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One distillery in Northern New York State is using music to mature its whiskey. Owner Roger R. Reifensnyder channels different genres of music into the barrels where the liquor is aging. His patented Tactile Immersed Isolated Maturation Engine (TIIME) musical maturation process agitates the liquid causing micro-expansions and contractions inside the barrels that interact with the charred wood creating a unique flavor.
The music plays in a loop with built-in rests and is played from iPods to amps attached to individual barrels. Each unique spirit has its own play list. For
example: River Blues New York Bourbon Whiskey, is musically matured to rhythm & blues; New York Apple Whiskey with Apple Brandy and Liqueur is matured to hard rock; while Snow Wheat New York Wheat Whiskey is appropriately musically matured to holiday carols
The family operated Dark Island Distillery, located in the heart of Alexandria Bay, is as much a destination as it is a functioning distillery. Visitors to this scenic area, located across the St. Lawrence River from Canada, can tour the facility and learn more about this state-of-the-art marriage of music and spirits. A tasting room adjacent to the distillery offers tastings of the musically influenced spirits, as well as a nice selection of New York State wines, craft beers, and hard apple cider.
