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Don’t frack with my whiskey!

Hudson Whiskey from Tuthilltown Spirits

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Whether you’re the type of person who likes to enjoy it neat while reading Faulkner in your private library, or you prefer it with mounds of crushed ice, sugar and a few sprigs of mint, we can all agree that whiskey quenches a certain thirst. In fact, the original Celtic word for whiskey “uisge beatha” means the water of life. But what about the actual water that goes into distilling this fine drink?

According to the Associated Press, water that has been fracked with “can be five times saltier than seawater and laden with dissolved solids such as sulfates and chlorides, which conventional sewage and drinking water treatment plants aren’t equipped to remove.” Temporarily putting aside the obvious health risks to our drinking water, this drilling technique also put’s some of New York’s finest food and beverage offerings – like delicious whiskey – at risk.

Tuthilltown Spirits is New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition, distilling some of America’s most prized spirits. Tuthilltown distillers use locally grown materials to produce a range of spirits including vodkas, whiskeys, rum, eau de vie, brandy, and infusions. New York’s first bourbon, Hudson Baby Bourbon, is distilled from 100% New York corn.

We talked to Tuthilltown distiller and brand ambassador, Gable Erenzo, who stressed that he doesn’t take political stances, but does have concerns about the implications of using tainted or fouled water in the whiskey-making process:

“Water is one of the most important ingredients. It would undoubtedly change our flavor profile. We have built a brand based on a specific product profile by using our local water. A change in the water quality would directly affect the flavor of our finished products. Our water is superior to other sources for making our specific products. Any change in that water would negatively affect our ability to continue producing our local spirits.”

Take a minute right now to tell Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, “Don’t frack with my Hudson Baby Bourbon!”

Tell Gov. Hochul to block invasive species at the Erie and Champlain canals
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