AMSTERDAM — A startup farm distillery plans to open its flagship tasting room and retail store in the historic Amsterdam Clock Tower building.
Second Act Spirits, based in Glenville, already has a distillery license and produces four flavors of premium vodka and bourbon using ingredients sourced from New York state farms.
Richard and Stacey Michaels plan to open their first tasting room in a ground floor space in the front right corner of the Clock Tower building at 37 Prospect St.
“We currently produce in Glenville,” Richard Michaels told the Amsterdam Planning Commission on Wednesday. “In the future, we’d like to move that to Amsterdam.”
The Planning Commission easily approved the site plan for the new establishment.
“It’s exciting,” board member Kathy Peluso said.
The timeline for opening will depend on how long it takes for the state Liquor Authority to process their already submitted application for the tasting room branch office for retail sales, Richard Michaels said.
Second Act Spirits’ tasting room will occupy an already finished space within the Clock Tower that most recently serving as the studio of Dance Force before it relocated to Bridge Street.
Patrons will be able to sample the artisanal beverages produced by Second Act Spirits in a bar area within the tasting room.
In the fall, Common Roots Brewing Company gave its original bar from South Glens Falls to the startup distillery for the planned tasting room. Second Act Spirits on Facebook described the bar as a symbol of community spirit, which they hope to replicate in Amsterdam.
A corner space will be converted into a retail shop and gift store where distilled beverages packaged for sale and other goods will be available.
The distillery presently produces premium vodka, green apple flavored vodka, concord grape flavored vodka and Clocktower Bourbon. Richard Michaels said they’re developing a black cherry-flavored vodka.
Stacey Michaels said they have placed some of their existing products in local liquor stores, including the Wine Barrel in Amsterdam and Wild Wine and Liquor in Rotterdam.
The bourbon will be rolled out in 2024, but Richard Michaels showed the Planning Commission a batch of the rich caramel brown liquid bottled earlier that day bearing a dark label with gold lettering and an image of the Clock Tower.
“I think you have a product Amsterdam may fall in love with,” board member Sandy Griffin said.
Hours for the proposed tasting room are tentatively planned for Wednesday through Friday 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday 1 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. It'll be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.