Matchbook Distilling Co.
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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Greenport, Long Island
People: Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski & Brian Kwasnieski, Founders | Paul Monahan, COO
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Located on the North Fork of Long Island, Matchbook Distilling Co. is redefining what a distillery can be. Founded by Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski, Brian Kwasnieski, and Paul Monahan, Matchbook is a creative force dedicated to crafting new American spirits that push the boundaries of flavor, sustainability, and agricultural connection.
At the heart of Matchbook’s ethos is low environmental impact, anthropology, and up-cycling. Unlike traditional distilleries, Matchbook thrives on rescuing produce and grains that would otherwise be discarded—transforming them into remarkable spirits that reflect both the land and the season. Their innovation isn’t just conceptual; it’s deeply practical. Through extensive partnerships with local farmers, food distributors, and even producers abroad, they turn surplus, “imperfect,” or overlooked ingredients into singular libations.
Each month, Leslie, Matchbook’s head distiller, challenges herself to create two new spirits, often available exclusively to their devoted New York fanbase. Projects range from transforming spent kasu from Brooklyn Kura into a shochu base for their gin, "Land of Muses," to distilling overgrown Boston Marrow squash into a lush, seasonal amaro under the Field Trip label.
At Matchbook, experimentation is a way of life: wine, cider, macerations, distillates, botanical blends—each spirit is a study in creativity and sense of place. Whether it’s a one-off small batch or the next cornerstone of their range, every release is a bold step forward in reimagining what American spirits can be.
Matchbook Distilling Co. isn’t just making spirits. They’re building a new future for distillation—one filled with imagination, sustainability, and a true celebration of the unexpected.
Media Links
Vogue: This Woman Is Changing the Liquor Landscape, One Custom-Made Bottle at a Time
The New York Times: A Jewel of a Distillery With Storied Roots
Edible East End: Matchbook Distilling Company Is Ready to Set the Spirits World on Fire
Purist Online: Matchbook Distilling Co.’s Nonconforming Spirit
Food & Wine: The Distillation Masters Fearlessly Inventing Custom Spirits
Punch: Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski Is Rewriting the Rules of Distilling
Nikki on the Daily: Unmatchable Spirit
Liquor.com: This Distillery Is Making Custom Spirits for NYC's Top Bars and Restaurants