HUDSON VALLEY DISTILLERS
ADDRESSSpirits Grove Farm
1727 Route 9
Clermont, NY 12526
518-537-6820
E MAILinfo@HudsonValleyDistillers.com
WEBSITEwww.hudsonvalleydistillers.com
OPENFri –Sun, 12–6pm
TASTING FEE$10 for a tour, tasting
and glass
Fri –Sun, 12–6pm
Call or email for weekday availability.
750 cases
OWNERSThe Yozzo and Moyer Families
MANAGERSChris Moyer and Thomas Yozzo
DISTILLERSThomas Yozzo and Chris Moyer
STARTED IN 2013, Hudson Valley Distillers, LLC is a craft distillery in the heart of the
Hudson Valley formed by two families sharing a dream. Thomas Yozzo and Chris Moyer
met in 1990 as fraternity brothers at Bloomsburg University. Over the years, Thomas and
Chris, their wives Jennifer and Jennifer, and their families,
often visited and vacationed together. Invariably, they
discussed opening a business when Thomas retired from
law enforcement. Everything from golf courses to camp
grounds was discussed, but nothing seemed to fit. Finally,
while enjoying a craft spirit over a campfire in 2009,
someone suggested they start a distillery. The dream was
born and the couples spent the next several years planning
and saving. In 2012, the Moyers moved from Northern
Virginia to Red Hook, New York, and in July 2013 the
two families purchased a small farm and apple orchard in
Clermont and named it Spirits Grove Farm.
Spirits Grove Farm was previously used as a nursery and
the property contains a house, retail center, 150-year old
barn, four-acre apple orchard, and four greenhouses. Plans
were immediately set in place to use the apples from the orchard to make an apple-based
vodka, and the greenhouses would be used to grow botanicals and flavorings for their gin.
Centuries before, the property was once owned by Chancellor Robert Livingston.
Livingston was an author of the Declaration of Independence, an entrepreneur that
brought the steamship to the Hudson River Valley, and the man that administered the
oath of office to George Washington. During the Chancellor’s time, the town of Red
Hook was known as Hardscrabble and was a crossroad on the main road between Albany
and New York City. Thomas and Chris like to think that weary travelers may have
stopped there and enjoyed Applejack similar to theirs!
The barn on the property has been renovated from the ground up to house the distillery
and tasting room. Renovations are currently in progress to convert an outbuilding into a
cocktail café. Hudson Valley Distillers makes small batch artisanal spirits with ingredients
sourced from their property, and from neighboring farms and orchards. They are working
to plant uncommon varieties of plants for flavoring in eventual products. For example,
hazelnut was recently planted, and a “weed” harvested from their fence row, called
Staghorn, is planned for use in their gin.
Visitors to Spirits Grove can see the distillery’s centerpiece – its 60-gallon hybrid pot
still – and every step of the spirits production process, from growing grains and fruits to
fermenting, distilling, and bottling.
This vodka has a sweet nose, silky mouth
feel, and subtle tones of apple on the
smooth finish.
Made from Hudson Valley apples and aged in white oak like an American whiskey. It has pleasant notes of whiskey up front with a smooth, subtle finish.
HARDSCRABBLE APPLEJACKStrong American oak start, hints of caramel and vanilla, ends like an aged scotch.
CHANCELLOR’S RAW BOURBONNamed after one of the Hudson Valley’s great patriots, this premium white whiskey is made from corn and malted barley.
SPIRITS GROVE GINComing in late 2014. The secret recipe for Spirits Grove Gin is still being worked on, but its flavor will be based on botanicals grown right on the farm.