Scope our media appearances below.
Or, peek behind-the-scenes of our company operations!
November 29, 2024
March honors veterans, supports local groups
A reporter from Capital Region Independent Media—publisher of some of the Capital District’s most indispensable local newspapers—attended the Dignitary Remarks and Ruck March step-off in support of this annual spectacle. We’re so grateful for the coverage!
November 13, 2024
Ruck March benefits Capital Region food pantries
News Channel 13 was on-site for the third iteration of our annual Ruck March to promote the mission and publicize our efforts. We so appreciate the exposure, and the critical role WNYT plays in our community.
November 8, 2024
”Ruck Commander” discusses ruck march
In his third sit-down with WTEN News10’s Stephanie Rivas, New Scotland Spirits founder and “Ruck Commander” Jesse Sommer discusses the inspiration for and mission of his company’s Veterans Day “Ruck March” nonprofit fundraiser. Click for more WTEN coverage.
November 6, 2024
New Scotland Spirits helps lead vets, local community in Ruck March to support causes
Spotlight Newspapers managing editor Michael Hallisey examines the mission and inspiration behind New Scotland Spirits’s annual Veterans Day “Ruck March” fundraiser.
November 3, 2024
Capital Concoctions: New Scotland Spirits reinvigorates Albany’s cocktail culture
New Scotland Spirits returns to the pages of True Brew Magazine with a double feature in its most recent edition. First, there’s a look at the Tasting Room’s new cocktail menu and imminent plans to begin food service. Then, publisher Erik Budrakey undertakes an intimate examination of company founder Jesse Sommer in his latest “7 Questions” interview profile.
Download the magazine HERE!
October 28, 2024
A Must-Visit Lark Street Tasting Room
Albany.com has just published local author Erin Nudi’s fantastic deep dive exploration into New Scotland Spirits, its new Tasting Room, and the hometown jurisdiction that inspires both ventures.
This is one of the most comprehensive treatments of the processes, products, and people of New Scotland Spirits.
October 1, 2024
Of Spirits and Secrets
Xperience Monthly publishes a deep drive inquiry into the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room’s more shadowy clientele, highlighting the way in which the venue’s “private room reservations” are fitting in to Albany’s political climate.
Download the magazine HERE!
July 26, 2024
New Scotland Spirits makes Little Falls stop
Mohawk Valley Express publisher Dave Warner invited Jesse onto his “Small Town Life” podcast to discuss the origins of and inspiration for New Scotland Spirits. Tune in for anecdotes about their respective military careers, as well as Jesse’s thoughts about the way his rural upbringing yet informs the company’s operational ethos.
July 14, 2024
THE SECOND ACT OF AN OLD OAK-AND-MAHOGANY BAR
True Brew Magazine takes an intensive look at the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room’s signature feature: the oak-and-mahogany bar rescued from the old Larkin Restaurant right before its demolition. Now, the same patrons of that legendary establishment have made a new home out of the Tasting Room, having reclaimed their seats at the very same bar around which so many friendships were forged.
Download the magazine HERE!
July 10, 2024
It’s the 1920s again at Lark Street Lounge
The New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room has officially arrived, as its proprietors stare out from the Business section of the Times Union.
The article highlights the Tasting Room’s origins, early clientele demographic, and a brief history of the company.
June 27, 2024
‘This Tasting Room is a love note to the city and county of Albany’
The Altamont Enterprise & Albany County Post was on scene to cover the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room’s “grand opening” on Friday, 21 June 2024. We’re so grateful to our hometown paper for its publicity and support!
Click here to watch speeches from the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
June 25, 2024
From the fields of New Scotland to the drink menus of New York: An Albany-based business comes of age with the launch of its Tasting Room
Enjoy this company retrospective, published in the Capital District’s official paper of record!
March 16, 2024
Empire Rye — A Whiskey Befitting the Empire State
True Brew Magazine’s article on the Empire Rye Whiskey movement introduces readers to innovations pioneered by both New Scotland Spirits and the Albany Distilling Company. It’s a fascinating look at a whiskey category unique to New York State, and the distillers at the leading edge of this radical new approach to rye spirits.
Click to download the article.
January 8, 2024
Announcing the Premier of New Scotland Spirits: Season 3!
In it’s fifth article on the company, True Brew Magazine chronicles the growth and expanding notoriety of the Capital District’s most dynamic craft spirits company.
Click to download the article.
NOTE: We want to thank the publishers of True Brew Magazine for their incomparable support of our company, and for having built brick-by-brick such a wonderful Capital District trade publication.
November 17, 2023
“10 Questions Deep” with Two Buttons Deep
2BD interviews Jesse Sommer in the midst of his 6.8-mile “ruck march” during this second-annual Veterans Day event. Jesse discusses his thoughts on military service, community service, and what it means to be an American at this moment in time and space.
November 12, 2023
Voorheesville hosts Veteran’s Day Ruck March
WNYT News Channel 13 interviews Rosemary McHugh and Bryan Kafka about the New Scotland Spirits “2nd annual Veterans Day Ruck March Fundraiser” in the heart of the Town of New Scotland.
November 5, 2023
Service and Whiskey: What better way to Honor Veterans
True Brew Magazine reviews the history of and motivation for the second annual “Veterans Day RUCK MARCH Fundraiser” as orchestrated by New Scotland Spirits.
Click to download the article.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
A “New Scottish” Invasion: New Scotland Spirits now available in schenectady
New Scotland Spirits newcomer Rosemary McHugh talks about why she joined the company, and details its push into “the Electric City.”
Click to download the article.
July 3, 2023
Christmas in July
Jesse returns to the pages of True Brew Magazine to discuss the upcoming “Christmas in July” fundraiser BBQ and concert.
June 29, 2023
Tasting Room Announcement & “Christmas in JUly”
WTEN News10 ABC’s Stephanie Rivas invites Jesse back onto the program to announce both the launch of the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room and his upcoming “Christmas in July” fundraiser for Wreaths Across America.
MAY 16, 2023
Local Distillers’ Summit — It takes a Capital District
True Brew Magazine reports on the first annual “Distillers’ Summit” at the Schenectady Distilling Company, and discussed New Scotland Spirits founder Jesse Sommer’s gratitude for the craft community!
December 16, 2022
Discover My Albany County: Jesse Sommer
The founder of New Scotland Spirits takes his fellow Albanites on a tour of his favorite sights, scenes, jaunts, and hangouts in the Towns of New Scotland, Coeymans, and Bethlehem, NY.
New Scotland Spirits listed first in the TU dining critic’s gift guide for Upstate food and drink!
November 22, 2022
Times Union annual gift-giving guide
“I was so impressed with the maturity of this oak-aged range that I can see value in giving the full set along with the distillery’s custom knife to cut through the traditional wax seal.”
November 11, 2022
Veterans Day “Ruck March” Fundraiser
& Launch of 68W
Albany’s beloved News10 news anchor Stephanie Rivas sits down with New Scotland Spirits founder Jesse Sommer to discuss his company’s service-oriented mission, its Veterans Day “Ruck March” fundraiser, and the launch of 68W—a whiskey to support and celebrate those who’ve served.
October 27, 2022
Tired but smiling, this band of “New Scots” builds a business
Print version available here.
October 18, 2022
The Times Union “Food Life” Newsletter
“While some locally distilled spirits are better suited to cocktail mixing, I have been taken aback by the smoothness and flavor profile of four sample whiskeys sent to me by New Scotland Spirits, a young distillery using grains grown locally in New Scotland, Albany County, and aged for 5 years in charred oak.” 🥃 — Susie Davidson Powell
