1675 Spirits sits in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia on Bristol Pike. The distillery takes its name from the year William Penn first arrived in Pennsylvania, connecting the operation to the area’s colonial distilling traditions. Founded by Tim Gorham and business partner Bob Schuetz, both had careers in the corporate world before deciding to dive into craft spirits production. They opened their doors in 2019 after several years of planning and navigating Pennsylvania’s complex distilling regulations.
The facility operates out of a 5,000-square-foot industrial space that they’ve converted into a working distillery and tasting room. Gorham handles the distilling operations using a 500-gallon copper still from Vendome Copper & Brass Works, the same company that builds equipment for major Kentucky bourbon producers. They focus primarily on whiskey production, including bourbon and rye, though they’ve also experimented with vodka and gin. The operation stays deliberately small-batch, with Gorham emphasizing quality control over volume.
Visitors find a straightforward setup that prioritizes the spirits over flashy amenities. The tasting room connects directly to the production floor, so you can see the actual distilling equipment while sampling their products. Gorham and his team are usually around to talk shop about their process, from grain selection to barrel aging. The atmosphere feels more like visiting a working craft brewery than a polished tourist attraction, which appeals to people genuinely interested in how spirits are made rather than just looking for an Instagram backdrop.
