The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/148479
Distillery to Serve up 'Schoharie Shine' By Bera Dunau The Daily Star Schoharie Shine? Mapplejack? If Ken Wortz has his way, those are about to become household names in the area. Wortz' KyMar Farm Distillery has purchased the Story House Book Bindery building in Charlotteville, and plans on moving most of its winery and distillery operations there, hoping to double their production by this time next year. "It just made a lot more sense for us to purchase and rehab as opposed to build new," said Wortz, who runs the company with his wife Lori and partners Christie Dahms and Bill Martz run KyMar Farm Distillery. The Wortzes moved to Schohaire County in 2001 from Connecticut, and began planning the distillery in 2007. "This whole area, central New York, is just absolutely beautiful," said Wortz, when asked why they'd decided to move. Today, Wortz commutes between Charlotteville and Manhattan, where he has a job at a telecommunications company, while his wife works at the distillery full time. Based on the Wortzes' apple and grape farm less than a mile away from the Story House building, KyMar Farm Distillery began selling products in December 2011. The farm gets its name from the Wortzes' two children: Kyle, who is in the Army, and Marissa, who is in college. Wortz grew up on an apple farm in Pennsylvania, but said he didn't expect that he'd take up the farming life himself. "I didn't think I would ever set foot on a farm again," he said. KyMar Farm Distillery produces two products: Schoharie Mapple Jack, an apple brandy with a hint of maple, and Schoharie Shine, an unaged whiskey made from sorghum. "Everything that goes into our products is grown in New York state," said Wortz, noting that the cider for the Mapple Jack comes from their farm and nearby cideries, while the sorghum for the Schoharie Shine is grown by Tony VanGlad in Jefferson. The distillery produces between 60 to 120 cases of alcohol a month. Wortz says that, while Mapple Jack is more popular in the winter and Schoharie Shine is more popular in the summer, they generally produce an equal amount of each over the course of a year. The distillery's products are distributed in more than 175 locations in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to Wortz. Locally, KyMar products can be found at liquor stores in Delhi, Oneonta and Cooperstown, as well as being served at the B-Side Ballroom and the Andes Hotel. "The expansion has far exceeded our expectations," said Wortz, saying that they are working to keep up with the demand from their present distributors. He also said the distillery has received support from the local community. "If people know I'm planting they just show up and help." Wortz says that they plan to convert the Story House building into a production and retail facility, where visitors can take tours, enjoy tastings, and purchase liquor, wine and beer from KyMar Farm and other New York alcohol producers. "We're only going to carry products where the majority of ... (ingredients) are from New York state," said Wortz. "You won't find Jack Daniels or Absolut there." Wortz said he hopes to launch some new products as well, including a rye whiskey made from rye from Jefferson and malted barley from Binghamton, which won't be available until it has aged for a few years. "It's been an amazing year and a half since we sold our first bottle," said Wortz. August 1, AugustO-Town Scene 15 2013 1, 2013 O-Town Scene