Jason Barrett, founder/head distiller at Black Button Distilling in Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y., has purchased 19 acres in Bristol, N.Y., to start Black Button Farm & Forestry. He plans to plant four acres of juniper this spring, and to harvest and replant white oak for aging Black Button’s bourbon & whiskey. He also wants to raise honey for his beverages. He uses about 100 pounds of honey a year.
“We think that by having honey made from local plants, we would get a unique taste to our honey and have to do a little less filtering,” Barrett said.
“White oak in New York grows slower, is denser and has more tannins and that means more flavor,” Barrett said, “but it takes longer to be released into the alcohol. Like our other products, this will be New York-grown bourbon in New York-grown barrels.”