About Lock 1 Distilling Company

During the days of Prohibition, the Oswego Barge Canal served as a vital route for bootleggers running from New York City to Canada. The banks of that canal in Phoenix, New York now house the award-winning, family owned and operated Lock 1 Distilling Company.

Oswego County’s first distillery since Prohibition comes courtesy of three cousins. Coming from a family of metal fabricators, Brendan Backus, Stephen Dates and Kevin Dates knew exactly what to do when the time came to open Lock 1 Distilling Company. They made the majority of their distillation equipment from scratch.

The cousins’ workmanship paid off. Each of Lock 1 Distilling Company’s offerings are award-winning. From the very first of their craft spirits, Ryze Vodka, the praise hasn’t stopped rolling in. Ryze Vodka is made from locally-sourced New York winter wheat and rye. Distilled three times through volcanic ash and active carbon, Ryze Vodka will help bring your lifeless cocktail from the ashes.