Last weekend, beautiful wife Kathy and I decided to take a scenic drive through the Southern tier. With the leaves ablaze in fiery reds and oranges, it was the perfect time to visit some of the local wineries and distilleries. Our destination for the day was Keuka Lake, home to Heron Hill Winery and Barrelhouse 6.

Our first stop was Barrelhouse 6, a beautiful distillery located on a piece of property overlooking Keuka Lake. We enjoyed our drinks on the back deck, soaking up the sunshine and listening to live music.

I ordered an Old Fashion made with citrus bitters, which was absolutely delicious. Barrelhouse 6’s Old Fashions are consistently one of my favorites. Kathy tried a “Bourbon Tango,” a refreshing cocktail made with Brothers’ 1910 Bourbon, tangerine orange juice, blood orange bitters, and simple syrup.

The Brothers’ 1910 Bourbon is a particularly bold and flavorful bourbon. It’s described as Sherry Cask Finished, and it has a rich and complex taste. I find that it’s perfect for bourbon cocktails, but it’s also delicious on its own.

After our visit to Barrelhouse 6, we made our way over to Heron Hill Winery. Despite the winery being exceptionally busy, we were still able to enjoy a leisurely tasting experience. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the tasting room was well-organized.

The wine club members at Heron Hill Winery are truly treated like royalty. We were offered a special tasting of two of the wines included in our October wine club package, thanks to the generosity of the tasting room manager, Jenn. The wines were delicious, and Jenn was incredibly knowledgeable about the different grape varieties and winemaking techniques.

My personal favorite was the Classic Blaufränkisch, a spicy, peppery red wine with a musky aroma. It’s the perfect wine to pair with a hearty meal. My wife enjoyed the Classic Pinot Noir, which had a strong cherry flavor.

Our visit to Heron Hill Winery and Barrelhouse 6 was a perfect way to spend a fall afternoon. The scenery was beautiful, the drinks were delicious, and the people were friendly. If you’re ever in the Finger Lakes region, I highly recommend checking out these two great businesses. Heron Hill Winery is located at 6576 County Road 154, Hammondsport, NY 14840. Barrelhouse 6 is located at 7985 West Lake Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527.