HUDSON VALLEY DISTILLERS

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.

Strong American oak start, hints of caramel and vanilla, ends like an aged scotch.

Named after one of the Hudson Valley’s great patriots, this premium white whiskey is made from corn and malted barley.

Coming 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.