Producer Masterclass Series: Behind the Barrel – A Blind Whiskey Tasting with Finger Lakes Distilling’s Brian McKenzie

The Producer Masterclass Series Continues We’re pulling back the curtain. New York Kitchen is thrilled to launch an exclusive new chapter in beverage education: the Producer Masterclass Series, bringing the brilliant minds behind your favorite bottles out of the cellar, out of the vineyard, and into the spotlight. These are the people who rarely leave their craft long enough to talk about it. Knowledgeable, passionate, and typically impossible to access…until now. Behind the Barrel – A Blind Whiskey Tasting with Finger Lakes Distilling’s Brian McKenzie You know the whiskey aisle. Rows of bottles, half of them claiming to be “small batch,” all of them daring you to have an opinion. Here’s your chance to actually earn one. Join Brian McKenzie, owner and founder of Finger Lakes Distilling, for an insider’s look at how whiskey actually gets made, from grain to barrel to the glass in your hand. Brian’s been doing this since before “craft distillery” was a category, and he’s here to walk you through the real history and production methods behind the spirit, no jargon, no pretense. Then things get fun: a blind tasting of 4 whiskeys, no labels, no hints, just your palate against the lineup. The group votes on a favorite, and here’s the twist: that winning whiskey gets bottled up just for this class. A few weeks later, you’ll come back to New York Kitchen to pick up your own 375ml bottle of the whiskey you chose, with the option to buy more if it becomes your new favorite. What you’ll get: A presentation on whiskey history and production, straight from a working distiller A blind tasting of 4-5 whiskeys A vote -your palate helps pick the winner! A 375ml bottle of the winning whiskey, bottled for this class and available for pickup when it’s been bottled The option to purchase more of your new favorite! You’ll leave knowing more about how whiskey is actually made than most pe