Brooklyn’s best distilleries lift spirits in the city

Check out the top shelf at any of New York City’s popular cocktail bars, and you might notice a trend: instead of seeing the recognizable names of imported big brands, many of the most sought-after spirits are made right in New York.

“New York is now one of the top three states in terms of the number of craft distillers,” explains Thomas Mooney, board member of the American Craft Spirits Association and co-owner/CEO of House Spirits Distillery. “Over the past few years, the state has made changes to its legal and regulatory environment to become a friendlier place for craft distilleries to open and do business. An important example is the ability to host events and tastings, then sell bottles out of tasting rooms.”

At the epicenter of this growth is Brooklyn, which has taken advantage of those laws to become the distilling capital of the state. A 2015 New York Daily News analysis estimates there are at least 15 licensed distilleries in the borough, with the majority of them opening within the past five years. And while the rapid growth is new, the practice in New York City has strong roots — the city was home to thousands of distilleries before prohibition. It’s a history that many of Brooklyn’s popular distillers, such as The Noble Experiment and The New York Distilling Company, honor with their time-tested processes or in the names of their products.

That dedication to keeping the distilling legacy alive is exactly why Mooney believes Brooklyn has become the ideal place for distillers to set up shop.

“Consumers, and especially Millennials, are attracted to companies and brands that are authentic and connected to their communities,” says Mooney. “Put differently, consumers are more interested than ever in where products come from, how they were made and who is behind them.”

So, venture out to Brooklyn and raise a glass to local makers next time you're in New York. Browse the gallery above for a few travel-worthy distillery stops.