7 Woman-Owned Bourbon Distilleries in the Northeast

A bottle of Beacon Bourbon, a small-batch craft bourbon whiskey from Denning's Point Distillery, stands atop a bar with other bottles of craft spirits in the background. — Denning’s Point Distillery crafts its Beacon Bourbon entirely from New York-grown grains.

Bourbon originated in Kentucky. That part we know. Who discovered that whiskey distilled primarily from corn and aged in charred oak barrels — that part we don’t know. Most of the stories credit men with the invention of this spirit. It could just as easily have been a woman. After all, one of the earliest known female bourbon distillers, Catherine Spears Fry Carpenter introduced a sour mash in the early 1800s — not too long after bourbon became a thing.

Things have changed since those early days of bourbon. Bourbon production happens all over the country. Even the Northeast hosts a number of talented bourbon distillers. Thanks to our Distilling Women map, we know of several woman-owned bourbon distilleries in the area worth a visit.

Read on to discover the woman-owned bourbon distilleries along the North Atlantic coast.

Denning’s Point Distillery

In 2014, Susan Johnson and her partner, Karl Johnson, opened Denning’s Point Distillery in Beacon, New York. The two originally intended to develop a farm distillery but realized they’d found the perfect spot in the middle of a small but bustling town instead. (Read more about Susan Johnson in our recent profile.)

First and foremost, the distillery focuses on crafting spirits that represent the area and incorporate local ingredients. The aptly named Beacon Bourbon is distilled entirely from New York State grains and aged four years in charred white oak barrels. The spirit impressed the San Francisco World Spirits Competition enough to win silver. It continues to draw fans.

Drop by to get a sample of this bourbon and find out why people love it. The tasting room is open Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 8pm and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. Tastings are $5.

10 N. Chestnut Street, Beacon, New York 12508

New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery

Owned and operated by Alisa Lawrence and her family, New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery has been crafting spirits since 2015. Located in Winchester, New Hampshire, the farm and distillery occupy 50 acres, growing cider apples and juniper berries as well as other ingredients used in the spirits distilled there.

The spirits produced by the distillery encapsulate flavors and ingredients from the local area. Crafted in small batches, the Clark & Chesterfield Bourbon Whiskey is derived from a combination of yellow corn, rye, and malted barley. It then sits in new American oak barrels for a time before it’s bottled.

If you’re interested in giving it a try, visit the tasting room, open Friday through Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. For just $5, visitors have the opportunity to taste the distillery’s spirits but the fee is waived if you purchase a bottle.

136 Main Street, Winchester, New Hampshire 03470

Silo Distillery

With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Silo Distillery is a woman-owned business producing spirits and cider as well. Co-owner Anne Marie Delaney operates the company alongside CEO Peter Jillson in Windsor, Vermont.

The distillery also prioritizes sustainability, recycling water used in the distilling process while also sharing spent grain with farmers. Focused on creating small-batch whiskeys, Silo sources local grains from a farm in North Clarendon, a nearby town. When it comes to bourbon, this one uses Vermont-grown corn and rye and spends time in a barrel for a rich and smokey flavor.

Visit Silo to experience the spirit for yourself. The distillery is open to the public every day at varying times. Check the website for the latest schedule.

3 Artisans Way, Windsor, Vermont 05089

Cooper’s Daughter Spirits

Inspired by her passion for farm-to-table, Sophie Newsome, her father, Stuart Newsome, and the rest of the Newsome family launched Cooper’s Daughter Spirits. Seeking a fertile locale for their growing business, two generations of Newsomes settled in the Hudson Valley in two barns that date back to 1790 and 1805 respectively. As a bonus, the property was originally owned by a distiller.

Louise and Sophie Newsome of Cooper's Daughter Distillery laugh while standing behind a bar with bottles of craft spirits in front of them and behind them.

It’s also the perfect environment to craft bourbon. Stuart makes his own American white oak barrels and ages the Black Walnut Bourbon in them. Once they’ve aged properly, the spirit is finished in a barrel that previously held black walnut syrup harvested from trees on the property. It results in a smooth but sweet spirit.

Get to know the bourbon and all the other spirits available from the distillery when you visit the Cocktail Garden at the distillery. It’s open year-round on Friday from 4pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 7pm.

284 State Route 23, Claverack, New York 12513

The Spirits Lab

Situated right across the street from a Revolutionary War landmark, George Washington’s headquarters, The Spirits Lab brings together traditional distilling methods with modern advancements and innovation. Owners and co-founders Lynn Hason and Phoenix Kelly-Rappa develop small-batch spirits as well as canned cocktails.

Bottles of dark craft spirits line a table to the left while a copper still, barrels, and other distilling equipment are seen in the background at Spirits Lab distillery in Newburgh, New York.

As a nod to the history of the local area, the bourbon is named Bull’s Head for the tavern where Washington and his troops raised a glass to their final Revolutionary War victory. Distilled from 100 percent New York-grown spirits, this bourbon spends five years in a barrel from Independent Stave Company, a well-known cooperage.

Meet Bull’s Head Bourbon and all of The Spirits Lab’s offerings at the tasting room, open from Tuesday through Thursday, 11am to 3pm and Friday through Saturday, 12pm to 6pm.

105 Ann Street, Newburgh, New York 12550

Catskill Provisions Distillery

After an impressive career in the publishing industry, Claire M. Marin turned her long-time hobby of beekeeping into a full-time business with Catskill Provisions Distillery. She set out to craft spirits with honey at the core. Her lineup includes vodka, gin, and whiskey — and of course, bourbon.

The Maple Bourbon Claire has developed doesn’t incorporate as much honey. Instead, she finishes the grain spirit, crafted entirely from New York state ingredients and aged in new American oak barrels, on maple syrup. The final step in the process places the bourbon in barrels that previously held New York-harvested maple syrup. It adds a unique flavor to the warm and woody bourbon.

Taste Claire’s honey spirits, including the Maple Bourbon, when you visit the Catskill Provisions Tasting Room, located Callicoon, New York. It’s not far from the distillery in Long Eddy and nestled into the Castkill Mountains.

16 Upper Main Street, Callicoon, New York 12723

Crostwater Distilled Spirits

Inspired by her family who emigrated to the United States from Russia after World War II, Victoria Close opened Crostwater in 2016. She operates the distillery with her husband and her children, including her daughter and distiller Lexi. Together, they honor the traditions of her parents with premium spirits they would have been proud of.

The Pennsylvania-based distillery crafts a Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Pennsylvania-grown corn, rye mash and malted barley. It ages for at least two years on Northeastern American white oak before it’s bottled. When finished, the smooth spirit delivers flavors of sweet caramel punctuated by a smokiness in the back of your throat. Crostwater notes, “It is not harsh or bitey.”

Confirm for yourself! Take a drive out to Crostwater’s tasting room in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 10pm.

506 Industrial Drive, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania 17339