Tens of thousands of people crowd New York City’s midtown sidewalks each year for the annual tree lighting ceremony. This year, the 78-foot, 10-ton Norway Spruce shares a hometown with another iconic New York brand known for its size. Made and bottled in Gardiner, NY, Hudson Whiskey is known for its range of small-batched, 375ml bottles of hand-crafted American whiskey.
Ten years ago, Ralph Erenzo along with his son Gable Erenzo and business partner Brian Lee, created Hudson Whiskey, the first whiskey distilled in New York since Prohibition, in Gardiner, NY. Today, Hudson Whiskey has grown in both popularity and size. The small-batch whiskey which sources all materials from within 40-miles of the distillery, recently upped their iconic 375ml bottles to 750ml bottles in their popular Hudson Manhattan Rye and Hudson Baby Bourbon variants.
Proud to be neighbors with NYC’s most famous tree, Hudson Whiskey’s resident whiskey expert, Han Shan, has prepared a signature cocktail for the ceremony on December 2nd. Viewers at home can get enjoy a taste of Gardiner, NY with the Norway Spruce cocktail featuring Hudson Whiskey’s Manhattan Rye ($44.99 for 375 ml, $49.99 for 750 ml)
The Norway Spruce
2 parts Hudson Manhattan Rye
3/4 part sweet vermouth
1/2 part Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur
2 dashes aromatic bitters
Orange peel, cocktail cherry
Stir liquid ingredients over ice until well-chilled, and strain into-pre-chilled cocktail coupe. Using vegetable peeler, cut swatch of orange zest and squeeze peel-side over drink to express oils on surface, and discard zest. Garnish with cocktail cherry—check gourmet grocers or specialty shops for a proper one that isn’t filled with artificial colors and flavors.
Han Shan remarks, “This is a twist on the classic Manhattan cocktail, which is still one of the greatest drinks invented in this city or any other.” When creating your own Norway Spruce cocktail at home, Shan recommends, “The most important thing is starting with a great rye whiskey like the Hudson Manhattan Rye, with the crack of spice and backbone to stand up alongside the sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters. If you can’t find the pine liqueur, add a splash of Benedictine to a Manhattan to make a Preakness cocktail. Or a splash of yellow chartreuse for a Greenpoint. Start with the basics, and then have some fun.”
Hudson Whiskey has become an iconic American Whiskey since the first of its signature 375 ml bottles were shipped in 2006. In this short time, the micro distillery in New York’s Hudson Valley has quickly received acclaim not only for the quality of its marques, but also for its ground-breaking status: as well as being the first legal pot-stilled whiskey distilled in New York state since prohibition and sourcing 90% of its grains from within 40 miles of the distillery, Hudson’s signature expression – Baby Bourbon – is also the first ever New York State-produced bourbon. Hudson Whiskeys have an ABV of 46% and include a range of diverse and innovative marques including Hudson Baby Bourbon (RRP of $39.99 for 375ml, $49.99 for 750ml), Hudson Four Grain Bourbon (RRP of $44.99 for 375ml), Hudson Manhattan Rye (RRP of $44.99 for 375ml, $49.99 for 750ml), Hudson Single Malt (RRP of $44.99 for 375ml), Hudson New York Corn Whiskey (RRP of $38.99 for 375ml) and Hudson Maple Cask Rye Whiskey (RRP of $44.99 for 375ml). For more information, visit www.hudsonwhiskey.com.
