By Chad Neal
It was more than ten years ago that Bryan Scharf started trying his hand in making drinks for adults and since has a following that enjoys his liquors frequently. Several years ago, he decided to go big and start distilling spirits he could share with the world. He found a property close to home on Robbins Road just outside the village of Ellicottville and began building Ellicottville Distillery. The property he maintains is quaint in the country and good sized for activities. He had a pavilion built to go along with the tasting room (a nicely decorated bar) inside his distillery. He and his wife Renee have turned the unknown area four miles east of town into a well-known spot for fun. They also leased property next door to Bigfoot Park Golf to make the area even more enjoyable. The Villager caught up with Bryan and Renee and asked about their endeavor at Ellicottville Distillery.
The Villager (V): When did you start making alcohol? Was it wine first?
Bryan Scharf: I would say I started making alcohol seriously in 2011. I was interested in the process of making and enjoying the finished product. I started with wines, mostly fruit, but there were a couple grape varieties also. Then mead* became the next step towards distilling. I bought my first still later in 2012 and honey mead was the first alcohol I distilled. It quickly developed into a passion and a vision to one day be an actual distillery.
V: Who helped you with it?
Bryan: I had a few different mentors in the base process of distilling: my uncle and his close friends. I bought any books that were out at the time and many different forums that I would be able to gain any information on the process. Then I would use trial and error to develop variations and other ways to create spirits that I hoped others would enjoy. I’ve had the support of my family, business partner, and wife since the beginning and without them, the distillery wouldn’t have survived but a few years.
V: What were you doing at the time, how did it come to be?
Bryan: My family has owned the building that the distillery is in since 2004 and it seemed perfect for a manufacturing facility like the distillery it has become. We started a renovation in 2014 and opened October 3, 2016. While we were working on the project, I was working with my father’s drywall company along with bartending at the Gin Mill. We put a lot of time into the distillery with the help of a lot of people to get where we are then and today. It’s been an ever-evolving place.
V: What was the first liquor you made for the distillery?
Bryan: We opened with cider-based vodka, and a clear corn whiskey. We have since produced over ten different spirits from straight Bourbon whiskey to unique products like a Honey Spirit, and Maple Spirit. We’ve created a Maple Bourbon Cream, Appleshine, Blueberry Vodka, whiskies, gin, and hope to stay innovative going forward.
V: What are the plans for the Anniversary?
Bryan: We are having our 10th Anniversary celebration October 3rd starting at 3. We’ll have music, food available, drink specials, tastings of out available products and future ones also. We appreciate everyone that has helped us or supported us with a purchase of our spirits. Without you and patience with me, we would never have gotten to where we are today! Thank you!
Stop on in Saturday to help celebrate with Ellicottville Distillery and see what it’s all about. The neighboring business is also having an event so it should be a great day of celebration and fun. It will be a wonderful autumn day to enjoy the views and the creations made at Bryan and Renee Scharf’s Ellicottville Distillery.
* Mead (/miːd/, MEED), also called honey wine, and hydromel (particularly when low in alcohol content), is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops.