Cortland Beer Company and Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Cortland Beer Company and Distillery is located in Historic Downtown Cortland and is both a brewery and a distillery. The place combines production of beer, cider, seltzers and spirits with an active taproom and live music, and is known for being a community hub with indoor and outdoor stages, a courtyard, and a lively events program.
History
The company started as a small brewery selling beer directly from the brewery door. Over more than a decade it has grown substantially: the ownership group added a Farm Distillery and Cidery license, expanded the range to include seltzers and spirits, and moved from strictly take-out sales to running a taproom and a music venue. Today the site functions both as a producer and as a venue for live music, trivia and regular weekly events, and serves visitors from Central and Southern New York.
Raw Materials and Production
The facility combines brewing and distilling operations at the same address, producing beer, cider, seltzers and a range of spirits. In addition to ordinary beers and ciders they produce moonshine in several flavors and a whiskey-focused version called Two-Step Whiskey, which is built on the house whiskey and infused with molasses as well as capsaicin pepper. The products are sold both as pours in the taproom and as bottles to take home.
Maturation and Barrel Types
There are no details available about specific barrel types or aging periods for the whiskies in the available material. Two-Step Whiskey is described primarily based on its layered flavor profile (molasses and capsaicin) rather than barrel- or aging details.
Whiskeys
The range includes beers, seltzers, cider and spirits. On the beer side there are, among others, beers like Old Bastard Brown Ale and special editions such as Bourbon Barrel & Firehouse Pale Ale; on the spirits side vodka is sold (used for example in slushies and cocktails), moonshine in several flavors and Two-Step Whiskey. Many of the products are offered on tap in the taproom and as cans or bottles for sale.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Step Whiskey | Whiskey | Two-Step Whiskey is built on Cortland Distilling Company's whiskey, layered with molasses and finished with capsaicin pepper for heat. The product is offered both behind the bar and in bottle form. | Available behind the bar and bottled on site |
The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskeys
In the lineup, the threads run from sweeter, dessert-forward products to sharp heat and fresh fruit notes. Two-Step Whiskey is characterized by molasses sweetness and the heat of capsaicin pepper. At the same time, the drink range is marked by citrus and berry notes in vodka lemonades and slushies, as well as dessert and spice notes in products such as Apple Pie and Boozy Creamsicle.
Visit the Distillery
The taproom is open according to the week's official opening hours and serves as both a bar and a sales point for bottled goods. There are indoor and outdoor seating, a courtyard and stages for live performances, and the business regularly hosts events such as Moonshine Mondays, trivia, live music and themed evenings. Visitors can buy pours at the bar and bottles to take home during the store's opening hours.
The stated opening hours are Monday 14:00-17:00; Tuesday 14:00-22:00; Wednesday 14:00-18:30; Thursday 14:00-23:00; Friday 12:00-?; Saturday 12:00-?; Sunday 12:00-18:00.
Philosophy and Craft
Cortland Beer Company and Distillery combines local production with community and entertainment. The place highlights New York State products in its range and prioritizes being a gathering place for the local community through live music, events and an open taproom experience.