Falchi Building
Aug. 6, 2015 By Michael Florio
Astoria Distilling Company, which started selling its gin to bars and liquor stores last year, is opening its own tasting room and production site.
The company, which is located in Astoria but does its distilling upstate, will be moving into the first floor of the Falchi Building, located at 31-00 47th Ave in LIC, by the end of the year, according to founder, Christopher Murillo.
The new space consists of one room that will be divided up to serve as both a tasting area and a production site. Two-thirds of the 1,000 square foot space will be used for production, while the other third will be used for tastings.
Customers will be able to go to the tasting room and try different cocktails—including various new concoctions to be made on site. The company will also be selling its mainstay product–Queens Courage, an “Old Tom” style gin—known for being sweetened with honey.
Queens Courage is now sold at more than 150 bars and liquor stores across New York State.
Murillo said he will use the new facility to produce a limited quantity of Queens Courage, with the bulk of the production taking place upstate.
The new location, however, will be used to produce new items such as limoncello, an Italian liqueur, and ouzo, a Greek spirit. These items will only be available in the tasting room. If either proves popular, Murillo said he might bottle and distribute it.
Murillo had hoped to stay in Astoria (he is currently located at the Entrepreneur Space on 37th Ave.) but said that there were a limited number of affordable manufacturing spaces in the neighborhood when he searched.
“We are still close to Astoria,” he said.
Many Astoria Distilling Company followers are looking forward to the opening, Murillo said.
“A lot of people are excited to have a distillery and we are eager to be the first craft distillery in Queens,” he said. “We didn’t think this day would come for two to three years and here we are opening our own location a year later,” he added.
The tasting room will be open on a limited basis– from Thursday through Sunday, with the hours still to be determined.
“If we find that there is a high demand we will open it more,” he said.
Chris Murillo
2 Comments
Not going to produce much gin in 600 squsre feet but it looks like they are going for quality rather than quantity.
Kind of surprised that they couldn’t find any location in Astoria. Industrial south Astoria and northern Astoria have lots of manufacturing space but I guess not as trendy as the Falchi building. Probably a good marketing choice.
Best of luck to these guys.
I Wish You The Best Of Luck