on a recent (relatively) warm saturday, i finally took a trip down to red hook, brooklyn and toured the cacao prieto distillery.  cacao prieto is both a chocolate factory and a whiskey distillery, so it is basically heaven.  although they make one of my favorite bourbons, widow jane, it wasn’t until a friend told me that i realized that the distillery was a subway ride (an short uber) away.  and the chocolate?  that was the cherry on top.

$20 gets you a tour of both the chocolate and whiskey-making facilities, and tastings of both. the most beautiful wrappers i have every seen.  sorry mast brothers. old school chocolate making machines.the whiskey distilling machine.  meeting the individuals who make these goods by hand gives you a good sense of the skill, care, and time it takes to make artisanal, local products. my leopard isabel marants were key for standing during the 1 1/2 hour tour.raw cacao nibs.
they had chickens and a peacock in the courtyard.  because why not?

if anyone is looking for a fun and interesting excursion for a few hours in new york, i highly recommend the tour.  plus you can get some goodies to enjoy long after its over.