telling us about their local sources, including their own beehives which they just started, she added, “My husband is from Portugal. That’s a drawing of his grandfather on the label. ” This tiny distillery is the definition of a mom and pop store, with the stills in a back room of what used to be a little deli on Sound Avenue.

The honey flavor

We had been eagerly awaiting its opening, intrigued by the idea of moonshine and rumrunners, given Long Island’s interesting history with both during Prohibition, and this chilly rainy May day seemed like the perfect opportunity to sample some warming whiskey. It took them a while to open due to delays in getting their license.

A view along the bar. That’s “mom” in the background.

The tasting room is small, with a bar along most of its length plus an alcove, but in the warm weather they plan to also use the porch and a patio area along one side of the building. If you want snacks with your drinks, you’ll need to sit outside. And you may want those drinks. The moonshine whiskey—also referred to as “shine”—is made from locally sourced corn and barley, plus other ingredients which are, to the greatest extent possible, also local. In the future they’d love to add a Portuguese-style grappa to their menu, which is what the owner’s grandfather made back in the original “twin stills” back in Portugal. The drinks go down quite smoothly, despite the high proof, and some seem like guaranteed crowd pleasers.

The alcove off to one side of the tasting room.

The menu offers three tastes for $9 from their menu of five choices, plus beers from Greenport Harbor Brewery and ciders from the soon-to-open Riverhead Cider House on tap. They also offer shots and cocktails, with a menu of interesting combinations, for $7-$9. A 375ml bottle of flavored shine is $20, and a bottle of the 100 proof original is $25. We decided to each get a flight, so we could sample all the flavors.

Honey 80 proof

When I have a bad cold, I like to make myself a hot toddy, a mixture of whiskey, honey, and hot water or tea. Lemon optional. It may not cure anything, but it does make you feel better! The honey shine reminded me of a hot toddy—just add hot water. You can really taste honey, and it has an unctuous mouth feel that is quite pleasant. I could see sipping this by the fire after dinner on a cold winter night. Their cocktail idea is to add it to iced tea with a twist of lemon, which they call “Fricken Likken Good Tea.”

Apple Pie 50 proof

This is a good choice if you don’t actually like whiskey at all. It tastes of apples and cinnamon and is too sweet for us. It might be good in a mixed drink if you balanced the sweetness with something tart. One mixed drink they make is called “The Red Neck,” and includes the apple pie flavor plus cranberry juice and a twist of lemon.

Coffee 80 proof

I used to drink Black Russians as my preferred after dinner drink, and this reminds me of that. It is our favorite flavor, and we buy a bottle to take home. We are told that it is made with “real coffee beans,” but any further details are secret. At any rate, it tastes like good coffee mixed with whiskey, with some sweetness.

The strawberry is a pretty color.

Strawberry 60 proof

We were afraid this would be cloyingly sweet, but the intensity of the strawberry flavor means it is not. It reminds me a bit of LiV vodka’s strawberry after dinner drink, though again the mouth feel is different. They recommend mixing it with lemonade and garnishing it with a strawberry, a drink they call “Southern Sunshine.” They plan to use local strawberries when they are in season, which, despite the cold wet weather, should be soon. After all, mid-June is when the Mattituck Strawberry Festival takes place.

Tiny but pretty cups

Moonshine Whiskey 100 proof

At this point, I think I should point out that the tastes are served in adorable but tiny pottery cups, “hand made in Portugal,” we are told, so though the alcohol level is high you will not be. We are both single malt scotch drinkers, but this is a very different tipple. You don’t get any of the peaty or smoky notes of a scotch, as this is a simpler drink. It’s fine well-iced, which is how they serve it. The cocktail menu suggests mixing it with lemonade and pineapple juice, garnished with a chunk of pineapple, for an “o’Old School Lemonade.”

The menu is on the obligatory blackboard, and you can also see the cider taps. Note the saying.

Reasons to visit: you want to try something new; you like whiskey; you want a cocktail; the coffee and honey flavors; you want to buy various flavors to make cocktails at home; the cozy tasting room and the chance to chat about the making of whiskey (though they are somewhat sparing on the details).

The “old tymer” on the label is grandpa, the inspiration for the twin stills.

Cute little building

Long Island Spirits February 17, 2013

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Liv, Pine Barrens American, Rough Rider Bourbon, vodka, whiskey February 22, 2013

http://www.lispirits.com/home.html

Although in general we only visit one tasting room per excursion, we made an exception this time so we could try some local bourbon. We have been to the Long Island Spirits tasting room before, but only to taste the vodkas. Our freezer now contains their entire line of vodka and flavored vodkas, but that’s another story. The tasting room is up some shiny wood stairs, which, our son-in-law notes, could be a bit of a hazard after a tasting, into a large barn-like room with views over the fields.

Today we want to try the “brown” spirits. For $13 you can try any two of the three on offer, and you get to keep the glass, plus they give you a little bag of crackers to clear your palate and a small bottle of water. A tasting of three vodkas is $9. The distillery also has a nice collection of t-shirts and gift baskets for sale. Since we’ve just come from Comtesse Thérèse, we all share one tasting!

Pine Barrens American $45

This is a single malt whiskey (not Scotch), with some sweetness and aromas of grain and warm spices. They make it from a barley-wine-style ale, we are told.

Rough Rider Bourbon $40

I’m not sure, but I wonder whether the name commemorates Teddy Roosevelt’s use of the Montauk dunes to train his Rough Riders before they headed to Cuba. In any event, this bourbon is actually mostly crafted in the Midwest, but then aged here in Long Island chardonnay casks. The aroma is of caramel, and while it is okay, it is “not fascinating,” says the son-in-law, an excellent creator of cocktails, and we agree. It would make a good Old Fashioned or Manhattan, which indeed proves true that evening during our home cocktail hour.

Reasons to visit: you’re tired of wine (just kidding); you want to try spirits made locally; you want to buy some vodka or whiskey for cocktail time; interesting flavored vodkas; nice gift baskets.

NoFo Wineaux

Wine notes from Long Island's North Fork

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