They do not carry cigars, even though Google says they do. Gentleman who answered the phone was super nice and provided some good info. Thank you.
Kayla Toborowski
Great people, great drinks!
Deanna Henry
Friendly service Delicious cocktails Dog friendly deck are
Matt Saunders
Great service every time we come. Love the old fashion!
Jacqueline V
My husband and I love relaxing on the outdoor patio with a drink, enjoying the amazing playlist coming from the speakers. The atmosphere is always inviting, and we often meet up with friends for a bite (you can bring your own food—huge bonus!). If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!
Barb Cittadino
Dark Island Distillery is a great place to stop in Alexandria Bay NY! With their “Musically Matured” spirits, stop in and try their amazing Bourbons, Vodkas and Gins! They have a great selection of specialty cocktails and adult slushies! They also have an amazing variety of gifts such as shirts, glasses, canvas bags, cork holders and more! Inside and outside seating give plenty of room to relax! Mike and Gretchen do an amazing job! Top notch and 10 out of 10! You won’t be disappointed!!
Patrick Tucci
Great drinks and great people!
Pam Youngs-Maher
Dark island spirits has the best Bourbon in NYS. The shop in A Bay has a nice variety of spirits and carries some wine from local wineries. They've also added some great gifts to browse and shop. Staff are friendly, informative, and do a great job offering samples and mixing delicious cocktails. A fun spot to visit!
Derek Hughes
As I continue exploring craft distilleries, I’m realizing more and more that you can find whiskey, bourbon, single malt, vodka, and gin that rival, if not surpass the quality of many expensive, mass-produced brands. What a lot of people don’t realize is that some of those big names they’re drinking aren’t made the way they think. In fact, many use mass-produced distillate to save money and crank out volume. Don’t take my word for it, do a little research, and you’ll see what I mean.
That brings me to my most recent experience at Dark Island Distillery in Alexandria Bay, NY, located where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario in the heart of the 1,000 Islands.
Dark Island is doing something truly innovative: their spirits are Musically Matured in Oak Barrels. Sounds a bit gimmicky at first, right? I thought so too, until I learned more about the science and history behind it. It’s actually a brilliant method, and from what I gathered, they’re the only distillery around doing it this way.
Instead of the typical aging process where a barrel just sits in one spot, their musical maturation method actively moves the distillate, similar to how whiskey used to mature as it traveled across the ocean or the American frontier in the 1700s and 1800s. The movement pushes the spirit deeper into the oak, accelerating and evening out the aging process.
Here’s the twist: the music isn’t played outside the barrel, it’s actually played inside. This internal vibration draws flavor and sugars from the wood in a completely unique way. And they tailor the music to each type of spirit. How cool is that?
I had the honor of sitting down with one of the owners and distillers, Mike Young. We tasted around ten different spirits, and the conversation went deep. We discussed yeast strains, fermentation techniques, distillation cuts, maturation processes, and the nuanced variables that affect each spirit. We even got into the history of whiskey and bourbon. Mike had an answer for every question, which is rare. It was clear: Mike has a deep passion for the craft and takes pride in every bottle.
And the spirits? Every single one I tried was exceptional. Not a single weak link in the lineup. Honestly, I’ve tasted bourbons and scotches that cost three times as much and don’t come close to what they’re doing here.
I’ll be breaking down each of the spirits I tried in future posts on my instagram account @biscottiducati when I have time to sit and retry all the spirits taking notes. This place is truly special.
Jim Johnsen
Mikes knowledge and expertise is unmatched. It the first ever tasting I’ve been to that every single spirit i tried was better than the next! Absolutely the best tasting ever!!
Great place with incredible cocktails made with the spirits crafted on premises. Wonderful atmosphere!
Ellie Park
Loved this cute location! Amazing slushies, tastings were fun, and a great knowledgeable bartender. I recommend this stop for anyone visiting the area!
Becca Sayyeau
Willy & Kelly are amazing! they really made the visit memorable. we tried a wide variety of drinks at the bar and the entertainment between all of us was just fantastic. it’s absolutely beautiful in there. we will be making this a definite stop every time we’re in town.
Karen Carrow
We love this place!!!! Wonderful people!!! Great products!!!!!
