CAZENOVIA — Madison County Distillery will host this year’s first and only “History Where You Eat” event on Monday, Aug. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m.
The event will explore the histories of the neighboring Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (SQHAP) and one of the community’s longest-running industries, distilling.
“Madison County, and Cazenovia especially, had a pretty long history of commercial distilling and selling things like high wines [— a spirit that has undergone its final distillation and is ready for dilution and/or maturation —] to other commercial entities that would then turn those into the finished spirit,” said Madison County Historian Matthew Urtz. “[Cazenovia] started distilling basically from the time people arrived, because the water would need to be distilled, but commercially, you are talking the mid-19th century into the late 19th – early 20th century.”
Attendees will hear from Urtz and SQHAP’s Hilltop House and Studio Director Sarah Tietje-Mietz, take a tour of Madison County Distillery, and receive a voucher for a discounted tour of Hilltop House.
Hilltop House is the former home of ceramicist, sculptor, author, preservation activist, and SQHAP founder Dorothy Riester (1916-2017). The house was designed and built by Riester and her husband, Robert, with help from local contractors. In 2014, Hilltop House — along with the original 23-acre property — was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as a highly intact example of a mid-twentieth century modern house and artist studio.
History Where You Eat will also include the unveiling of the first “Madison County Cocktail,” featuring products from Madison County Distillery.
“Dorothy Riester was quite the party thrower, so we are going to make a special drink in her honor,” said Urtz. “There is no cost to the event, but we hope you will stay and have dinner or a drink and support a local business.”
According to Urtz, Madison County’s plans to present a History Where You Eat series last year were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When we came back around to it this year, we thought it would be neat to incorporate [two neighboring facilities],” Urtz said. “The actual [original] quarry is right in that area where the two properties are located . . . The North Country Trail goes through both properties and a lot of folks like to hike that trail. We thought it would be great to have that partnership since they have collaborated before. Our goal is always to create a little bit of business for a local restaurant on a non-busy night and to learn a little bit of history.”
Madison County Distillery is located on an 80-acre farm at 2412 Rt 20, Cazenovia.
To reserve a spot, email [email protected]
