2005 - 2007
The idea of distilling vodka from surplus cider apples had been was not mine. My journey begins in 2005, when Tom Crowell founder of Chatham Brewing invites me to a hands-on distilling course in NH, where they turn surplus cider apples into premium vodka. There at the NH distilling course, Tom and I meet Ralph and Brian, the founders of Tuthilltown Distillery. Together, we collaborate and produce an apple-based vodka from our apples and using their distillery equipment and license. Very soon, we realize we need our own equipment and our own distilling license. And so we establish Harvest Spirits LLC in 2006 and locate in a cold storage room on our apple farm, Golden Harvest Farms. In 2007, we order our equipment from Germany, help change the alcohol law in NY to allow craft distilling (Farm Distillery Bill), design labels and convert the cold storage room into a bare-bones but functional distillery .
2008 - 2010
We launch our first product, Core Vodka in May 2008, triple pot distilled from our own apples. We store the surplus vodka oak bourbon barrels from our friends over at Berkshire Mountain Distillers. In November 2009, we release Cornelius Applejack, the first applejack made in New York since Prohibition. Around this time, we make some small batches of pear brandy from Fix Brothers-grown pears and grappa from Clermont Winery grape pressings.
The idea of distilling vodka from surplus cider apples had been was not mine. My journey begins in 2005, when Tom Crowell founder of Chatham Brewing invites me to a hands-on distilling course in NH, where they turn surplus cider apples into premium vodka. There at the NH distilling course, Tom and I meet Ralph and Brian, the founders of Tuthilltown Distillery. Together, we collaborate and produce an apple-based vodka from our apples and using their distillery equipment and license. Very soon, we realize we need our own equipment and our own distilling license. And so we establish Harvest Spirits LLC in 2006 and locate in a cold storage room on our apple farm, Golden Harvest Farms. In 2007, we order our equipment from Germany, help change the alcohol law in NY to allow craft distilling (Farm Distillery Bill), design labels and convert the cold storage room into a bare-bones but functional distillery .
2008 - 2010
We launch our first product, Core Vodka in May 2008, triple pot distilled from our own apples. We store the surplus vodka oak bourbon barrels from our friends over at Berkshire Mountain Distillers. In November 2009, we release Cornelius Applejack, the first applejack made in New York since Prohibition. Around this time, we make some small batches of pear brandy from Fix Brothers-grown pears and grappa from Clermont Winery grape pressings.
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2011 - 2013
Our portfolio expands: using surplus cherries from Western NY, surplus peaches from our farm stand, and black raspberries from our garden, we launch Cherry Applejack, Peach Applejack and Black Raspberry Vodka. 2014 - 2016 We start making apple cider vinegar, fire cider and balsamic apple vinegar. 2017 We help lobby Albany and push through the Farm Distillery Parity Law, which allows NY wineries, breweries and distilleries to sell each others products by the bottle and by the glass. 2020 During the COVID pandemic the distillery immediately started churning out the sudden demand for hand sanitizer, donating some of it to first responders. 2024 We helped lobby and push for Direct-to-Consumer shipping in New York State, so our customers can access all of our products even if their local liquor store doesn't them. |