Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Second Act Spirits
Short overview of the distillery
Second Act Spirits is located in the historic Amsterdam Clocktower and operates as a New York farm distillery with a clear grain-to-glass approach. The distillery prioritizes New York-grown ingredients — from barley in the Finger Lakes to corn in Mohawk Valley — and combines local raw-material production with an active tasting room, cocktail program, and monthly events, making the site a gathering place for spirits enthusiasts in the state.
History
Second Act Spirits presents itself as a modern farm distillery based in the Amsterdam Clocktower with an explicit ambition to bridge farming and distillation. Local press from 2025 describes a husband-and-wife initiative that has contributed to local revitalization. In 2026, the distillery's barrel-proof edition of Clocktower Bourbon gained attention and was described as bottled at over 116 proof and mentioned in connection with a Gold Medal in the trade press. Since then, Second Act has positioned itself as a place where New York's corn mosaic is transformed into spirits and public experiences in the Clocktower building.
Raw Materials and Production
At the core of production is a grain-to-glass philosophy: raw materials traced to New York’s fields, and the collaboration between distiller and farmer highlighted as central. The text mentions barley from the Finger Lakes and corn from the Mohawk Valley as concrete examples of origin. The company marks a move away from neutral, mass-produced sourcing in favor of authenticity and transparency. Many technical details such as fermentation time, distillation equipment, and production volumes are not specified in the material, while the tasting room design is actively used for product development and audience engagement.
Maturation and barrel types
The material primarily documents that the company releases barrel-proof bottles, including a Clocktower edition bottled at over 116 proof. There are no publicly disclosed details about specific barrel types, previous contents, or precise aging periods.
Whisky
The whiskey section is centered around the Clocktower name with a standard Clocktower Bourbon and a highlighted Clocktower Barrel Proof edition. In addition to bourbon, gin and vodka are mentioned as part of the company’s product spectrum. The range appears small-scale and tied to their grain-to-glass identity rather than a large commercial whiskey lineup.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clocktower Bourbon | Bourbon | The Clocktower series is the distillery's bourbon expression and builds on Second Act's grain-to-glass principles with New York-grown grains. | Current; Core range |
| Clocktower Barrel Proof Bourbon | Bourbon | An undiluted, barrel-proof edition from the Clocktower series, described as bottled at over 116 proof and highlighted in the trade press. | Limited |
General flavor profile
Visit the distillery
Visitors are welcome in the distillery's tasting room in the Amsterdam Clocktower, where cocktails based on the house spirit are served. The site hosts monthly Scandal and Spirits events, has an active cocktail program, and offers parking at the building. The opening hours vary through the week and are listed on the website; hours may change.
The stated opening hours are Monday: Closed; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 4 pm – 8 pm; Friday: 4 am – 8 pm; Saturday: 2 pm – 8 pm; Sunday: 12 pm – 6 pm. (Hours are subject to change.)
Philosophy and Craft
Second Act rests on an explicit grain-to-glass mindset with a focus on direct relationships between the distiller and the farmer. The company highlights transparency in raw material origin, support for local farmers, and a conscious choice to avoid neutral, mass-produced sourcing to promote local economic circulation.
Prizes and recognitions
- Gold Medal (2026, Gold Medal, Clocktower Barrel Proof Bourbon)