For New York’s craft distillers, March 2025 marks a watershed moment with the enactment of long-awaited legislation permitting direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping for New York-made spirits, cider, and mead—a game-changer for small-batch distilleries and producers long stymied by restrictive distribution laws.
To coincide with this momentous forward stride in consumer accesibility, the New York State Distillers Guild has launched the NY Distillery Trails App, a one-stop guide to the state’s booming craft spirits scene (available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store).
For nearly two decades, New York’s wineries have enjoyed DTC privileges, shipping their bottles directly to customers across the state.
In August 2024, Hochul signed a landmark law turning distillers and cider makers COVID-era DTC permissions permanent, finally putting them on equal footing with wineries. At the time of signing, she said, “New York’s craft manufacturers create distinctive, world-class products that deserve a broader audience. This legislation levels the playing field, allowing these small producers to reach new markets and foster economic growth across the state.” (Notably, the law still excludes beer and malt-based beverages from DTC permissions.)
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As of March, that long-awaited legislation has finally been enacted. “With the signing of this legislation, New York continues its tradition of supporting homegrown entrepreneurship,” says Brian Facquet, President of the New York State Distillers Guild and Founder of Roscoe-based Do Good Spirits. “Our new NY Distillery Trails App is the perfect companion to this historic change, giving consumers a simple way to discover, visit, and now directly purchase craft spirits from the incredible array of distilleries in every corner of the state.”
The numbers tell the story of a fast-growing industry. Over the past decade, the number of craft distilleries in New York has surged from just a handful to well over 100, spread across every region from Long Island to the Adirondacks. Distillers have been experimenting with Empire Rye, single-origin bourbons, and botanical-forward gins, producing spirits that hold their own on the national stage.
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But for small distillers and craft producers, getting their bottles into consumers’ hands has remained an uphill battle. Until now, distribution laws have funneled sales through wholesalers and retailers, making it nearly impossible for a small-batch operation to sell beyond its tasting room. The new DTC law changes that dynamic entirely.
The Guild hopes it can help bridge this gap with the NY Distillery Trails App, designed to boost both tourism and sales in the wake of this legislative shift. Developed in partnership with Visit Widget, the app functions as a curated guide to the state’s distilleries, featuring themed trails, interactive maps, and customizable itineraries. (NB: The app is exclusively for distillers and does not include cider, mead, or wine producers.)
NY Distillery Trails App
The app’s key features include:
Curated Distillery Trails: Themed routes such as “Long Island Adventure,” “Fun in the Finger Lakes and Central NY,” and “Chill in the Catskills” help travelers map out spirit-centric road trips.
Filter by Spirit Type: Whether you’re a bourbon devotee, a gin aficionado, or on the hunt for Empire Rye, the app lets you filter distilleries by their specialty.
Custom Itinerary Builder: Plan tasting room visits, tours, and events with a simple click.
Seamless Purchasing: With DTC shipping now in effect, the app makes it easy to buy directly from distillers, whether you’re placing an order from home or browsing a tasting room.
“From seasoned enthusiasts to first-time explorers, our NY Distillery Trails App offers a tailor-made experience for discovering world-class spirits,” says Teresa Casey, Executive Director of the New York State Distillers Guild. “Combined with the new DTC legislation, it’s never been easier to support local distillers, visit and taste the best of New York, and share these exceptional products with others.”
Much like the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail, New York’s craft distilling scene is poised to become a tourism powerhouse. With 10 distilleries packed into Brooklyn alone, 25 spread throughout the Hudson Valley, and dozens more in the Finger Lakes, Capital Region, and beyond, the app transforms a scattered collection of tasting rooms into a cohesive, accessible experience. And with DTC shipping now a reality, the momentum behind New York’s craft spirits movement has never been stronger.
