Two friends from New York turned an attempt to open a bar into Weppon & Co. Ltd., a whiskey maker built around its proprietary Temper Distilling method. The company distills above the usual 160-proof limit and combines three mashbills before aging the spirit in charred oak, producing its award-winning Weppon Whiskey and Sinamon whiskey. Its products are designed to work beyond traditional whiskey cocktails, including drinks usually made with tequila or rum.
Kings County DistilleryFounded in 2010 by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell, Kings County Distillery makes whiskey entirely onsite in Brooklyn’s historic Navy Yard. New York City’s oldest whiskey distillery, it combines traditional Scottish-style pot distilling with local New York grains to produce bourbon, Empire Rye and other creative whiskeys without sourcing finished whiskey elsewhere. The distillery’s work has earned Distillery of the Year honors from the American Distilling Institute in 2016 and the New Orleans Spirits Competition in 2023.BROOKLYN, NY
The Albany Distilling CompanyFounded in 2011 as Albany’s first distillery since Prohibition, The Albany Distilling Company makes small-batch spirits in downtown Albany using both traditional and modern methods. Its portfolio includes Ironweed whiskey made with New York State grains, along with other house brands and contract-distilling work for emerging spirit companies. The company also operates a house bar where its products can be enjoyed.ALBANY, NY
Breuckelen Distilling Company, IncOpened in 2010, Breuckelen Distilling makes whiskey and gin in Brooklyn from 100% New York ingredients. Its small team works in a hands-on distillery where grains are milled fresh, mash is made onsite, and flavor decisions are guided by sensory evaluation rather than fixed tradition. The company’s eight-plate copper column still, installed in 2010, helps shape the clean, soft spirit found in its Brooklyn-finished whiskies.BROOKLYN, NY
Finger Lakes Distilling CompanyFounded in 2007 as New York State’s first stand-alone distillery, Finger Lakes Distilling makes handcrafted spirits from locally grown fruit and grain overlooking Seneca Lake. Its McKenzie whiskey is distilled in copper stills and aged in oak, while fruit-based vodkas and liqueurs are made by soaking real regional fruit rather than using extracts or synthetic flavoring. The Burdett distillery also welcomes visitors for tastings, cocktails, and hands-on gin workshops.BURDETT, NY