Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to test out new drinks. For the perfect fall cocktails or Christmas-themed drinks, try some of these gin favorites from some Hudson Valley distillers.
Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery
Tuthilltown Spirits’ Half Moon Gin is delectable—made with an 80-percent apple, 20-percent corn base and infused with nine botanicals. At Tuthill House,special drinks, cocktail classes, and even some gin-infused food items can be found on the menu. The Gin and Jam, a mixture of gin, orange juice, and jam from local farmers, is served in a mason jar, ready for shaking. 14 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner (845) 255-1527; Tuthilltown.com
Hudson Valley Distillers
Spirits Grove Gin stretches gin’s definition to the limit, making for an exceptional and unusual experience. Rather than start with a corn or grain-based neutral spirit, Hudson Valley Distillers distills wine from neighboring Hudson-Chatham Winery and combines it with juniper and staghorn sumac to make its gin. To make a Hudson Valley Foghorn, the gin is chilled and mixed with ginger beer.
1727 Route 9, Clermont.(518) 537-6820; Hudsonvalleydistillers.com
Berkshire Mountain Distillery
The Berkshires’ first legal distillery since Prohibition, Berkshire Mountain Distillery is known for their dry-London citrusy Greylock Gin, perfect for a martini. Their limited edition Ethereal-Gin is a favorite among many, each batch emphasizing a new ingredient.
356 South Main Street, Sheffield, Massachusetts (413) 229-0219; Berkshiremountaindistillers.com
Prohibition Distillery
Prohibition Distillery starts with their famous Bootlegger vodka, made from 100-percent New York state corn, then adds five botanicals to create their Bootlegger Gin.
10 Union Street, Roscoe (607) 685-8989; Prohibitiondistillery.com
Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
Since opening in 1994, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery has slowly been expanding, creating new products like fruit brandies along with its now famous Doc’s Draft Hard Apple Cider. Believe it or not, this cider goes great with a jigger of Warwick Gin.
114 Little York Road, Warwick (845) 258-4858; Wvwinery.com
Orange County Distillers
Every ingredient used in Orange County Distillers’ spirits is from J. Glebocki Farms in Goshen. Their Not By the Hair of My Ginny-Gin-Gin combines blood orange juice, mint maple syrup, and of course, gin!
9B Maloney Lane, Goshen (845) 651-2929; Orangecountydistillery.com
Denning’s Point Distillery
At the cross between old and new, Denning’s Point serves house cocktails to live music in an historic 19th-century building. Its Negroni Twist updates the classic combo of gin and sweet vermouth by substituting Aperol for Campari.
10 N. Chestnut Street, Beacon (845) 476-8413; Denningspointdistillery.com
This article appears in Fall/Winter 2016.
