Located at 1 Distillery Drive in the Bergen-Lafayette area of Jersey City, Corgi Spirits is the first (and only) distillery to come to Chilltown. Since it first opened in 2017, customers have enjoyed good cocktails in a chill atmosphere. To the disappointment of many residents, this Jersey City staple will be closing its doors on December 30th, 2023. Read on for more details about Corgi Spirits’ closure and what we will miss about this Bergen-Lafayette spot.
About the Upcoming Closure
On December 6th, Corgi Spirits sent out an email to its customers saying that its lease would not be extended and that the distillery would be closing at the end of the calendar year 2023. The spot will be hosting a special farewell event on Saturday, December 30th — which will include special discounts on all cocktails, bottles, and merchandise, as well as live entertainment. See the full email below:
“To all our loyal customers and supporters, we wish you all a heartfelt thank you for being part of the Corgi Spirits journey over the last six years. We have been informed by our landlord that our lease will not be extended, and as a result, have made the very difficult decision to close our doors at the end of calendar year 2023.
We will be maintaining regular business hours and continue serving all our tasting room visitors, retailers and distributors through Saturday December 30, and hope that you will stop in so we can thank you in person for your wonderful support, not only as customers, but also as friends.
We are planning a special farewell event on Saturday 12/30, which will include a small memento of our appreciation, special discounts on all cocktails, bottles, and merchandise, as well as live entertainment. We hope you can all join us for what we expect to be a truly special event.
Until then, we will be open during our regular hours, and will immediately be offering 25% off on all merchandise and bottle sales while supplies last.
While this chapter is coming to an end, we hold hope that the Corgi Spirits story will continue, possibly in another form, at some point down the road.
With our most sincere thanks and appreciation,
Corgi Spirits “
Corgi Spirits also shared an Instagram post about the closure, and the same message is displayed on its website.
View this post on Instagram
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All About Corgi Spirits
One step inside this bar/lounge and you will feel instantly transported to the twist on the definition of “Chilltown“: the chill vibe at Corgi is somewhat reminiscent of a fancy speakeasy with a bit of “across the pond” flair. The owner, Robert Hagemann, is a huge fan of all things British — hence the bar’s name. The cozy couches by the bar are great for relaxing with a few drinks while the sounds of Kanye West and Kid Cudi play in the background. There is also a private hidden lounge that can be reserved for smaller, more intimate gatherings.
One can’t help but feel high society in this place (and not overwhelmed by large crowds — a huge plus) that produces fancy and beautiful cocktails, all mixed with Corgi’s small-batch handcrafted spirits in-house. The array of beverages currently includes Pembroke Gin, Earl Grey Gin, and Saddlecoat Vodka.
In addition to the mixed drinks, Corgi also provides tastings of up to three of their products for just $5, if you’re looking to sample before getting a full bev — and tastings are free with your purchase of a bottle. Free tours of the distillery are also available any day on the hour up until 8PM.
Corgi describes every bottle they produce as a “beveragical adventure” — and boy, do they mean it. Here are some noteworthy drinks that we’ve enjoyed over the years (please note: these may no longer be menu items).
NGrind Cold Brew G+T — think of it as a gin and tonic with fresh cold-brewed coffee mixed in (it tastes even better than it sounds!) – a perfectly caffeinated refreshment.
The Lavender Fields Forever cocktail, made up of Pembroke gin, peach, lavender, lemon, treacle syrup, and walnut bitters is delightfully floral with just a hint of sweet, all at the same time (with an adorable sprig of lavender adorning the glass to boot).
The Corgi Cuppa, which comes in a charming teacup, has a bolder citrus-y taste and is made with lemon, honey syrup, and Angostura bitters; and the Ginger Pear Gimlet is a refreshingly fruity way to enjoy a classic drink.
The 221B made with Saddelcoat Vodka, smoke (yes, it’s lit on fire before it’s handed to you), dry vermouth, and peat bitters, and it’s just like drinking fire — in the best way possible.
There are even more drinks on the menu to try, including a classic G+T in a variety of tonic flavors with your choice of Corgi spirit if you aren’t in the mood to get fancy.
If you aren’t already convinced that this place is worth checking out, Corgi Spirits also gives back to animals as they partner with local animal rescue organizations such as See Spot Rescued and the Liberty Humane Society.
See More: Bars in the Montclair Area to Visit Based on Your Drink Preferences
We will definitely miss Corgi Spirits, but there are still a few weeks to check out the distillery if you haven’t already. As always, keep up with all of the Hoboken and Jersey City news + happening by following @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok.
