Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery is New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition, distilling some of America’s most prized spirits in the Hudson Valley. Before Prohibition more than 1,000 farm distillers produced alcohol from New York grains and fruits. In 2005 Tuthilltown Spirits brought the tradition of small batch spirits production back to the Hudson Valley.
I had the chance to stop by for a tasting discovering this beautiful place and getting some bottles to enjoy back home.
For 220 years Tuthilltown Gristmill, a landmark which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, used water power to render local grains to flour. In 2003, Ralph Erenzo and Brian Lee created Tuthilltown Spirits LLC, converting one of the mill granaries to a micro-distillery. Two and a half years later, Tuthilltown Spirits produced their first batches of vodka from scraps they collected at a local apple slicing plant.
Today, Tuthilltown Spirits distills Indigenous Vodka from apples grown at orchards less than five miles away and the highly awarded Hudson Whiskey line, using grain harvested by farmers less than ten miles away. The Visitor Center offers guests the opportunity to taste the collection of whiskeys, vodkas, gins, liqueurs, and other unique, handmade spirits. Tours illustrate how Tuthilltown’s spirits are made by hand, one batch at a time. Guests are encouraged to stay for the day and enjoy the family-friendly environment.