Steve Grady
What a great experience. Mike was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed our chat on the different whiskeys and bourbon. Highly recommended you try a flight…great price…and then grab a bottle of what you like. Very good quality.
They do not carry cigars, even though Google says they do. Gentleman who answered the phone was super nice and provided some good info. Thank you.
Great people, great drinks!
Friendly service
Delicious cocktails
Dog friendly deck are
Great service every time we come. Love the old fashion!
My husband and I love relaxing on the outdoor patio with a drink, enjoying the amazing playlist coming from the speakers. The atmosphere is always inviting, and we often meet up with friends for a bite (you can bring your own food—huge bonus!). If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!
Dark Island Distillery is a great place to stop in Alexandria Bay NY! With their “Musically Matured” spirits, stop in and try their amazing Bourbons, Vodkas and Gins! They have a great selection of specialty cocktails and adult slushies! They also have an amazing variety of gifts such as shirts, glasses, canvas bags, cork holders and more! Inside and outside seating give plenty of room to relax! Mike and Gretchen do an amazing job! Top notch and 10 out of 10! You won’t be disappointed!!
Great drinks and great people!
Dark island spirits has the best Bourbon in NYS. The shop in A Bay has a nice variety of spirits and carries some wine from local wineries. They've also added some great gifts to browse and shop. Staff are friendly, informative, and do a great job offering samples and mixing delicious cocktails. A fun spot to visit!
As I continue exploring craft distilleries, I’m realizing more and more that you can find whiskey, bourbon, single malt, vodka, and gin that rival, if not surpass the quality of many expensive, mass-produced brands. What a lot of people don’t realize is that some of those big names they’re drinking aren’t made the way they think. In fact, many use mass-produced distillate to save money and crank out volume. Don’t take my word for it, do a little research, and you’ll see what I mean.
That brings me to my most recent experience at Dark Island Distillery in Alexandria Bay, NY, located where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario in the heart of the 1,000 Islands.
Dark Island is doing something truly innovative: their spirits are Musically Matured in Oak Barrels. Sounds a bit gimmicky at first, right? I thought so too, until I learned more about the science and history behind it. It’s actually a brilliant method, and from what I gathered, they’re the only distillery around doing it this way.
Instead of the typical aging process where a barrel just sits in one spot, their musical maturation method actively moves the distillate, similar to how whiskey used to mature as it traveled across the ocean or the American frontier in the 1700s and 1800s. The movement pushes the spirit deeper into the oak, accelerating and evening out the aging process.
Here’s the twist: the music isn’t played outside the barrel, it’s actually played inside. This internal vibration draws flavor and sugars from the wood in a completely unique way. And they tailor the music to each type of spirit. How cool is that?
I had the honor of sitting down with one of the owners and distillers, Mike Young. We tasted around ten different spirits, and the conversation went deep. We discussed yeast strains, fermentation techniques, distillation cuts, maturation processes, and the nuanced variables that affect each spirit. We even got into the history of whiskey and bourbon. Mike had an answer for every question, which is rare. It was clear: Mike has a deep passion for the craft and takes pride in every bottle.
And the spirits? Every single one I tried was exceptional. Not a single weak link in the lineup. Honestly, I’ve tasted bourbons and scotches that cost three times as much and don’t come close to what they’re doing here.
I’ll be breaking down each of the spirits I tried in future posts on my instagram account @biscottiducati when I have time to sit and retry all the spirits taking notes. This place is truly special.
Mikes knowledge and expertise is unmatched. It the first ever tasting I’ve been to that every single spirit i tried was better than the next! Absolutely the best tasting ever!!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great place with incredible cocktails made with the spirits crafted on premises. Wonderful atmosphere!
Loved this cute location!
Amazing slushies, tastings were fun, and a great knowledgeable bartender. I recommend this stop for anyone visiting the area!
Willy & Kelly are amazing! they really made the visit memorable. we tried a wide variety of drinks at the bar and the entertainment between all of us was just fantastic. it’s absolutely beautiful in there. we will be making this a definite stop every time we’re in town.
We love this place!!!! Wonderful people!!! Great products!!!!!
What a great experience. Mike was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed our chat on the different whiskeys and bourbon. Highly recommended you try a flight…great price…and then grab a bottle of what you like. Very good quality.
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