Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery

Located right outside the town of New Paltz, New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition, Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, crafts some of America’s most prized spirits in the Hudson Valley. I recently made a visit to their distillery for a fun filled day including a tour of the grounds, tasting and lunch at their restaurant, Tuthill House at The Mill.

Crafting Local Spirits in the Hudson Valley

Our tour began on the porch of the tasting room with a story about the historical grist mill and the journey of how it became the distillery it is today.  The tour was definitely a fun and informative experience.  I knew nothing about how whiskey was made going into this so it was really interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of the distilling process.

We made our way through the distillery, the bottling and packaging facility learning on the way about every step of the process.

We even met a big old friendly cat named Bourbon who is very loved by the staff and a part of the Tuthilltown family.  His brother, Rye, was somewhere exploring on the grounds too.  

The grounds themselves are beautiful and the atmosphere at Tuthilltown overall was very casual and the staff extremely friendly and helpful. Tours of the distillery cost $15 and include a flight of five tastings (or $12 with no tastings).

More Than Just Whiskey

After the tour, we did our tasting at the vistor center and store, selecting five liquors to try out. The tasting was fun and the bartender explained the color, infusion, type, ingredients and every detail about what we were tasting. Tuthilltown has a wide range of spirits; not just whiskey and bourbon. They offer tasty clear spirits like their Half Moon Orchard Gin and an Indigenous Apple Vodka (using apples grown at orchards less than five miles away) that would be perfect for any apple flavored cocktail. From the whiskey category I tried the Hudson Baby Bourbon – their biggest seller and most well know spirit – and I was definitely impressed. I also really enjoyed the Hudson Maple Cask Rye Whiskey which has a hint of maple flavor in it.  Tuthilltown also creates unique tonics and bitters like their signature elderflower tonic which you can try as well. Some of their newer products include liqueurs in flavors like coffee, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, and my favorite – the cacao liqueur- which tastes just like liquid chocolate – yum, delicious!

Tuthill House at the Mill

After the tasting, we had lunch at Tuthill House at the Mill, a restaurant housed in the beautiful and historic landmark mill. For over 200 years the mill used water power to grind local grains into flour. It now serves as a beautiful location for diners to enjoy a seasonal menu that incorporates locally-sourced ingredients in their modern American cuisine. The food was delicious and so were the cocktails – unique creations using the Tuthilltown Spirits we just learned all about.  The dining room and multiple patios overlooking a waterfall and creek creates a picturesque setting and relaxing atmosphere – a serene location for weddings and special events as well as casual dining.  

Even though I’m not a big whiskey drinker, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, tasting and the delicious fare at the Tuthill House Restaurant. There’s so much to see in the area so if you’re up to making a full day of it, be sure to stop in New Paltz to peruse the shops at the Water Street Market. Stop for some locally grown fresh produce at Wright’s Farm or Dressel Farms. Or stop by one of the local wineries in Gardiner –  Whitecliff Vineyard is just down the road, and offers great wine and an incredible overlook of the Shawangunk Mountains. Cheers!

Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery
14 Gristmill Lane
Gardiner, NY 12525
Get directions with Google Maps