Antler Run Distilling is a father-son operation run by Doug and James Quade from a small hilltop property on Antler Run Road in Keuka Park. Opened in May 2019, it is a true grain-to-glass distillery using 100% New York State grains, and it has quietly racked up awards from the Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition, Distillery University, and the Great American International Spirits Competition. But the spirits are almost secondary to the setting — the place won Gold for Best Restaurant View in 2022, and it is easy to see why. The panoramic vista takes in Keuka Lake, Keuka College, and the surrounding hillsides in a way that makes you want to stay put with your drink for a very long time.

The tasting room is casual and dog-friendly — you'll likely be greeted by the owners' own four-legged crew before you order. A $10 tasting flight gets you quarter-ounce pours of everything they make, including the Howling Dog Bourbon, which anchors most of their cocktail menu. The cocktails are straightforward and well-made at $12 each: the Cherry Old Fashioned uses their Howling Dog Bourbon and a house cherry liqueur they call The Cherry Stuff, and the Antler Run Manhattan follows the same formula with aromatic bitters. Owner James Quade's advice is to grab lunch from a nearby spot, bring it with you (outside food is welcome), settle in with a cocktail, and then ask for a distillery tour. Antler Run sits on what locals call the Bluff Point Trail, within two miles of Abandon Brewing, Vineyard View Winery, Lion Smith Brewing, and Yates Cellars — making it an easy stop in a full afternoon of tasting. Open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to five.