12 Finger Lakes-Inspired Signature Cocktails for Your Western NY Wedding
Riesling spritzes, Finger Lakes gin fizzes, apple-cider whiskey smashes — a dozen signature cocktails built entirely around upstate NY ingredients your guests won't have tasted anywhere else.
Nothing anchors a wedding to place like a cocktail your guests can only taste in that region. Here are twelve signature drinks we've built for real Western NY weddings using Finger Lakes wines, local distilleries and seasonal upstate ingredients.
Sparkling & lighter cocktails
1. Cayuga Spritz
Dry Finger Lakes Riesling, Aperol, sparkling water, orange twist. Best-selling summer wedding cocktail three years running.
2. Seneca Peach Bellini
Finger Lakes sparkling wine, muddled Hudson Valley peach, splash of peach nectar. Ideal for morning-of and brunch weddings.
3. Skaneateles Lemon Fizz
Local gin, fresh lemon, elderflower, egg white, sparkling water. Photogenic and low-ABV.
Spirit-forward classics with an upstate twist
4. Rochester Old Fashioned
Black Button Straight Bourbon, maple syrup from a Livingston County sugarhouse, orange bitters, cherry from Fly Creek.
5. Buffalo Manhattan
Lockhouse rye, Finger Lakes sweet vermouth, black walnut bitters, Luxardo cherry.
6. Syracuse Sour
Life of Reilley Irish whiskey, honey from Central NY, lemon, dash of Angostura.
Fall & winter wedding cocktails
7. Apple Cider Whiskey Smash
Bourbon, unfiltered NY apple cider, muddled apple, fresh thyme, cinnamon rim. Perfect for October–November.
8. Concord Grape Bourbon
Bourbon, Concord grape syrup (a Naples, NY specialty), lemon, sparkling water.
9. Empire Hot Toddy
Rye, honey, lemon, clove-studded orange peel. Served in a copper mug at outdoor winter weddings.
Alcohol-free (and stunning)
10. Finger Lakes Shrub
House-made cherry-tarragon shrub, sparkling water, lemon twist.
11. Cayuga Cooler NA
Cucumber, mint, lime, tonic, alcohol-free gin.
12. Adirondack Lemonade
Blackberry, sage, fresh lemon, honey syrup.
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