Products

New York

Matchbook Distilling Elsewhere Blood Orange Aperitivo
Matchbook Distilling Daytrip Strawberry Amaro
Matchbook Distilling Fieldtrip Squash Amaro
Matchbook Distilling Land of Muses Gin
Matchbook Distilling Metamodernity Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Matchbook Ritual Sister Smoked Pineapple Spirit
Matchbook Late Embers Smoked Sunchoke and Honey Spirit

Summary

Matchbook Distilling Co. is an R+D facility dedicated to bespoke production of spirits that champion biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, anthropology, tradition and science. They partner with local farms such as Treiber Farms and Rogers Farms, and North Fork winery RGNY to source the ingredients that make up the spirits they create. In addition to working within food systems to alleviate waste, Matchbook crafts custom-made spirits for not only bars and restaurants, but individuals looking for something one-of-a-kind to mark a special occasion. Leslie and her team hope to show folks that spirits can be made from almost anything and can work in total harmony with agriculture.  

Matchbook Distilling Company was founded in 2018 by Leslie Merinoff-Kwasnieski in Greenport, NY on the North Fork of Long Island. The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, NY and home to 30+ vineyards and many multigenerational farms. Leslie is a direct descendent of Hiram Walker (Founder of Canadian Club Whisky) and her father runs Breakthru Beverage Group, one of the largest wine and spirits wholesalers in the U.S. and Canada). Before entering the spirits industry, while in college, Leslie founded Broke in Burlington; a company that promoted food and beverage specials at bars and restaurants around town. The company evolved into an events marketing agency and started partnering with global liquor companies.  

 Through these connections, Leslie started working with William Grant and Son’s on brand development for Sailor Jerry Rum. Although successful in her role, after a few years of throwing parties, Leslie desired to move over to the production side of spirits. With no real opportunities to do that with William Grant and Sons, she decided to move on and landed a job working at The Noble Experiment, a small distillery in Brooklyn, NY. While there, Leslie honed the necessary skills that would eventually lead to establishing Matchbook Distilling.