Ellicottville Distillery
Short Overview of the Distillery
Ellicottville Distillery is located in the rolling hills near Ellicottville, New York, and is run by owner and head distiller Bryan Scharf. The site produces small-batch handcrafted spirits and liqueurs made from local ingredients, and combines bottle sales with an active onsite tasting room and regular events on the distillery grounds.
Ingredients and Production
Production centers on local ingredients: grain from the distillery’s farm, cider/apples, local honey, and maple syrup are used as starting points for different bottles. Techniques vary by product: vodkas are distilled on a 14-column still and carbon-filtered, gins are distilled multiple times (listed as four times), and American whiskey is produced by double pot distillation of locally grown grain. Production takes place in small batches; the gin botanicals vary from batch to batch (up to about 100 bottles), and several bourbon releases are issued as single-barrel bottlings. The combination of column- and pot-still methods and local sourcing shapes the distillery’s craft signature.
Aging and Cask Types
American Whiskey is aged two years in used bourbon barrels made of American oak. Several bourbon releases are marketed as single barrels, and American oak is generally used for aging the aged whiskies. Thus there is a direct link between the type of cask (used bourbon barrels) and the distillate’s presentation as American whiskey and bourbon.
Whiskeys
The range spans from fruit-based and sweet bottles to aged whiskeys: Maple Bourbon Créme (18% ABV, 750 ml), Honey Spirit (40% ABV, 750 ml), Appleshine (25% ABV, 750 ml), Blueberry Vodka (35% ABV, 750 ml), a cider-based Vodka (40% ABV), Gin (45% ABV), American Whiskey (40% ABV, aged 2 years), Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey (44% ABV, single barrel). The products are sold in the distillery’s tasting room and through a wide range of local retailers.
| Whisky | Type / serie | Alkohol | Alder | Fad og stil | Smagsprofil | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Bourbon Créme | Liqueur (Bourbon & Maple) | 18 % | Liqueur based on bourbon and sweetened with maple syrup locally harvested in Western New York; contains natural flavors and caramel color. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Honey Spirit | Spirit (honey distillate) | 40 % | Spirit distilled from 100% local honey, developed in collaboration with local beekeepers. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Appleshine | Flavoured spirit / Moonshine (apple/cider-based) | 25 % | Spirits distilled from corn with added natural flavorings; cider-based (Mayer Bros. or seasonal Pumpkinville) with a caramel- and cinnamon-like finish. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Blueberry Vodka | Vodka (fruit-based) | 35 % | Cider-based vodka distilled from apples with blueberry flavor; notes 14-column distillation and carbon filtration. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| American Whiskey | American Whiskey | 40 % | 2 years | Used bourbon barrels | Twice pot distilled whiskey produced from grain from the distillery’s farm; aged two years in used bourbon barrels of American oak. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers |
| Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 44 % | Single barrel bourbon, distilled from grain. Alcohol strength listed as 44% ABV. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon (wheated) | 44 % | Wheated straight bourbon in single barrel edition; alcohol strength listed as 44% ABV. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Gin | Gin | 45 % | Cider-based gin distilled four times. Botanicals change between small batches of 100 bottles or fewer. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers | ||
| Vodka | Vodka | 40 % | Cider-based vodka distilled from apples; 14-column distillation and carbon filtration noted. | Active; Core range; Available in distillery tasting room and listed retailers |
Whiskeys’ Style and Flavor Profile
The bottles bear clear local flavor signatures: apple/cider and blueberry fruitiness in cider-based vodkas and fruit spirits, sweetness from honey and maple in Honey Spirit and Maple Bourbon Créme, and caramel- and cinnamon-like nuances in Appleshine. The aged whiskies use American oak, which introduces wood and spice components in the aging expressions. These flavor directions recur across multiple products in the portfolio.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery has set hours: Thursday 4–7 PM, Friday 1–7 PM, Saturday 12–7 PM, and Sunday 12–6 PM. There is an onsite tasting room with handcrafted cocktails and bottle sales. Distillery tours are offered as a package with a tour, tasting, and cocktail, lasting about 20–30 minutes and priced at $30 per person; bookings are made via email or telephone. The grounds are also used for live music, car and motorcycle events, and Bigfoot Park Golf is open on weekends and by arrangement on weekdays, and the park is open every day after Memorial Day Weekend.
The listed hours are Thursday 4:00–7:00 PM, Friday 1:00–7:00 PM, Saturday 12:00–7:00 PM, Sunday 12:00–6:00 PM. Bigfoot Park Golf is open on weekends and by arrangement on weekdays; the park is open every day after Memorial Day Weekend.
Philosophy and Craft
Ellicottville Distillery works with local ingredients and small-batch production under the leadership of the owner and head distiller. The combination of local ingredients, rotating small batches, single-barrel releases, and an active onsite tasting and events program illustrate an approach that prioritizes local rootedness, craftsmanship, and direct contact between producer and audience.
Latest News
Sunday Series: Live Music with the Chillbillys – 2026-08-23
Live music with The Chillbillys on Ellicottville Distillery’s Sunday Series on August 23 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the distillery grounds, 5462 Robbins Rd, Ellicottville, NY.