State's newest distillery in Westchester County

PORT CHESTER, NY -- The craft distilling movement continues to grow in New York State. However, even though many of the fledgling distilleries are part of winery operations, the newest distillery is a standalone effort.

It's StillTheOne, located in this Westchester County town, which received its state license this month. It is the county's first legal distillery since Prohibition, and will make its official debut at a September 25 launch party at Caffee Regatta in Pelham although it already is appearing in some liquor stores.

Ed Tiedge, a former hedge fund portfolio manager, is the founder of StillThe One. The tale of how the business came about is that his wife, Donna, insisted he sell his Porsche to help fund the venture. The online buyer turned out to be the owner of a small winery and cognac distillery in France. He invited Tiedge to France to apprentice for a month and help with production.

The new distillery, located in a 2,000-square-foot former warehouse, is named StillTheOne in honor of the Tiedges' 26-year marriage.

Tiedge is distilling and bottling vodka and is starting to produce gin, as well as planning a brandy for fall. The vodka brand name is COMB because it is distilled from honey. The gin brand name is COMB 9 for the nine botanicals in the recipe, which includes the requisite juniper berries as well as rose petals, lavender, galangal, and orange peel.

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ON THE WEB
• NY craft distillers hitting high notes
• Dowd's Guides

'Beer•Bourbon•Scotch Invitational' in Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- The inaugural "Saratoga Beer•Bourbon•Scotch Invitational" is coming up fast.

The event, to be held at the Saratoga City Center and Saratoga Hilton, will take place Friday and Saturday, August 20-21. Adult beverages from around the world and food from a number of local restaurants will be featured.

There will be two sessions each day -- 12:30 to 4:30 and 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. VIP Pass holders will receive an additional 45 minutes at each session. Educational seminars will take place throughout each session. Pints for Prostates, a men's health charity founded by North Carolina drinks writer Rick Lyke, will be the featured charity. During the event a silent auction will take place at the Saratoga Hilton High Rocks Room. All bids for items on Friday will benefit Pints for Prostates.

Lyke, 49, a former resident of Clifton Park who was active in numerous community activities, had successful prostate cancer surgery in April 2008. "According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 218,000 new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, which is 25,000 more than the number of expected new cases of breast cancer," Lyke said. "Sadly, more than 32,000 American men will die from the disease this year."

Ticket prices start at $65 and are available online. The event is being sponsored by Alta Log Homes and Fauci & Kupferman Law.

A partial list of the beers that will be poured at the event are Innis & Gunn, Brooklyn, Ommegang, Arcadia, Fire Island, Spaten, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp, Geary’s, Keegan, Cooperstown, St. Peter’s, Butternuts, Sierra Nevada and Cave Mountain.

Whiskeys will include Bulleit, Tuthilltown, Woodford Reserve, Whistlepig, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Buffalo Trace, Mitcher’s, Berkshire Mountain, The Glenlivet, Laphroaig, Jefferson, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Glenmorangie and more. Other selected spirits, such as Gosling’s Rum and Pristine Vodka, also will be available.

The Saratoga Beer•Bourbon•Scotch Invitational will feature live music as well, with such acts as The Woodstock Blues Festival Road Show, Ernie Williams and Murali Coryell. Food will be served by The Olde Bryan Inn, Beverly’s, Spring Street Deli, D'Andrea's Rory Pizza, The Factory Eatery, The Parting Glass, Saratoga Hilton and Le Canard Enchaine. A pig roast and chicken barbecue, shrimp and clams by Mick’s Chix’s, Maine Black Bear Seafood also will be part of the festivities. An outdoor cigar area will be available.

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ON THE WEB
• Pints for Prostates home page
• Dowd's Guides

Delta re-inventing its LaGuardia dining

QUEENS, NY -- Delta Air Lines today announced a sweeping re-invention of customer dining options at its facilities at LaGuardia Airport with the introduction of 13 new food and beverage concepts this fall.

The changes were developed for Delta by OTG Management which will own and operate each of the new dining establishments. OTG assembled a group of prominent New York chefs, including Riad Nasr, Lee Hanson, Michael Lomonaco, Dominick DeMarco, Jamison Blankenship, Jim Lahey and Jason Denton, as well as restaurateurs Chris Cannon and Garrett Oliver to create restaurant concepts exclusive to Delta's main terminal at LaGuardia.

The change will include 13 distinct food and beverage concepts and brands, an expansive gourmet food hall, coffee bars and a wine bar. The redesign will launch in phases, beginning August 21, with full redevelopment of the space expected to be complete by next summer.

A sampling of the new offerings:

• Bisoux: A bistro inspired by Provencal cuisine, with a menu created by Nasr and Hanson, the duo behind the New York restaurants Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller's and Minetta Tavern.

• World Bean: A coffee and tea shop offering seasonal blends from micro-roasters that feature only fair trade beans grown in season.

• Prime Tavern: Celebrity chef Lomonaco developed the menu fo

• Wibar: A wine bar with 101 premium wines by the glass, or service by the pour, flight and full bottle. The wine list was curated by New York restaurateur Cannon. The beer list was selected by Oliver, brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and author of "The Brewmaster's Table." It also will feature a small-plates menu.

• Minnow: The seafood and raw bar menu was developed by Andrew Carmellini of Locanda Verde and author of "Urban Italian."

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ON THE WEB
• Delta Airlines home page
• Dowd's Guides

Wine festival at old Woodstock site

BETHEL, NY -- Preparations are revving up for the 12th annual Bethel Woods Harvest Wine Festival, a showcase for New York State wines and food products.

The event is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, August 29, at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The Sullivan County performing arts venue and museum is located at the site of the original 1969 Woodstock extravaganza.

The festival will feature a tasting of regional wineries from the Hudson Valley and the Finger Lakes. Cheese, Chocolate and Wine are available for tasting and for sale. There is a $5 tasting fee, which includes a complimentary souvenir glass (while supplies last).

In addition, there will be live music, and something new this year — “Discovering Your Palate with Divine Events,” an interactive tasting seminar illustrating the structure, aromas and flavors commonly found in wine, and the basics of wine tasting.

While admission is free, parking is $2 and there is a $5 tasting fee which includes a souvenir glass while supplies last. Further details: (845) 295-2448.

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ON THE WEB
• Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
• NYS Drinks Events Calendar
• Dowd's Guides