Hi, I’m Brooklyn, and I’m a Locaholic
by Cielo LutinoPage 4 of 6
Offering perhaps the widest range of spirits from Brooklyn’s growing microdistillery scene, Van Brunt Stillhouse will debut its amber rum at its official opening in Red Hook on April 28, as well as grappa and—eventually—whiskey and moonshine. (Beware the competition, Kings County!) Operator Daric Schlesselman was distilling a Scotch-style malt whiskey as we went to press, but because of the aging process, which can last a year or more, the batch won’t be available until 2013. No matter—his rum is ready now due to the shorter aging period (about three months), as is his grappa, which he developed from Red Hook Winery’s pomace, the grape skin and seed left over from the winemaking process. Today’s grappa is from a pinot noir grape, and we can attest to its smooth deliciousness. Adventurous locaholics who want to give Van Brunt’s wares a go will have to travel to Red Hook distribution spots like Dry Dock and Good Fork to find the elixirs until Schlesselman branches out to other locations.
