Black Button Distilling

We had so much fun here! We accidentally stumbled in on a day that they were closed but they still have us a full tasting. The customer service was amazing — the owner’s father gave detailed descriptions of all the different spirits we were tasting and told us some of the history of the distillery. Their gin was SO good, very citrusy, with a truly unique taste. We also tried both moonshines and the bourbon and were blown away by how delicious everything was. The one that really stole our hearts was the bourbon cream, though. I’ll never buy Baileys again now that I’ve tasted Black Button’s! We even got a cute little tasting glass to keep. We’ll definitely be coming back the next time we’re in Rochester to do the full tour!

I’ve been here a few times, once for an event that featured tastings and a tour of the distillery, and twice for shopping/​gifts/​popping in. I’m definitely a fan, especially considering I’m not at all interested in the brewery/​micro breweries we have in the area. Sadly, they hold no appeal for me. However, I’m very much a cocktail enthusiast so I’m a fan of what Black Button is doing. They are hyper local, which is AWESOME. I love supporting local, small businesses, and you can taste the love.
I highly recommend a tour: educational, informative and super fun for anyone who is even slightly interested/​intrigued with the liquor-​making process. Really, really cool to see the process start to finish.
The tastings are fun as well — as others have mentioned, some of it can be harsh (the moonshine still gives me shivers), but they offer options for mixers during your tasting. I can do the citrus gin and the bourbon straight no problem, but the vodka needs a mixer. Speaking of, the citrus gin is my all time favorite from Black Button. A must for your bar, or for gifting to your favorite gin drinker. Last time I was in I picked up their Bold Bloody Mary Mixer and the bourbon maple syrup for gifts. The syrup is pricey but I kept hearing rave reviews, and figured it’d be great for my hard to buy for brother. We’ll see! They also offer flasks, mugs, shirts, bitters, cocktail books… an array of goodies.
One thing I found slightly strange was when I was checking out the cashier said to me «Hey, we sell at XYZ locations…». I responded jokingly and it seemed to catch him off guard… I think it’s great that you’re telling your customers where else they can find BB products, but it might be helpful to rephrase how it’s said, because it came off like I should patronize those establishments instead of coming down to the distillery. It wouldn’t deter me, but it was an odd exchange.
If you’re in the Public Market area, make sure to check them out!

I love everything Black Button is doing — it’s exciting to have a distillery in downtown Rochester finally. Tours are awesome and super educational ($ 5) and they’re always handing out vouchers at outside events around town so keep an eye out for that.
I personally love coming here for the events they do and enjoy cocktails now that that’s a thing that’s legal in NY. $ 7 for drinks featuring their liquors. Personal favorites have been their take on a moscow mule, their gimlet, the southside… Anything citrus-​y, bubbly, and refreshing. Delish. Tastings on their own are harsh because straight alcohol. I’ve had the bourbon and gin many times. Vodka is less appealing to taste because it’s pretty harsh as a wheat vodka, but better when mixed in a drink.
I’ve purchased a lot of gifts here too — Fee Brothers bitters, syrup, flasks, tshirts, etc. Their syrup is an awesome Christmas gift for family/​friends. It’s on the pricey side, but it’s bourbon maple syrup… you could drink it out of the bottle it’s so good. You need it in your kitchen stash. They do some special blends of alcohol too like their lilac gin during Lilac Fest season (all sold out… so good!). Mixed with tonic it turns purple! Smaller batch aged bourbon has been a fan favorite too. Of course, the special stuff will take longer to age, but for now their small batch bourbon is a worthwhile buy. I’m not a huge bourbon drinking, but can swing this in an old fashioned or on the rocks every so often so that’s typically my go-​to. Currently have the small batch bourbon and citrus-​forward gin in my bar stash at home.

Delicious distilled beverages!!! They are so friendly and have so much a awesome stuff!

Great local distillery. I’ve been on the tour and it was really interesting. I’m not a huge drinker, but I really enjoy that quality liquors are made right around the corner!

Sunday breakfast and cocktails — nice! We were here for a benefit breakfast with cocktails which was a lot of fun. The Mojitos were good but the Bloody Mary’s were almost all hot spice and little other flavor which was too bad.
The locally made bourbon maple syrup was excellent on the pancakes. And the tour by Danielle (I think that was her name but then again I was drinking at 10 in the morning) was very funny & informative. We all learned something about making good booze.
This is a good place for a tour and a tasting or to hold a private event…

Born and raised in Rochester and I never knew this place existed! The people are awesome and you learn so much. Our your guide was Nicole and she not only knew the information very well but she answered all our questions and was really a pleasure to talk to. This is a great thing to do to try something new and get out of the house. The apple pie moonshine is a delicious desert and the maple syrup made in the old bourbon barrels is to die for. Definitely would recommend this place to family and friends and would love to come back!

BB Gin, BB vodka and Sprite. BOOM!!!

Went this morning (Yes, Liquor at Breakfast time) for a tour and tasting through Groupon. Tour was entertaining and educational. Tasting was fun — me and my husband loved the Wheat Vodka, Apple Pie moonshine and Bourbon maple syrup and brought some home at a reasonable price. Without the groupon tasting is $ 5 which is a great deal.
They are located near public market and have their own small parking lot next to location — very simple. They will have their Bourbon coming out the end of 2014 into 2015 — We are excited.

Best kept secret in Rochester is slowly being unleashed. Go for a tasting and ask for a tour. Their liquors are crafted for taste and quality… Even the casual drinker will be pleasantly surprised that sipping these liquors is actually enjoyable. When you leave you’ll be bursting with hometown pride… And likely some super cool swag from the tasting room gift shop. Make your own gin kit? Yes, please.

Those that work here truly love what they do, know their stuff, and are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. I was lucky enough to have a friend working when I went, and he took me on a tour in the back and wow, I like booze but never realized exactly how much work went into making it. It truly is a labor of love. I’m pretty sure the tours are available for everyone though, just not 100% on the times/​days.
My favorite when I went was the gin. Yum! They also have a person that sells maple syrup which is freaking amazing. Most products they sell are available for sampling for a small fee, and trust me, it’s worth it.

We keep coming back for the citrus gin! Clean and fresh so it makes a great summer drink with bitters and seltzer. I added a bottle to a Rochester themed gift basket for some out of town guests and it was a hit! I love that they use local grains and donate the used oats. Very much a LOCAL business. Attention to detail and focus on quality is apparent in their space and product. Excited to hear live music is on the calendar. Distillery/​Bar is located right across from The Public Market. Plenty of street parking. Great spot.

In addition to great, hand-​crafted, local booze, Black Button has some of the most amazing maple syrup I’ve ever had in all my life. When I asked how long it stays good once it’s opened the response was, «I’ve never had a bottle last long enough to find out.»

I was excited when our Unilocal manager posted the opening event at Black Button, I was excited while I was there, I’m excited about their next offerings of Gin, Whisky and Bourbon mmmmmmm.
They were nice folks, every bottle was hand labeled with love.

Nice to have a distillery in town. So far so good with the vodka. I don’t love vodka but gin is coming and so is whisky. Those will be the deciding factor for me. I’ll update based on them.
Note: They have a nice selection of paraphernalia also that’d make good gifts.

The classes are very interesting and informative. I can’t wait until they start having their own products.