Review: Vly Creek Vodka
Vly Creek Vodka was named for one of the many mountain creeks in Arkville New York. Friends and construction workers Brian Mulder and Todd Pascarella built Union Grove Distillery in a former roller rink that was constructed in 1920. Union Grove also crafts FirGin, Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit, and Drie Brook Rye Whiskey. Vly Creek Vodka was the first spirit they produced when they opened the distillery February 2016. They started with apples sourced from Hubbell Family Farms, only 6 miles away from the distillery. The apples were pressed on an antique apple press that has been in service since the 1880’s. The cider ferments over several weeks and is then distilled with a wheat GNS spirit the equivalent of 30 times in a high tech Genio still, custom made in Poland. The spirit is charcoal filtered and proofed with pure Catskill Mountain Water before hand bottling onsite. The aroma leads with apple. Vanilla and cherry follow. Additional time in the glass brings out Cream of Wheat notes. The apple entry is joined by vanilla building to an apple pastry peak. It fades with Cream of Wheat Cereal and finishes with white pepper, whole milk, and apple strudel taste leaving anise flavor, and warm peppery sting.
Made in Arkville New York
40% Alcohol
Score: 89
Award: Silver Medal