First licensed distillery opens in City of Albany since prohibition

Posted at: 10/05/2012 3:05 PM | Updated at: 10/05/2012 5:51 PM
By: Bill Lambdin

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ALBANY - The gleaming copper clad distilling equipment ordered from across the Atlantic doesn't come cheap.

"The equipment alone costs about 150-thousand dollars," said Albany Distilling Company partner Matthew Jager.

Then there's all the other stuff in an old storehouse in Albany's Quackenbush Square. Property, bottles, labels, extensive remodeling.

All told an investment of about 300-thousand dollars to get to the grand opening where Coal Yard Distillers' New Make Whiskey could start being poured and mixed.

"It turns out it's very difficult to get a bar or restaurant financed these days," Jager said. "When we pulled that part out of our business plan, It was a little bit easier to get meetings and eventually to raise the financing for the distillery."

The plan is to place the Coal Yard Whiskey at area restaurants and liquor stores. They also will be selling at the distillery. 31 bucks for a 750 milliliter bottle, with commemorative glass included.