Growing up, I spent a lot of time working with my grandfather in my family’s button factory in Rochester, New York. Our buttons were known around the world for their superior quality and I imagined myself running the factory one day, carrying on the family tradition. But there was one little problem – I’m color blind. Since making nothing but black buttons wasn’t an option, I decided to honor the values of hard work, entrepreneurship, and community that my grandfather taught me by pouring them into my passion for crafting spirits.

That’s why, in 2012, I founded Black Button Distilling. Black Button is Rochester’s first grain-to-glass distillery since prohibition, and we’ve come a long way since then. By staying true to our vision of following our own path, making adventurous craft spirits – and above all else, doing it with locally sourced ingredients – we now have loyal fans all across the country. So, wherever you are, we invite you to raise a glass, celebrate the opportunities that life’s obstacles provide, and enjoy the hard-earned simple pleasure of a fine spirit.