our story

Nestled between the orchards and the road stand resides Harvest Spirits Distillery, New York State’s 1st Farm Distillery. The project began in 2005 with research and development, and Harvest Spirits was born. In 2007, we acquired a 400 liter copper still from Germany, and obtained our Federal license. The following year we gained our State license, and production began. Core Vodka, our first product, was released in May 2008, with Cornelius Applejack quick on its heels, taking the shelves in November 2009. Both spirits originate from apples grown at Golden Harvest, and are distilled and bottled on site. 

As the years passed, we expanded our repertoire to include a variety of innovative products, using fresh fruit from our farm and neighboring growers to flavor each batch. Only the Pear Brandy and John Henry Malt Whiskey are not made with our own Golden Harvest apples. We now offer a Distiller’s Reserve of our Applejack brandy, aged 10+ years in oak barrels.  And the rest… is history!
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​Harvest Spirits Farm Distillery products are crafted in the “tree to bottle” method, with the apples grown steps from the distillery then pressed, fermented, distilled and bottled all on-site. Working closely with several local farms, Harvest Spirits is a true Farm Distillery, promoting strong ties among the local farmers and sharing information readily, from farm to bottle.

​Today, our vibrant distillery attracts visitors from far and wide to try  our acclaimed spirits. Coupled with the apple picking season, thousands of people visit the farm and distillery each season to enjoy a classic blend of science and artistry.