[FIPS WAS THERE...] Grand Opening of Van Brunt Stillhouse Tasting Room

It wasn’t that long ago that Gowanus was just a Superfund speed-bump that stood between the good people of the Slope and the delectable goodies drew us all to Red Hook.  But then the improbable happened.  From the shores of the eerie canal sprung a long and formidable line of businesses that made the 10 minute drive to Red Hook feel like the Great Schlep.  The draw of the incomparable ribs at Hometown trumped by the easy stroll to the decidedly “meh” Dinosaur BBQ.  The caravan of cars trekking to Fairway stopped short by the green grocer’s holy grail at Whole Foods.  What was once a weekly visit to Hipsterville East became a distant memory.

But we’ve discovered a new reason to get our Uber on and roll over to Red Hook again. Van Brunt Stillhouse unveiled its new tasting room, giving locavore tipplers a bright new view into this quiet, cozy, made-in-New York distillery. Visitors to this cozy corner can take in the local spirit and the view of Bay and Otsego.  Or look inward, where 1000-lb. bags of New York State-grown grains make the short journey to a small army of oak barrels where they are transformed into Van Brunt’s own take on whiskey, rum, grappa and a little white lightning.

 Former Daily Show video editor Daric Schlesselman, a home-brewing enthusiast traded his buckets of suds for a quaint copper still from Portugal, and began honing a new craft. Last night we were treated to Van Brunt’s lineup of whiskeys – their own take on a four-grain American, a Scotch-y malt, a wheated bourbon and delicately-spiced rye. 

Solely out of a sense of dedication to our readers (and not social alcoholism, I swear), we endeavored – and succeeded – to knock them all back.  Neat.  On-the-rocks (actually, glorious, large ice squares).  And the best damn Old Fashioned we’ve had in a while. These fab four whiskeys are bright and clean compared to their at-times cloyingly sweet or mouth-full-of-earth-y cousins. 

So start stomping some old grounds and wend your way past the BQE over to Van Brunt and pay a visit to Daric and his wife Sarah, and see if you can get Paty to give up the secret to those great Old Fashioneds. While you’re at it, start petitioning the governor to loosen up a little so she can mix one for you.

Van Brunt Stillhouse

6 Bay Street

Tours available Saturday and Sunday 1PM - 5PM