You guys want to know what my favorite segment of my job is? Editorials! As an creative/entrepreneur/idea-machine, I just love teaming up with fellow creatives/entrepreneurs/idea-machines to hear about their projects, inspirations and goals and then getting to create the visual story that pairs these plans to their work, personality and product.
Over a year ago, at my photo show Under the White Sky to Ró Homeshop in Buffalo, Bobby Finan, now founder of Tommyrotter Distillery, hunted me down to introduce himself. He told me he has had his eye on my work and wanted to me be the one to create the image for the brand and product he had been crafting for years. We sat down for coffee and he told me his story of traveling all over New York State studying gin and vodka, distilling, production and marketing for years and how he was getting ready to put his dream into action. We talked not only distillery details, but new creative ideas for visual projects to go alongside the distillery.
This summer, Bobby finally got to open Tommyrotter Distillery and I was not only able to be there to see (and taste) the product of his devoted labor, but finally got to help bring his vision to life. After hearing about this project for over a year, I was beyond excited when I got the call about the official opening day! Throughout the month of July, I attended some Tommyrotter Distillery parties, including the official opening event, as well as set up a few on-location and studio editorial sessions to document what Bobby and Tommyrotter are all about as well as the chic, modern atmosphere of the distillery and tasting room coupled with the sharp label and logo design crafted by Block Club.
Click through the slideshow for a little peek into what the distilling and bottling process looks like, some delicious product shots of the gorgeously labeled bottles and some cocktails mixed especially for our shoot by Vera Pizzeria and Cocktail Bar, images of a wealth of people enjoying Tommyrotter gin and vodka at tastings and events, and some portraits of the founder himself, Bobby Finan, and investor, Sean Insalaco, on location. Tommyrotter products will be hitting the shelves September 1st (today!) and hopes to foray into darker liquors in the future. See what they’re all about at their website and follow their facebook page to stay updated!
Tommyrotter Distillery is in the 500 Seneca building in the Hydraulics District in Buffalo. Tasting room hours are Tuesday & Wednesday from 4-8 and Saturday from 12-4pm.