• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Lifestyle Blog

  • About
    • Work With Me
      • Delightful Life Media
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • Taste
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
    • Dinner
      • Grilled
      • Sides
      • Pasta
      • Rice
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
      • Cocktails
      • Non-Alcoholic
    • Snacks
  • Travel
    • United States
      • Kansas
      • Missouri
      • Nevada
      • Nebraska
      • New York
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
      • Wisconsin
    • Mexico
  • DIY
    • Projects
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

spirits

4 Reasons to Visit Four Fights Distilling in Corning, New York

July 10, 2019 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

After a return visit to Upstate New York and the Corning area, I decided to add an adventure we had never included on our itinerary before – a tour of a local distillery! Four Fights Distilling should be a must-stop for any traveler who appreciates locally crafted spirits.

Operating for the last five years from their location in “Extended Corning,” Matt and Donna Bowers craft spirits one small batch at a time. Every hand-sealed, labeled bottled.

We were fortunate enough to have our tasting room experience and tour sponsored by the Bowers and went behind-the-scenes to learn more about the distilling process. Why should you visit? I have 4 great reasons to add a visit to Four Fights Distilling to your travel plans!

1.) You’re supporting a local business. The Bowers are some of the friendliest and hospitable people you’ll ever meet. Matt makes the booze while Donna mixes the drinks! The couple is incredibly welcoming. You’ll appreciate hearing their story of the distillery’s origination and learn how they manage to do it all themselves.

2.) They know their stuff. From the science behind creating the spirits (and there’s a lot to learn) to the branding, the Bowers do an excellent job. During your tour, you’ll learn that Matt’s knowledge of spirits is vast (he’s self-taught!), and that there a lot involved in producing each spirit.

Four Fights Distilling gets their corn from a local farmer and then the mash goes back to a pig farm to complete the cycle. According to Matt, the water in Corning is “limestone water similar to Kentucky enzyme water” aiding in the distilling process.

3.) Four Fights Distilling’s spirits could compete with some of the well known brands on the market. Matt does his homework and continues to push boundaries when developing ideas. While I appreciate a smooth vodka, I was surprised to find that I also like Four Fights’ Bourbon. In fact, upon sipping it I exclaimed, “Wow! I don’t normally care for Bourbon, but that’s one I like!” Everything we tasted was fantastic. Their top sellers continue to be the Four Fights Bourbon, Suite 101 Gin, Emperial Apple Pie, and Emperial Cinamoon.

4.) Learning about the process of creating booze makes you love it that much more. Over the years, the more I discover about the craft of creating something, the more I appreciate it. You’ll never look at a bottle of aged bourbon or distilled vodka the same way either.

Visitors can enjoy sipping on craft cocktails Thursday-Sunday during select hours. (I recommend trying The Corning Mule or Crystal City Cosmo.) Cocktails range from $7-$11 each or you can try a Spirits Flight made of four tasters for $6. Interested in learning more about Four Fights Distilling? Visit their site or follow them on Facebook or Instagram!

Know that you’re going to visit Corning, New York soon? View my complete post highlighting the best of the Crystal City here.

Filed Under: New York, Travel Tagged With: bourbon, corning, Corning New York, distillery, distilling, liquor, New York, spirits, whiskey

Hauntingly Awesome Cocktails for Your Halloween Bash

October 24, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Once every year I become someone I’m not.

Halloween is my excuse to dress up in costume. I’ve shown up at costume parties as Amy Winehouse, a 20s flapper, zombie prom queen, scarecrow, 80s chick, and queen bee. But you know what? The fang-tastic holiday will remain one of my favorite celebrations dating all the way back to my first clown costume in the kindergarten classroom party. Shout out to mom who set the bar high by sewing or helping me create my costumes from a young age.

Of course, this year’s costume is super secret until Halloween night. We won Best Costumed Couple last year as the beekeeper, queen bear, and baby bee (our dog) so the expectation for our costumes this year is intense.

