BROOKLYN CHOCOLATE TOUR

By Jessica McKenzie | FEBRUARY 12, 2013

 Cacao Prieto

Daniel Preston, the founder of Cacao Prieto (218 Conover Street, Red Hook), was an aerospace engineer who sold his defense company and started a chocolate factory and distillery. “You’d be surprised how many engineers would be comfortable in a chocolate factory, but chocolate really came of age in the industrial revolution,” says Preston. Preston and his team of engineers developed chocolate-making machinery they sell to other bean-to-bar companies. He invites curious chocolate lovers out to their Red Hook location to see the mix of Victorian and state-of-the-art equipment at work. Although there are no scheduled tours during the winter, the sign on the door says “Please Knock” and they give impromptu tours all the time. “We’re friendly people,” Preston said. The storefront where you can taste and purchase their products is staffed from 11am – 7pm on weekends.

Their cocktail bar Botanica is closed until spring, but you can whip up your own Valentine’s Day cocktail with Cacao Prieto’s Don Rafael Cacao Rum (available at Dry Dock Wine & Spirits in Red Hook): simply shake with muddled raspberries and ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with a raspberry. If you want a traditional offering of chocolate for your sweetheart, Preston suggests the Bark Bars. Each organic, single-origin bar comes with a postcard illustrating a romantic story from his family history.

Read More at Brooklyn Exposed…

In collaboration with ASP (Art, Science, Passion) and founder Rhett Butler, a facial soap was formulated with our developed Cacao Epicatechin antioxidant. The soap is truly a fountain of youth product formulated with natural and organic ingredients it posses a high percentage of functional ingredients. There is no “angel dusting” in this meticulous formula that spared no expense for function.

UV rays, IR radiation, pollution, and lifestyle factors generate damaging free radicals that can prematurely age skin. Antioxidants neutralize these unstable molecules, acting as a second line of defense against photodamage and accelerated aging.  This soap will improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation by neutralizing free radicals and stimulating collagen production.

The unique soap’s ingredients include: Epicatechin antioxidants from Cacao Prieto, Widow Jane mineral water, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, almond oil, activated carbon, iron oxide, brown sugar, honey, green tea, urea, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, avacado oil, rose hip oil, grape seed oil, sheat germ oil, evening primrose oil, camellia tea seed oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, perrila oil, apricot oil, hazelnut oil, vitamin E, bentonite clay,  honeysuckle oil, chamomile oil, blood orange oil, neroli oil, sweet orange oil, myrrh oil, cardamon oil, bergamot oil.

The soap will be branded and marketed by ASP later this year as part of their “black” line of natural products. The below samples were packaged by Cacao Prieto for our beta test panel of doctors and consumers.

Our scientists and “apothecary” laboratory is available for collaborations or developmental work. Please contact us to discuss your product development needs.

Thank-you all for joining us and for the amazing artisans who contributed to the celebration. We can’t wait for the next event and hope to see everyone again soon!

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It’s not too late to RSVP! http://widowjane.eventbrite.com/

from urbanoyster.com

We have teamed up with the wonderful folks at Manhattan by Sail to do a Local Liquor Tasting and Cocktails Cruise aboard their ship, the Clipper City, which is a replica clipper ship and the largest sail boat based here in New York Harbor.  Each sail features different New York City Distilleries with tastings and  2 custom cocktails includedon each cruise.  Our beverage experts lead each cruise and give you all the inside information on the liquor your are tasting, how to taste beer like a pro, and the long standing relationship between boats and booze.  In addition, your ticket includes delicious appetizers to go with your drinks. 

Our friends at Manhattan by Sail handle the ticket sales for these cruises.  Tickets are $110/person and cruises will occur on the dates and times below.  Urban Oyster buyers get $10 off their tickets.  To redeem your coupon enter the discount code UOCOCKTAIL when booking your tickets.  You can check the cruise schedule and buy tickets HERE.

