Newsletter No. 1
A summer recap and things to look forward to this fall
On The Farm
This July marked the second harvest of our rye and barley crop. Frequent rains made 2023 a difficult harvest season for small grain growers in the Hudson River Valley, but we had enough dry days to manage and brought in nearly 60,000 lbs. of grain which we will start to put into production this fall. Our barley, which was a total loss in 2022, fared much better this year and will make its journey to Hudson Valley Malt later this fall before it turns into our American Single Malt whiskey.
Our rye – a less temperamental crop than barley – also did well. We grow three varieties of rye and are starting to see a clear winner emerge in terms of both field hardiness and flavor.
After a successful harvest, we are now preparing our fields for the fall planting. Our grains are “winter” varietals, meaning they are planted in the fall and over-winter, going dormant during the cold months and resuming growth when days are warmer in the spring. The fields were plowed in August and will sit at rest for several weeks so the organic matter that was plowed under can decompose. Planting will commence late-September, weather permitting. The fields we recently harvested will not be planted with grain this year. Instead, they will be seeded with clover to restore fertility. We are experimenting this year with a “no till” seed drill, which allows us to plant without tilling the soil, reducing erosion, and saving considerable labor and fuel.
At the Distillery
It’s hard to believe it, but August marked our sixth full month of production and we now have over 50 barrels aging in the barrel house. While the spring was dominated by learning our equipment and making several adjustments to our production facility (some things work better on paper than in practice), the summer has been focused on experimentation.
Whiskey, at its core, is three simple ingredients: grain, water and yeast. Within those three ingredients are infinite combinations that all determine the type, style and flavor of the finished product.
Our water is a constant – we sit on an aquifer with limestone bedrock, and our calcium-rich water is ideally suited for whiskey and comes out of the ground at 54 degrees year-round. Our grain is variable. At present, we use three varieties of rye in our whiskey. Each variety has a different character when distilled. The Danko is deep, earthy and spicy – with the most “rye bread-like” flavors of the lot. The Hazlet is somewhat sweeter, with a distinctive crème brulee undertone. While the Brasetto is more floral and grain-forward, the least spicy of the three. We’ve been distilling these grains separately, and in combination, and experimenting with blending them post-distillation as well. And, while the differences in grain variety are apparent in the “new make spirit” – the clear spirit directly off the still – it remains to be seen how those differences manifest after two, three or four years in an oak barrel. Only time will tell. As we move into fall, we are further experimenting with yeasts – both cultured and natural. More on that to come.
Although we are not yet open to the general public, we currently offer distillery tours for press and industry professionals. To schedule a tour, please email hello@silverbrothers.com.
Further Afield: In and Around Old Chatham
Our neighbors at The Old Chatham Country Store have incorporated our farm-grown rye and barley into occasional menu items. We are quite fond of the rye shortbread! The rye grain salad (seen below) is also a favorite.
It is always nice to see the Old Chatham Hunt Club passing through our fields. Mark your calendar for the Blessing of the Beagles on Sunday, October 1 at 2:30 pm at the Shaker Museum Administrative Campus in Old Chatham and the Blessing of the Foxhounds on Saturday, October 7, 8:00 am on the village square in Old Chatham.
Here are some additional upcoming events in our area:
Chatham Area Farm Tour organized by Chatham Agricultural Partnership and Columbia Land Conservancy. Saturday, September 23, 10:00 am - 4 pm, multiple locations in Northern Columbia County. https://chathamkeepfarming.org/2023-chatham-area-farm-tour/
Old Chatham Hunt Club Fall Hunter Pace, Sunday, September 24, Good Hope Farm, Malden Bridge. http://oldchathamhuntclub.com/hunter-pace/
Chatham OctoberFeast, Saturday, September 30, Village of Chatham, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. https://visitchathamny.com/chatham-octoberfeast/
Shaker Museum pop-up exhibition curated by hettler.tüllmann. Opening reception Saturday, September 30, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Kinderhook Knitting Mill, 4 Hudson Street, 2nd floor (above Morningbird).
FilmColumbia, Crandell Theatre, Chatham, October 20 - October 29. Tickets go on sale for members October 7th. Regular ticket sales begin October 14th. https://crandelltheatre.org/filmcolumbia/
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