LI Entrepreneur Finds New Way To Make Vodka; Wants To Change Industry

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Two Nassau County natives are attempting to change the way Americans think of vodka. Tim Kelly, originally of Levittown and Glen Cove, and Kim Laderer, from Glen Head, distill Felene vodka in Denver, Colorado.

Felene is a uniquely-made vodka. It's distilled from sugarcane, instead of the traditional potato, corn or wheat, which, Kelly says, makes them taste uniquely smooth.

"Vodka was always thought of odorless and colorless," and that's why traditionally there wasn't a lot of innovation in vodka distilling, Kelly told Patch.

Kelly grew up on Long Island — his father was a New York City police detective — and after working in finance and media, got interested in vodka and how it was made. He visited around 50 distilleries and came to the conclusion that as popular as vodka was, "no one was paying attention to making it pleasurable."

He launched a line of 80-proof ultra-premium vodka , made with organic sugar cane, eventually moving the distillery to Colorado, where the Ph level of the water is better for distilling, he said. He teamed up with Laderer, who had a marketing background, and now Felene is being sold in 300 stores across the country.

On Long Island, Felene is sold at liquor stores like Glen Head Fine Wine & Spirits and BottleBuys and in restaurants like The Main Event and Il Posto Di Joey.

The vodka is now sold in New York, Florida, Colorado, Texas and California. Kelly says they attend as many tastings as they can, to introduce the novel product to the consumer.

A flavored line created this year is now their biggest seller, Kelly said, and as Felene expands they will have to balance the slow process of distilling high-end vodka with manufacturing on a bigger scale.

"We are growing quite nicely, and right now chasing our own aspirations."