Sixty-Something: North Fork Moonshine At Twin Stills

I was driving to Mattituck to review the play Wolf Hall, when by mistake I found myself on Sound Avenue heading east instead of the usual 25E off of Route 105. It was Sunday and it was an amazingly sunny beautiful spring-like day with temperatures in the fifties so who really cared? I even saw a vintage Mercedes 190 convertible with the top down. As I was in line going the speed limit on Sound Ave heading east, the sign on the right said entering “Long Island Wine Country” but on the left I saw a sign that said, “Long Island o’OldTymer Moonshine established in 1926.”

At first, I drove by as I was focused on getting to the North Fork Community Theatre early for the Sunday matinee, but since I was really early, I stopped and did a u-turn to check out this moonshine place. In all 17 years of writing articles on the East End, I don’t recall reading one about local moonshine – let alone writing one. I pulled into the parking lot of a small, one-story building and walked in. There were patrons seated on a small bar sipping what appeared to be moonshine mixed drinks and they even agreed to pose for a photo for this article.

On the shelves were bottles of moonshine stacked ever so neatly. Twin Stills Moonshine Distillery, home of the Long Island o’OldTymer Moonshine, produces an assortment of moonshine, including stuff I’d never heard of.

Friendly faces at the quaint tasting room. (Photo: TJ Clemente)

They sell 100 proof Moonshine (as clear as water). Then there is a 90 proof o’OldTymer Whiskey that is whiskey colored. Then it goes new age, with Coffee Moonshine at 80 proof, Chocolate Moonshine at 70 proof, Mixed Berry Moonshine at 70 proof, and even a Strawberry Moonshine.

Should you squirrel up to the bar, they make unique (to me) mixed drinks such as the “Red Neck” that consists of cranberry juice with a shot of Apple Pie Moonshine, with a twist of lemon over ice. For health freaks, they do have a “Frickin’ Lickin’ Good Tea,” consisting of tea, with a shot of Honey Moonshine, with a twist of lemon over ice.

The over the top drink that caught my eye is called a “Koketos.” This baby consist of handmade coconut delight infused with their “new” Chocolate Flavored Moonshine, served with drizzled chocolate syrup on ice or switch it up by adding coffee or straight 100 proof moonshine instead of chocolate. Sounds intense!

I suppose I might choose the simple “Stinger,” ginger ale with a shot of Honey Moonshine served over ice. However, if you have an adventurous sweet tooth, you might order “The o’OldTymer” and its ingredients of Apple Pie Moonshine, with drizzled caramel sauce on the inside of the glass, served with ice!

Yes, stopping was experiencing something new for me. The Twin Stills Moonshine Distillery location is officially 5506 Sound Avenue, Riverhead but it is on the eastern end of Riverhead, in the hamlet of Northville.