Montauk Distilling Co.

WINERY SUMMARY

Montauk Distilling Co. sits at 24 East 2nd Street in Riverhead, NY, where the cadence of the North Fork meets a working still house and a convivial tasting room. Step into the former 1931 Riverhead Fire Department building and you immediately feel the tension between industrial craft and coastal ease: copper gleams, oak barrels line a barrel-aging area, and cocktails arrive with salt air memories. For travelers searching for a Long Island distillery tour that combines provenance with hospitality, Montauk Distilling Co. offers a distilled sense of place—New York-grown grains, locally foraged botanicals and spirits that read as maritime and muscular at once. The production floor and tasting bar are designed for conversation: guided flights introduce Sunburn Rum, Black Sail Aged Rum and 71st Regiment Gin alongside Modico Vodka and a recently developed whiskey bourbon expression.

Founded in 2013 by Leucio Iacobelli, Montauk Distilling Co. grew from summer memories in Montauk into a family-run spirits producer rooted in Riverhead. Iacobelli’s Italian fermentation heritage informs the distillery’s production philosophy: respect raw material, let technique enhance flavor, and keep batches small enough to experiment. The distillery emphasizes New York sourcing—grains, botanicals and adjuncts come from regional farms—supporting local agriculture and trimming transport emissions. While specific industry medals are not listed, the distillery has established respected accounts across New York and Florida and earned favorable press for revitalizing the Riverhead beverage scene. The team’s pragmatic commitment to sustainability and community programming—live music nights, chef collaborations and educational classes—sets Montauk Distilling Co. apart from large-scale producers.

The product journey at Montauk Distilling Co. is deliberate and tactile. Sunburn Rum is their flagship expression, approachable and smooth, distilled to preserve cane character and finished to accent bright citrus and toasted sugar notes. Black Sail Aged Rum spends time in American oak to develop deeper caramel, spice and molasses layers; tasting reveals toasted vanilla, dried fruit and tobacco whispering behind brighter top notes. 71st Regiment Gin is a botanical-forward expression that marries juniper with locally sourced citrus peel and coastal botanicals; the mouthfeel is crisp, the finish dry and aromatic. Modico Vodka exemplifies a clean, neutral canvas—polished on the palate and engineered for the Modico Collins cocktail—while their newly introduced whiskey bourbon explores local mash bills and short-term barrel profiles to emphasize wood spice and honeyed grain. Barrel-aging programs and occasional single-barrel or limited-release expressions appear seasonally; these allocated runs are best sampled on private tours or special release events where the production team often leads vertical tastings and blending demonstrations.

Visitors find the tasting room relaxed and social rather than formal. The 3,000-square-foot facility retains firehouse bones—arched doors, brickwork and high ceilings—reimagined with maritime accents and communal tables. Tastings run as guided spirits flights or signature cocktails at the bar; private tours and cocktail classes are offered by reservation, and the distillery frequently hosts seasonal pop-ups and live music evenings that broaden the visitor experience. Montauk Distilling Co. shares space and community with North Fork Brewing Co., creating a convivial beverage hub for the region. While the distillery keeps production transparent during tours, expect an intimate group size—reservations help secure a spot for blending sessions, barrel tastings or private events.

Plan visits for late afternoons and early evenings on weekends when live music and cocktail classes add energy, or book weekday private tours for quieter, production-focused access. Reservations are recommended for tastings, private events and cocktail workshops; the distillery accepts bookings for groups and special experiences and provides purchases of bottles on-site and through select retailers in New York and Florida.

Montauk Distilling Co. invites curious travelers and spirits enthusiasts to trade pass-through stops for an immersive tasting: taste Sunburn Rum’s coastal brightness, experience the oak depth of Black Sail Aged Rum, and learn hands-on in a 1931 firehouse turned modern distillery. Reserve a tour, join a cocktail class, and discover how Montauk Distilling Co. translates Long Island provenance into spirits that tell the story of place.