Since I dress up myself and my house, of course I would dress up my Halloween themed cocktails. What’s great about these drinks is that they are super simple to make for party guests. Some of you are busy this time of year balancing trick or treat night with the kids, classroom Halloween parties, and hey…maybe your own spirited affair just for adults. You don’t have time to prep sangria fruit or brainstorm a punch bowl recipe. No worries! I’ve got you covered.

Boo-rific blood orange cocktail is made even better by adding flavored vodka.
Boo-rific Blood Orange Cocktail is made even better by adding flavored vodka.

Sometimes a holiday inspires my cocktail recipes but other times it’s just the discovery of a flavored water, juice, or soda I haven’t tried yet. Unflavored vodka isn’t sweet and goes well with just about any flavor. Every stocked home bar needs the usual well liquors: vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, and if you’re brave…tequila. My years as a bartender taught me a lesson about what people are willing to drink. Everyone has a liquor they can’t drink anymore and one that serves as their go-to spirit. Be sure to stock them all to appeal to every guest.

Batty Black Cherry Cocktail with Lime
Batty Black Cherry Cocktail with Lime reminds me of a spiked Sonic drink. Yummo! Combine 3 oz. vodka, half a bottle of Sparkling Ice Black Cherry Natural Flavored Water (8 oz), a squeeze of lime over cubed ice. Stir gently and garnish the glass with a lime wedge.

When preparing for your Halloween party guests to arrive, simply line up dozen cocktail glasses on a long table. Station bottled liquors behind them and the mixers (juice, soda, tonic, water) nearby. Introduce theme drinks with a chalkboard menu so they know how to make them and then let them do it. Walk away! Guests don’t mind making their own drinks, which gives you more time to prepare for your costume contest.

Refreshing and not as sweet, Creepy Crisp Apple and Pear Cocktail includes the flavors of fall.
Refreshing and not as sweet, Creepy Crisp Apple and Pear Cocktail includes the flavors of fall. Simply combine 3 oz vodka with about a half a bottle of Fuji Apple Pear Lifewater (10 0z), half a can of Jumex Pear Nectar (6.5 oz) over a cubed ice. Stir gently.

I wish you a freakishly fun Halloween night. May your drink glasses and your trick or treat baskets be full!

Let me know what you think of these cocktail recipes in the comment section below.

Signature ODL 170x70px


onedelightfullife.com

Boo-rific Blood Orange Cocktail

It's scary how delicious this cocktail tastes and the bubbles are fun too!

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe

My Recipes
My Lists
My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 8 oz blood orange soda
  • 3 oz orange vodka
  • squeeze of two orange wedges (optional)
  • garnish with orange slice

Instructions

  1. Fill glass with crushed ice.
  2. Add vodka.
  3. Top with blood orange soda.
  4. Squeeze orange slices into glass.
  5. Stir slowly.
  6. Garnish with an orange slice.
7.8.1.2
59

https://onedelightfullife.com/hauntingly-awesome-cocktails-for-your-halloween-bash/

onedelightfullife.com

Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: apple, apple crisp, autumn, awesome, bash, black cherry, blood orange, cocktails, costume, drinks, fall, fuji apple, Halloween, happy hour, hauntingly, party, pear, pear nectar, soda, spirits, themed cocktails, trick or treat, vodka

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH

Ammar
Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

Archives

Contact Us

  • Email
    info@onedelightfullife.com

Popular Posts

Back to School Brain Breaks12K Total Shares
Going Underground in Historic Ellinwood, KansasGoing Underground in Historic Ellinwood, Kansas7K Total Shares
Weston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend VisitWeston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend Visit2K Total Shares
Cucumber Lime Vodka SplashCucumber Lime Vodka Splash1K Total Shares
Sun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, MexicoSun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, Mexico508 Total Shares
  • About
  • Taste
  • Travel
  • DIY
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

© 2023 · onedelightfullife ·