Altered State Distilling A Favorite

Altered State / R. Frank Photography

Erie's Altered State Distilling is looking to the public to lift its spirits — all the way to nationwide recognition. The innovative establishment, located in the Greengarden Plaza at 1535 W. Eighth St., is currently in the running for an award in the "Best New Craft Distillery" category of USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice 2020. 

With the Sept. 14 voting deadline drawing nearer, it appears Altered State has at least a shot at the title, consistently polling around the third- or fourth-place mark. The competition — Lost State Distilling (Bristol, Tenn.), Ballmer Peak Distillery (Lakewood, Colo.), and Rhode Island Spirits (Pawtucket, R.I.) — has poured our hometown heroes a stiff drink. You can help them take it down by voting here.

Regardless of how things shake out, Altered State's first year in operation is trending toward a smooth finish despite the burn of the pandemic. Their lineup of handcrafted spirits has already received buzz within the industry, garnering four medals from the American Distilling Institute — gold for their 100-percent organic corn White Mink Vodka, silvers for their Red Tail Rye and Peated Blended whiskeys, and a bronze for their American Blended Whiskey. Since then they've expanded their whiskey offerings by four and also collected the ingredients for their first  batch of Black Bear Gin, infused with foraged botanicals and fresh citrus.

All in all, it's the distillation of a job well done.

Matt Swanseger (mswanseger@eriereader.com) may have polished off a bottle or two of Altered State spirits over quarantine, but never during working hours.