Black Button Distilling, Rochester, N.Y.,’s first farm distillery, launch of Black Button Farm & Forestry, on 19 acres on Route 32 in South Bristol, New York.
Black Button Farm & Forestry will grow juniper for gin, white oak to make barrels for distilling, fresh herbs and spices, and organic honey for cocktails. All plants and trees will come from Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care, a Rochester business that has long supported New York State agriculture.
“Whiskey making takes patience, years of training, hard work and a bit of luck,” said Jason Barrett, Black Button Distilling President and Head Distiller. “So does farming, and by growing our own ingredients we ensure a constant supply of the highest quality ingredients to make the finest spirits in Western New York. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than by connecting with the Finger Lakes – an area that has given me so much – and helping to cultivate a new agricultural tradition which will live on long after I am gone. As we grow this farm to its full potential, our spirits will become ever more engrained in the place where we make them. And that is the true definition of Black Button farm distilling,” he said.
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to help purchase the root stock, saplings, tools, and equipment needed to make Black Button Farm & Forestry flourish.