The Vale Fox Distillery sits on Noxon Road in Poughkeepsie, bringing craft spirits to New York’s Hudson Valley. Founded by husband-and-wife team John and Sarah Fox, this farm-to-bottle operation opened in 2019 after the couple left their corporate careers to chase their distilling dreams. John’s background in engineering and Sarah’s marketing expertise helped them navigate the complex world of craft spirits production. They converted a former industrial building into their distillery space, installing custom copper stills and creating a tasting room that feels more like a cozy neighborhood bar than a sterile production facility. The Vale Fox focuses on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and seasonal gin, with everything made on-site from locally sourced grains when possible. The distillery’s name pays homage to the rural character of their Dutchess County location, where foxes still roam the nearby fields and forests. What started as weekend hobby distilling in their garage has grown into a legitimate operation that’s putting Poughkeepsie on the craft spirits map. The Foxes didn’t just want to make good whiskey—they wanted to create a gathering place where people could learn about the distilling process while enjoying spirits that reflect the Hudson Valley’s agricultural heritage.
