New Year, High Spirits: Five & 20 Releases Their First Bourbon

Though I'm sure most people did their fair share of drinking to ring in the New Year, there remains a demand for quality spirits as the winter months drag on. Thankfully, the folks at Five & 20 Spirits in Westfield, N.Y., are up to the task of keeping you warm this winter. The operation was opened in 2005 by the owners of Mazza Vineyards, and though the process of distilling spirits may be a step away from making wine, the Five & 20 spirits family is committed to providing top shelf local products.

From their home in Westfield, Five & 20 Spirits boasts a locally sourced and produced bourbon, one of the first to come from the Western New York and Lake Erie Region. The bourbon initially saw an exclusive launch on Dec. 10, followed quickly by its public release on Dec. 12, so relatively speaking this product just hit the shelves. Made from all local New York grains, this bourbon has been aged two years in charred, white oak barrels, and sports a soft caramel and vanilla nose with a pleasantly dry and smoky finish.

While this description is well and good, you could probably get the same information from just reading the label off of any Five & 20 bottle. That being said, your best bet is to just try the bourbon for yourself and see how it stacks up. Currently the spirit is sold at  Mazza Chautauqua Cellars / Five & 20 Spirits on Route 20 in Westfield, NY for $49.95/bottle, and it will be available at select retailers and bars/restaurants in the region. And if bourbon isn't quite your taste, Five & 20 Spirits features a wide selection of craft creations, ranging from rhye whiskeys to limoncello. So next time you're out be sure to ask your bartender if they carry any Five & 20 Spirits. You might be surprised at what this local distillery has to offer.