Tuthilltown Distillery

Stopped here earlier this summer - micro-distillery outside of New Paltz, New York. Literally two shacks and a staff of maybe 3 people surrounded by cornfields. Actual artisan, small batch action here - all the grain comes from within a few miles.


Unfortunately they were closed for tours (although I got a peek into the distillery shack) but the gift shop (shack #2) was open and they do tastings for 10 bucks. We tasted 4 different whiskies each - including some crazy super-exclusive limited edition stuff that no longer exists. Also you get to keep the glass.

Tuthilltown produces the Hudson line of whiskies that are almost impossible to find in Philadelphia. Corn whisky which is sort of like upscale moonshine and awesome. 4 grain bourbon and their Single Malt are also incredible. I may never go back to 9 dollar bottles of Heaven Hill again.




Bottles to take home were a little steep at 40 bucks for a small bottle- that is until you start looking for it in Philly and it's more like 40 dollars a glass. But you can feel secure that your money is going to a couple of dudes with a plot of land and a still and not just something made in a factory with a faux-eco hipster shabby chic logo thrown on there.

Tuthilltown Spirits
14 Grist Mill Lane
Gardiner, NY‎
(845) 633-8734‎

Where to get it in Philadelphia
Village Whiskey - $36 for 2oz
Joe Canal's Discount Liquor - Jersey - $??

Greekburger at Gus's Hot Dogs

Gus's burger with fresh rolls in the background
I wrote about Gus's 3 inch mini hot dogs on Serious Eats last week but failed to mention their awesome Greekburger and Sausage Sandwich. Gus's was probably my favorite joint of this whole trip as far as atmosphere goes. (We stopped at 6 hot dog places between New York, Vermont and Connecticut). Counter filled with locals, comfortable booths, crazy shit all over the walls including flyers for eating contests, friendly service and a big pile of food for 4 people for under 10 bucks.

grab a booth inside or order to-go from the front window
The Greekburger was your standard thin fast food patty cooked on the grill and smothered in Gus's signature meat sauce that they cook in big clay pots in the corner of the grill. Gus's sauce is really unique, in the general "texas greek sauce" family finely ground and really strong, with lots of paprika and something that I couldn't quite put my finger on, cloves maybe? Sausage sandwich was a patty with peppers and onions. The size is perfect, not a slider but a notch smaller than what most of us are used to, great if you want to order a couple of Gus's dogs on the side.

Gus's sausage sandwich
What really makes these burgers (and the dogs) are the fluffy white buns that come in fresh every day from nearby Bella Napoli bakery. Before white burger buns were just a crap product you bought at the grocery store because you're too lazy to cook; places like this got them in fresh from real bakeries.

For years everyone seemed to think a burger needed to have brioche or a hard roll to be "fancy" but the move seems to be towards high quality ingredients paired with the comfort of diner-fast food style.. like Village Whiskey and their sesame bun and thousand island dressing. I wish this trend would last forever but next year it will probably be Vietnamese-Colombian fusion burgers with crushed chips, pork pate, grilled pineapple, asian slaw and lemongrass-blueberry mayonnaise.

Gus's Hot Dogs
212 25th Street
Watervliet, NY 12189-1937

enjoy
•Troy Mini Hot Dogs on Serious Eats
•Texas Weiners / Greek Sauce
•In & Out Burger