The Works Tasting Session (Wine, Whiskey or Cider)

The best part of this Lake George tasting is the choice. You can sample seven Adirondack Winery wines, or switch to four hard ciders or four American Oak whiskeys if wine is not your thing. I like the sparkling welcome and the happy snacker plate, which turns a quick tasting into a small shared occasion. I also like the premium pour, seasonal drink, and souvenir glass included in the package.

The main drawback is the setting. This is a downtown tasting room, not a tour of the winemaking facility, and seating can be limited. If you picture a quiet country winery with room to spread out, adjust your expectations. You are here for a friendly, guided tasting at a busy Canada Street shop.

Key points at a glance

• Seven wine pours or two alternative flights: Pick seven 3/4-ounce wine pours, four 3-ounce ciders, or four 1-ounce whiskeys.
• A generous shared snack plate: Local cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small bites help balance the alcohol.
• A full one-hour progression: You start with sparkling wine, add a premium pour, and finish with a summer slushie or winter hot drink.
• A small group setting: The maximum is 10 people, though the tasting counter may still feel active during busy periods.
• A downtown Lake George location: The tasting room sits at 285 Canada Street, convenient if you are already in the center of town.
• A useful first tasting: Friendly staff, including Kat, can help first-time tasters compare wines, ciders, and whiskey without making the experience feel formal.

What happens during the one-hour tasting

The Works Tasting Session takes place at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery at 285 Canada Street in Lake George. You return to this same location when the session ends. The whole program lasts about an hour, so it fits neatly into a day of shopping, sightseeing, or time around the lake.

You begin with a sparkling toast. This is a small detail, but it gives the visit a clear beginning. Instead of walking up to a counter and immediately receiving a series of samples, you get a celebratory first sip. It works particularly well for couples marking a birthday, anniversary, or simple weekend away.

Next comes your main flight. Wine drinkers receive seven 3/4-ounce pours of their choice. That is enough variety to compare several styles without committing to a single bottle. If you prefer cider, the Extreme Heights flight includes four 3-ounce pours. Whiskey drinkers receive four 1-ounce American Oak Whiskey pours.

The choice matters. Many tasting rooms build the experience around wine and treat other drinks as an afterthought. Here, cider and whiskey are planned alternatives. If one person in your group loves wine and another does not, you do not need to split up or force everyone into the same flight.

A Wine Concierge guides the tasting and answers questions as you go. Staff members are described as friendly, professional, and good at explaining the drinks in an approachable way. Kat is one staff member specifically associated with the tasting experience. You should expect help choosing pours, rather than a lecture that assumes you already know the vocabulary.

The seven-wine option, cider flight, and whiskey flight

The wine tasting is the most expansive option. Seven smaller pours let you sample across the Adirondack Winery selection and notice which styles suit you. You can then buy a bottle if something catches your attention, though purchases are separate from the tasting price.

The portion size is sensible. At 3/4 ounce each, seven wine pours total about 5 1/4 ounces, roughly the amount of a standard glass spread across several samples. That makes the session varied without turning into a long drinking event. Still, pace yourself. The sparkling welcome, premium pour, and finishing drink are additional tastes.

The cider flight offers four 3-ounce pours. This is a good choice if you prefer fruit-forward drinks or want something less traditional than wine. The cider option also received especially warm praise for its relaxed feel and the way it paired with the snack plate.

The whiskey flight includes four 1-ounce pours of American Oak Whiskeys. These are larger samples than the wine pours, so the flight deserves a slower pace. If you are traveling with someone who wants wine and someone who wants whiskey, the format allows both choices within the same visit.

The staff can help you decide, but there is no need to make the decision before arriving if you have booked the session and know you want one of the available categories. The key point is that you have three distinct ways to use the hour.

The snack plate is more than a token extra

The shared happy snacker plate is one of the strongest parts of the package. It includes artisanal, locally sourced cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small bites.

This is not a full meal, so plan to eat beforehand if you arrive hungry. It is enough, though, to make the tasting feel complete for two people rather than a string of alcohol samples with nothing to eat. The cheese and crackers give you something savory, while the chocolates, jelly, and marshmallows suit sweeter wines and ciders.

I particularly like the practical value here. A tasting with seven wines, or several larger cider and whiskey pours, is more comfortable when food is part of the plan. The plate also gives couples and friends something to share while they compare favorites.

The exact arrangement can vary, but you should expect a sampler rather than a formal meal. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied details do not promise substitutions, so ask the staff before ordering if that matters to you.

The premium pour and seasonal finish

After the main flight, you get one premium wine. You choose from sparkling, dessert, or reserve options. This gives the tasting a second act and lets you try something positioned above the standard selection without ordering a full glass or bottle.

That premium sample may be most useful if you are considering a special bottle to take home. It also gives you a chance to compare a more distinctive style with the earlier pours. You do not need to be an expert to enjoy the contrast. Simply note which flavor and sweetness levels you prefer.

The final drink changes with the season. In summer, you receive a 4-ounce fruit-infused wine slushie. In winter, the choice is warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy. This is a playful finish and one of the details that makes the package feel more generous than a basic tasting flight.

