BOURBON.COM

STEPHEN C. WEBSTER JUNE 30, 2018

The farm-based company is one of the finest craft distilleries in the country, according to a USA Today readers’ choice poll, so it makes sense that Black Button has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help them get the new site ready.

“We’re looking for you help to plant our first year crops of Juniper, and White Oak and to open our first bee hives,” founders Jeff Fairbrother and Jason Barrett explain on their campaign page. “We also need to build a bridge across the stream that divides the property to we can properly farm the back acreage. Our business plan shows this should be enough to carry the farm until year three when we become self sustaining by selling what we grow to the distillery.”

Contributions to the Kickstarter support Black Button Farm & Forestry’s need for root stock, seedlings, tools, and equipment. They’re also pledging to put money into lowering their carbon footprint and helping save bees, all while buying local at every opportunity.

“Whiskey making takes patience, years of training, hard work and a bit of luck,” said Jason Barrett, Black Button Distilling President and Head Distiller. “So does farming, and by growing our own ingredients we ensure a constant supply of the highest quality ingredients to make the finest spirits in Western NY. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than by connecting with the Finger Lakes – an area that has given me so much – and helping to cultivate a new agricultural tradition which will live on long after I am gone.”

They’ve also set up various rewards for different donation levels, like for $500 they will plant enough trees to cover a single person’s carbon footprint for a year. Better yet, donations of $2,500 or more earn the donor a party hosted in the distillery’s Rochester tasting room for up to 25 people. “We will eat like kings and swagger like pirates at your private party, catered by Master Distiller Jason Barrett,” their campaign page says.

Sounds great!