Albany’s Finest

Small, local distillery seeks extra productivity

Posted on 03/28/2022

More than 250 years ago, Albany, New York’s very first distilling company was in full operation. Today, not more than 100 yards from that location, stands Albany’s first distillery since prohibition.

Two friends, John Curtin and Matthew Jager, opened Albany Distilling Co. in 2011. Curtin and Jager are partners in the operation and do all the work, from grain mashing to bottling and selling. Their quest is to replicate a quality, original, small single batch product made the traditional way, with all New York State organically grown grains. Currently, the duo is producing Coal Yard New Make Whiskey, Ironweed Whiskey, and Quackenbush Still House Rum. They will also be debuting vodka later this year.

“We always look for farmers even closer to us from which we can buy our grain because supporting local businesses is very important to us,” said Jager. “I think we do a great job of celebrating Albany in its present and in its past with all of our products – it’s this local connection that customers really respond to.”

With only a small, two-man operation, maintaining a high productivity level is essential. They needed quality equipment that functioned properly every single time.

They couldn’t take the risk of buying used or cheap equipment that would eventually be replaced. When they began to purchase their equipment, they first looked at local companies. To help them achieve this efficiency, they installed a Hannay Reels stainless steel hose reel – a quality product made locally in Westerlo, a small town just outside of Albany.

“We chose a Hannay reel because we wanted a high-quality, reliable reel that could do what we needed it for without any issues,” Jager stated. “It was also important to us to buy an American-made product, and we were delighted to find that the reel was even made in our home state of New York.”

The SSN800 Series reel is used to transport filtered water for fermentation processes, proofing, and general sanitation, maintaining cleanliness and safety. Its stainless steel construction is ideal for the beverage processing industry where a sterile environment is vital.

Jager further explained that the hose pulls out from the reel with minimal effort, and retracts flawlessly every time.

“Because we’re able to use the hose and store it away with such ease, we no longer have to worry about hose ends or nozzles sitting on the floor and getting dirty or creating a safety hazard,” said Jager.

With a compact fame and narrow mounting base, this reel easily mounts onto a facility’s wall or other work area where space is limited.

“It’s easy to see why Hannay is the global market leader in hose reels,” added Jager. “If you depend on your equipment to do what it’s supposed to do every single time, and it helps make your processes flow easily and safely, then the reel has been worth every penny.”

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Categories: Customer Testimonials

Topics: Customer Testimonials