Nicom Distillery: Bringing Innovation to the Art of Making Alcohol

Nicom Distillery is an artful business when it comes to making alcohol that tastes great and leaves you feeling tip-top the next day. Their products are crafted from organically sourced ingredients in order to create a distinct and vibrant flavor that sets them apart from other alcohol brands in the market today. With their wide range of liquors, wines, and other products, Nicom Distillery has become one of the fastest growing brands in the beverage industry worldwide.

Lucas Miró started Nicom Distillery after a trip in his youth, where he discovered rum production. This sparked an interest in the art of making alcohol, and how small businesses are able to stand out in a world dominated by global brands.

In early 2013, Miró quit his corporate job to pursue his dream. A few months later, they won the first prize at Startup Weekend EDU in New York City with their business idea of Making it Personal. After refining their idea into an alcohol production company that is local and sustainable, they opened their doors to customers.  In March 2015, Nicom Distillery became one of 10 finalists for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for the emerging growth companies category and was selected as one of three finalists from New York State.

Distilling alcohol for any purpose requires a particular set of knowledge and skills. The technology, tools, and techniques for distilling are well known in the beverage alcohol industry. At Nicom Distillery, our mission is to make innovative products based on traditional techniques. Our pursuit is based on curiosity and a desire to bring new life into this time-honored tradition. We use craftsmanship and experimentation to recreate flavors from time immemorial with innovation as our goal! In addition to designing unique flavor profiles for these spirits, we utilize modern day techniques like vacuum distillation or using fruits that traditionally aren’t used in other regions. Some examples of this include using blueberries in grappa production or fermenting fruit wine before it goes through an aging process like Sherry or Vin Santo.

What makes Nicom Distillery stand out is its use of innovative technology and a science-based approach to making vodka. The process starts with distilling alcohol vapor without heating it, so that the water evaporates and leaves behind 100% pure ethanol vapor. From there, vacuum condensers capture the ethanol molecules in a chamber. Because no heat is used in this part of the process, it takes one tenth as much energy as regular distilling does--something key for running an eco-friendly business. Another unique aspect is how they manage fermentation. Rather than using yeast or other traditional methods, they grow bacteria that's been genetically engineered to metabolize sugar into ethyl alcohol. These bacteria are mixed with sugar beet molasses from their sister company Syngenta Biotech and left to ferment over the course of five days at a controlled temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. A more traditional fermentation method might take six weeks, but because these bacteria work at higher temperatures, they can finish in just five days!

Whether you're a novice in whiskey or a seasoned professional, Nicom Distillery offers something for everyone. Visitors can take tours of their facilities and try out whiskey tastings every day, Sunday-Friday at 10am and 1pm; on Saturdays they offer free tours at 10am only. Tours last approximately one hour and guests are welcome to bring their own bottles for tasting or purchase them on site after a tour. The company provides both flight and sip tastings with samples ranging from $1-$6. The event area is also available for private events such as weddings, corporate events, birthdays and anniversaries. Their team is experienced in catering to all sorts of occasions so it's worth checking out if you're looking for an outside venue. 

A fully stocked bar is always available on site with drinks ranging from beer to wine - make sure to ask about their specialty cocktails! Nicom Distillery is known for their classic cocktail recipes that have been handed down through generations. One popular concoction is the Diamond Jubilee which has rye, Dubonnet Rouge, Pernod, and Angostura bitters among other ingredients that have been used since Queen Elizabeth II came into power. The company was founded by Nicholas Sloan who had a background in law but decided to pursue his passion for distilling alcohols like vodka, gin and whisky.