From the Still to the Bottle: The White Lightning Revolution

      Like many bars, restaurants and imbibing businesses around Brooklyn, Heights Chateau has experienced a Moonshine Renaissance, if you will, going from zero to doubling our selection in un-aged spirits in 2010 and again in 2011. Is it the economy or the tremendous influence of New York's TUTHILLTOWN DISTILLERY that has created a clear spirits revolution during the last couple of years?

+/- From the Still to the Bottle: The White Lightning Revolution

      Colin and David of KINGS COUNTY DISTILLERY have done an amazing job to help change Brooklynites' perceptions of Moonshine, although people still come in and look at the bottles with a mixture of fear, respect and curiosity. I'm here to tell you that only a small amount of bravery is really necessary (I need more for my daily commute than trying any of the clear spirits we have). Although not overflowing with the caramel vanilla creaminess of an average aged bourbon, these spirits have their own charms; the flavors are pure and clean, as corn whiskeys are allowed by law to be bottled without aging in oak and the others (barley, rye, oat, et al) see very little aging. As is the case with wine, oak aged spirits can cover impurities or poor vintages, but due to the nature of Moonshine, you are allowed access to flavors that become the base of aged spirits.

      One of my favorite clear sprits in the store is RYE DOG from Cheryl Lins' Delaware Phoenix Distillery that truly challenges the misconception that clear sprits have uninteresting flavor profiles, as the first thing you'll notice about RYE DOG is the potently delicious smell of Rye literally jumping out of the glass. Smooth on the palate, even at 100 proof, this is a creamy and bright white dog! Cheryl also makes two small batch absinthes that are also on the cutting edge of what New York distilleries are putting out there.

     Due to the nature of moonshine, most of what is on the market today comes from smaller distilleries in interesting areas of the country, including New York, Utah and Wisconsin. We stock almost 10 American white spirits, all listed below, and I encourage you to use them as base in your next Whiskey Sour, Manhattan, spiked punch bowl or simply as a reliable spirit in your flask.


ENJOY!

KENTUCKY
Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1 | 125 Proof | 375 ml $15.99

NEW YORK
Delaware Phoenix Rye Dog | 100 Proof | 750 ml | $62.99

Finger Lakes Distillery's Glen Thunder | 90 Proof | TWO SIZES AVAILABLE: 750ML | $22.99 + 375ml | $12.99

Kings County Moonshine 80 Proof | TWO SIZES AVAILABLE: 375ML | $36.99 + 200ML | $19.99

Tuthilltown Hudson New York Corn Whiskey | 92 Proof | 375 ml | $30.99

NORTH CAROLINA
Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine | 80 Proof | 750 ml | $20.99

UTAH
High West Silver Oat Whiskey | 80 Proof | 750ml | $41.99

VIRGINIA
Belmont Virginia Lightning | 100 Proof | 750 ml | $36.99

WISCONSIN
Death's Door White Whiskey | 80 Proof | 750 ml | $35.99