New York Distilling Company Proclaims New York Rye Week, October 16th-22nd.

New York, NY - In association with the New York State Assembly, New York Distilling Company proclaims the launch of New York Rye Week. 
To celebrate the historic grain’s thriving cultivation in New York State, the annual event will commence on Monday, October 16th - Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 with a succession of new initiatives.  

As part of the week, New York Distilling Company will simultaneously launch the Wild Rye Rumpus, a four-day festival where local farmers, chefs, distillers, bartenders, brewers, politicians and enthusiasts will gather for a series of dynamic rye-focused events.  

From Thursday, October 19th through Sunday, October 22nd, New York Distilling Company will host the series, which will open with an invitation-only panel discussion followed by a selection of ticketed events that include guided whiskey tastings, seminars with special guest speakers and a rye marketplace. A highlight of the festivities will be the premier of the new Empire Rye whiskey bottlings, where the Empire Rye association, which formed in 2015, will unveil some of their individual expressions to the public for the first time. The final day of the festival will culminate in a rye-fed pig roast buffet with live entertainment to close.    

Rye has long been recognized as an underdog grain but in recent years, New York State distillers have embraced its versatile properties. Mirroring it’s long-enjoyed popularity in Europe, the rye upswing has welcomed an abundance of new and diverse products in food and drink, led by New York Distilling Company with the recent release of its two rye expressions Ragtime Rye and Mister Katz’s Rock & Rye.       

Speaking of the upcoming launch, Allen Katz, Co-Founder of New York Distilling Company and a pioneer of the trend said “We could not be more excited to be hosting the First Annual New York Rye Week. It is the ideal moment in the evolution of cocktail culture and interest in distilled spirits to celebrate America's resolute and original whiskey, and to taste so many of the great ryes from New York and around North America.”  

Wild Rye Rumpus events will be open to the public from Friday, October 10th - Sunday, October 22nd. Multi-day tickets are available for $100 and can be purchased along with individual event tickets via the New York Distilling Company website from Friday, September 1st. For more information please visit: www.nydistilling.com 

WILD RYE RUMPUS SCHEDULE

The Renaissance of New York Rye 

Thursday, October 19th  

By invitation only: 11:30-2:30pm  

A panel discussion focusing on the agricultural issues of growing and cultivating rye and active fermentation 
with a guided rye tasting and a multitude of rye-focused smorgasbord.   

Hosted by: Allen Katz, Co-Founder, New York Distilling Company 

Special guests: Mark E. Sorrels, Head of the Small Grains Project, Cornell University; David Benscher, Research Support Specialist, Small Grains Project, Cornell University; Rick Pedersen, Farmer, Geneva, NY; Rhonda Crosson, Chef, Agern restaurant  

Rye Whiskey, The American Spirit

Friday, October 20th

Trade and Media: 2-4pm, VIP: 5-6:30pm $35, Public: 6:30-9pm $25

A walk-around tasting tour featuring different rye products including whiskey, beer, bread and ice cream from a variety of partners, followed by a buffet provided by Union Square Cafe.   

Hosted by: Allen Katz, Co-Founder, New York Distilling Company 

Featured rye partners: Catoctin Creek, Catskills, Dad’s Hat, Jim Beam, Journeyman, Knob Creek, Lot 40, Masterson, Old Overholt, Pikesville, Ragtime, Rittenhouse, Russell’s Reserve, Sagamore, Templeton, Redemption, WhistlePig, Wild Turkey, Woodford, Woody Creek 

Introducing Empire Rye 

Saturday, October 21st, 2:30-6pm 

Trade and Media: 1-2:30pm $35, Public 2:30-6pm $25 

The premiere of Empire Rye’s new whiskeys. In 2015, a handful of leading distilleries from across New York State formed an alliance dedicated to producing the highest standard of rye whiskey in the world. This introduction will launch these expressions to the public for the very first time, with limited quantities available for purchase. In addition, this event will comprise a rye marketplace where a range of rye-based products will be offered for sale. Includes a walk-around rye tasting tour followed by a buffet provided by Union Square Cafe. 

Hosted by: Allen Katz, Co-Founder, New York Distilling Company

Featured Distillers: Black Button Distillery, Coppersea Distilling, Finger Lakes Distilling, Kings County Distilling, New York Distilling Company, Tuthilltown Distilling, Van Brunt Stillhouse

Wild Rye Rumpus Pig Roast Rye Party

Sunday, October 22nd, 2-5:30pm 

VIP: 1-2pm $75, Public 2-5:30pm $65 

A buffet-style rye feast produced by Hometown Barbecue with live ragtime music and entertainment, rye whiskey, rye beer, bread, ice cream and more. The ‘Emperor’ roast pigs are raised on a diet of Empire Rye whiskey mash and will be supplied by Coppersea Distilling. 

Hosted by: New York Distilling Company in partnership with Hometown Barbecue