Cruise Schedule:

• Sept 18th at 7pm and Sept 20th at 9:15pm – Industry City Distilling, Brueckelen Distilling, Kings County Distilling
• Sept 25th at 7pm and Sept 27th at 9:15pm – NY Distilling and Van Brunt Stillhouse
• Oct 2nd at 7pm and Oct 4th at 9:15pm – Cacao Prieto, Jack from Brooklyn

WIDOW JANE BOURBON WHISKEY

Widow Jane Whiskey is imbued with both the strength of the past and the forward looking energy of the world’s most magnificent and maddening metropolis.

New York’s most iconic structures were built using the limestone from this mine, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

As great whiskey makers throughout the world from Kentucky to Scotland have long known, it takes sweet water from tough rock to make great whiskey. And, that’s what Widow Jane Whiskey is all about.

Our 5 year old Widow Jane Bourbon was a smash hit, selling out immediately!

We are now gearing up for our big launch party on Oct 19 when we will launch our 7 year Widow Jane Bourbon. You can reserve a bottle here. We know this batch is going to sell out fast!

Our tasting notes:

This 7 year offering is aged to perfection. It drinks like a 20 year + bourbon with its deep cherry notes and light tannic finish

Aroma: Butter, Cream, Toffee
Front: Cherry Wood, Olive Oil
Mid: Orange
Finish: Burnt Orange and Spice

After Glow: Light tannic fuzz

Unfiltered for the deepest color and flavor.

The shake up of Brooklyn’s borough-made spirits scene is the perfect reason to imbibe in some of the borough’s best of specialty cocktails, artisanal spirits, craft beers, and boutique wines.

What better way to toast the awesomeness of this occasion, than with several of Brooklyn’s paramount restaurants providing top-notch noshes for your palate pleasing pleasures.

Tickets are $45 (including all food and drink…bargain!) Purchase tickets and tell your friends!

Wines by: Brooklyn Winery, Parlay Wine and Brooklyn Oeonology

Beer by: Sixpoint Brewery

Spirits and Cocktails from: Donna Bklyn, Sunburnt Calf, Brooklyn Gin, Brooklyn Republic Vodka,  El Buho Mezcal, Jack from Brooklyn, Pok Pok, Tanteo Tequila, Templeton Rye,  White Pike Whiskey, Q Drinks, Sycamore,  Van Horn Sandwich Shop, Tenneyson Absinthe Royale, Maison Premiere, Cacao Prieto, Fort Defiance

Savory Bites from: D. Coluccio & Sons, Dressler, Tchoup Shop, Allswell, Stone Park Cafe, Van Horn Sandwich Shop, Fairway Market,  Mable’s Smokehouse, Benchmark Restaurant, Le Comptoir
 
Sweet Bites from: Robicellis, Ovenly, Cacao Prieto
 
Music by: DJ Nutritious, spinning energizing and ecletic grooves
 
BrooklynExposed-Shaken&Stirred

September 10, 2012 8:17am | By Alan Neuhauser, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

RED HOOK — Cacao Prieto celebrates the launch of its latest bourbon at a free block party at its factory in Red Hook on Friday, Oct. 19.

The event, which marks the debut of the distillery’s Widow Jane seven-year bourbon, will feature live music and free tastings of Cacao Prieto’s rum, bourbon and alcohol-free chocolate bars, plus cocktails and food at the Botanica event-space next door.

“This is becoming the epicenter for New York State whiskey,” owner Daniel Preston said. “New York is becoming the epicenter of the craft-food world. And I think we fall into that.”

Two thousands bottles of Widow Jane, made from Kentucky bourbon and water drawn from the former Widow Jane limestone mine in upstate New York, will hit store shelves next month, each selling for about $50, Clark said. The spirit is a follow-up to Cacao Prieto’s five-year Widow Jane bourbon, which debuted last month with 1,500 bottles and has nearly sold out.

Owner Dan Prieto Preston “owns a piece a property on top of the mine,” Clark explained. “We thought the name was pretty spectacular.”

The distillery is also preparing a new whiskey and a coffee liqueur. The whiskey, named Widow Jane Organic Wapsi Corn Whiskey, still needs to be aged — “at least six months or more,” Clark said. The liqueur, developed with Brooklyn Roasting Company, is expected to arrive in stores in October or November.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120910/red-hook/cacao-prieto-rolls-out-latest-widow-jane-bourbon#ixzz26GX2Z8l9