A Queensbury couple, looking for a business they could run on their own, made a choice out of the ordinary last year and decided to investigate the possibility of making their own whiskey for sale to the general public, with opportunities for people to visit, taste product and purchase merchandise.
The result is going to be Lake George Distilling Co., a business run by John and Robin McDougall at the former Graves Brothers Construction building at 11262 Route 149 in Fort Ann. In addition to all the things that go into a start-up business, in the spirit of entrepreneurship the couple has been doing nearly all the renovations themselves to get the building ready.
When complete, the McDougalls will also be running the business themselves, nights and weekends.
Robin McDougall said her husband has been making his own beer and wine for years and was interested in the distilling process. She had been working for Verizon, but after receiving a layoff notice after 26 years on the job, “We needed to do something where we rely on ourselves and not anyone else,” she said.
The idea to follow John’s hobby took seed, then really started to grow a year ago in April when the couple attended a conference of the American Distilling Institute. At the three-day event, the couple attended numerous seminars, talked to a lot of people in the business and toured distilling sites. Upon their return home, said Robin McDougall, they began to look for a building.
“We wanted to be in Lake George,” she said, because both she and John had longtime ties to that area, including owning a camp there. “It’s important enough to our family.” Also, she noted, Lake George, a popular tourist destination is well known around the state, so there would be some built-in name recognition. The building they found was close enough in proximity to serve their intention.
The couple went through the Small Business Association and NBT Bank for the necessary funding and closed on the purchased of the property in January.
Then, “we went gang-busters” going about the task of turning the building into what they need. It involved knocking down a lot of walls, Putting up a lot of sheet rock, and numerous other things. John works for Verizon and Robin had landed a job as an engineer for Tech Valley Communications in Albany. So again, it was arduous work nights and weekends to renovate the structure.
When the business is up and running, the first produce will be un-aged corn whisky, also called moonshine. There will be different choices, including some made from smoked corn. The distillery will also make bourbon and rye whiskey, but those need to be aged, so they wouldn’t be available at the start.
“It’s all very exciting,” she said.
The couple has the necessary federal permit and is awaiting a similar permit fro the state. She hopes to see that happen in time to perhaps open in June. if not, some time this summer. Interior renovations are nearly done and there will be some sprucing up of the exterior.
They are also awaiting a steam boiler, since they are using a steam-run kettle to make the whiskey.
The tasting room is pretty much complete, she said. There is a large glass window through which visitors will be able to see the distillery at work, while sipping product. There will also be shirts, hats, flasks and glasses available for purchase.
Vendome Copper & Brass Works Inc. in Louisville, Ky., is making the kettle for the distilling process. McDougall said having U.S.-made equipment was important, rather than going to Europe where a lot of micro-distilling equipment is made. The couple also plans, as much as possible, to buy corn ad other products from Washington County or nearby.
Eventually, they want the product to be available in stores and area bars and restaurants, not just at the Fort Ann plant. Taking on employees at some point in the future is also possible, but in the beginning it will be just the enterprising couple and perhaps their son who is graduating soon from college.
The company can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LGDisCo.