Hudson Valley Distillers sits on a working farm along Route 9 in Germantown, about 20 minutes south of Albany. Founded by Derek Grout in 2010, this farm distillery grows many of its own grains right on the property’s 115 acres. Grout, who comes from a farming background, wanted to create spirits that truly reflected the Hudson Valley’s agricultural heritage. The distillery operates out of converted farm buildings, maintaining that authentic rural atmosphere while producing vodka, gin, whiskey, and seasonal spirits. What started as a one-man operation has grown into a family business, with Grout’s wife and kids often helping with everything from bottling to greeting visitors. The whole setup feels more like visiting a working farm than a typical distillery—because that’s exactly what it is. You’re tasting spirits made from grains that were literally growing in the fields you drove past to get here. The production is small-scale by design, with Grout handling most of the distillation himself on copper pot stills. This isn’t about mass production or chasing trends—it’s about making honest spirits from ingredients they know intimately because they grew them.