Hudson Whiskey is marking its 10th anniversary with the release of the documentary, From Grain to Glass: An American Craft Spirits Renaissance. The film explores the recent explosion of craft distilling in America and Hudson Whiskey’s role in pioneering the craft spirits renaissance specifically in New York State.
The story of craft whiskey in the United States is one of guts, grit, grain, and only very recently, glory. When the infamous Volstead Act enacted Prohibition and shut down the spirits industry in 1920, the tradition of small scale farm distilling was wiped out. Up until a decade ago, there were just a handful of distilleries spread across the country; each struggling under regulations and restrictions leftover from Prohibition. But when Ralph Erenzo set out create the Tuthilltown Distillery in upstate New York, he faced and successfully lobbied the state legislature. His tireless efforts have resulted in changes in state laws and tax codes that now support local farm communities and craft distillers. Since Erenzo began his journey in Tuthilltown, more than 330 distilleries have emerged and flourished in the explosion of the craft spirits movement.
As passionate pioneers of craft distilling, Hudson Whiskey wanted to explore the accomplishments of other likeminded leaders in the craft industry. Over a course of six months, Hudson Whiskey Brand Ambassador Han Shan traveled the country, meeting with a host of distillers, experts, authors, and bartenders who personified the craft spirits movement. This film follows Shan as he visits Ralph Erenzo and Brian Lee at Tuthilltown Spirits, Nicole Austin of Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, Dave Smith of St. George Spirits in Alameda, CA, James Rodewald, author of American Spirit: An Exploration of the Craft Distilling Revolution, among other leading craft whiskey authorities. “In the ten years since Hudson became the first New York-made whiskey since the end of Prohibition, the rise of craft distilling has produced a seismic shift for the centuries-old spirits world—with benefits for distillers, whiskey-lovers, farmers, and local economies alike,” says Hudson Brand Ambassador Han Shan. “It shows no signs of slowing down!”
The film tells a story not of a single brand, but of a group of pioneers at the forefront of the craft spirits renaissance who believe in the quality, integrity and transparency for which great craft distilling stands.
On Saturday June 13th, Hudson Whiskey will screen the documentary and host a 10th Anniversary Festival to celebrate 10 years of distilling excellence with the local craft establishments that make its success possible. The day-long fair will be open to the public and support local farmers, artists, and crafts men and women located throughout the Hudson Valley. Guests will be able to enjoy farm-fresh food, preview up and coming craft products, participate in outdoor games and enjoy libations from the Hudson Whiskey range.
Later this Summer, Hudson Whiskey will also release its first-ever 750ML sized bottles of their iconic Baby Bourbon and Manhattan Rye whiskies. Bottles will retail for $49.99 and will be available nationwide.
Hudson Whiskey’s 10th Anniversary Festival
Time and Date: Saturday June 13th from 11am – 9pm
Location: Tuthilltown Spirits, 14 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner, NY 12525
How to get there from New York City:
By car: Take I87 north past the Woodbury Common outlets. At Exit 17 follow route 300 North to Modena, then follow signs to Gardiner. Parking near the distillery will be provided.
By train: Take Metro North to Poughkeepsie.
By bus: Trailways NY bus to Gardiner, then taxi to the distillery.
For more information, head to HudsonWhiskey.com, Facebook.com/HudsonWhiskey, or Twitter.com/HudsonWhiskey.