The slushie is especially suited to a warm afternoon in Lake George, while mulled wine or a hot apple toddy fits the colder months. Because the finishing drink is included, you do not need to add another purchase to complete the experience.

A souvenir glass with practical value

You also take home a premium Adirondack Winery logo wine glass. It is designed to enhance the aroma of wine, so this is more useful than a paper certificate or a small decorative trinket.

The glass adds a lasting reminder of the visit, but it also affects the value calculation. At $40.66 per person, you are not paying only for seven wine samples or a single flight. You are paying for the sparkling toast, shared food, premium wine, seasonal finish, and glass as well.

If you choose cider or whiskey, the glass remains part of the package even though it is more directly suited to wine. That may matter if you are comparing this option with a simpler cider or whiskey flight.

What the downtown setting is really like

This experience is inside the Lake George tasting room on Canada Street. It is convenient and easy to combine with the rest of a day in town. You do not need to travel to a remote production site for the tasting.

That convenience comes with trade-offs. The Lake George location does not offer a tour of the winemaking facility. If you want to see where the wine is made, you need to consider the Queensbury location instead, where production takes place.

The tasting room can also feel active. People may come in to buy bottles or ask about tastings while your session is underway. That gives the space an informal, open-shop quality, but it can be less peaceful than a dedicated seated tasting room.

Seating may be limited. One tasting was rated lower because the setup did not match expectations of a traditional winery with plenty of chairs. If comfortable seating is important to you, ask about the arrangement before booking or prepare for a tasting-counter format.

Price, value, and what is not included

The listed price is $40.66 per person. A gratuity of $6.84 per person is not included, bringing the stated per-person cost to $47.50 before any separate bottle purchases.

For an hour-long activity, that is not the cheapest way to taste local alcohol. The value depends on how much of the package you use. A basic flight might cost less elsewhere, but this includes several extras: sparkling wine, a substantial shared snack plate, a premium wine, a seasonal 4-ounce drink, and a souvenir glass.

The package is strongest for a couple or two friends who will share the food and enjoy the full sequence. If you only want a quick taste of one wine, cider, or whiskey, it may feel like more than you need. If you want a small celebration with several built-in treats, the price is easier to justify.

Promotional packages can differ, so compare the exact inclusions if you see another Adirondack Winery offer. One tasting arrangement was found to include more for a lower price, with an additional $11 needed to match the contents. Check the details before paying for an add-on.

Who should book this tasting

I would point couples first toward The Works. The sparkling toast, shared plate, premium wine, seasonal drink, and take-home glass create a natural date activity without requiring a full evening.

It also suits first-time visitors to Lake George who want an easy introduction to regional wine and a few alternatives. You get guidance, a fixed time of about one hour, and a central location. It is simple to fit around other plans.

Cider fans should not assume the experience is wine-only. The four-pour Extreme Heights flight is a real alternative, and the included snacks pair well with it. Whiskey drinkers can choose the American Oak flight instead.

This is less suitable if you want a production tour, a quiet rural setting, or a long formal tasting with ample seating. It is also not a family tasting room in the usual sense. Everyone taking part in alcohol tasting must be at least 21 and show valid government-issued photo ID.

Underage children may wait inside away from the bar. A very small children’s table and chalkboard are available, and non-alcoholic slushies can be purchased separately. Still, families should understand that the main activity is an adult tasting.

Timing, booking, and access

The session is offered at several times throughout the day. That flexibility helps you place it before dinner, between other activities, or during a slower part of your Lake George schedule.

The experience is limited to a maximum of 10 people. That is small enough for personal assistance, though the open tasting-room layout can still make the room feel busier than the official group size suggests. Reservations are the safer choice if you need a particular time. Walk-ins may be accepted when space is available, but there is no guarantee.

You receive confirmation when you book, and a mobile ticket is accepted. The activity is offered in English. The location is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Inside that window, refunds are not available and changes are not accepted.

My recommendation for The Works Tasting Session

Book this if you want more than a basic flight and like the idea of turning an hour into a small celebration. The package gives you a choice of wine, cider, or whiskey, plus food, a premium pour, a seasonal drink, and a souvenir glass. That combination explains why it works particularly well for couples and special occasions.

Skip it if your priority is seeing the winemaking operation, sitting in a quiet rural winery, or paying only for the lowest-cost samples. For everyone else, reserve a time, arrive with valid photo ID, and treat the session as a relaxed downtown tasting rather than a facility tour.

FAQ

Where does The Works Tasting Session take place?

It takes place at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery Lake George Tasting Room, 285 Canada Street, Lake George, New York 12845.

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

What alcohol options can I choose?

You can choose seven Adirondack Winery wine pours, a four-pour Extreme Heights Cider flight, or a four-pour American Oak Whiskey flight.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $40.66 per person. A $6.84 per-person gratuity is not included.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes a shared happy snacker plate with cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small bites.

Is a premium drink included?

Yes. You receive one premium wine, choosing from sparkling, dessert, or reserve options. You also receive a seasonal 4-ounce wine slushie, warm mulled wine, or hot apple toddy.

Is a souvenir included?

Yes. Each participant takes home a premium Adirondack Winery logo wine glass.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 21 and show valid government-issued photo ID to participate in the tasting.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.