Adirondack Distilling Company sits at 601 Varick Street in Utica, New York, founded in 2012 by Toby Shea and his wife Lisa. Shea, a former pharmaceutical executive who left the corporate world to chase his passion for craft spirits, opened the distillery with the goal of creating distinctly New York spirits using locally sourced ingredients. The operation occupies a renovated industrial building in downtown Utica, where they produce vodka, gin, whiskey, and seasonal specialties that reflect the character of the Mohawk Valley region. What started as a husband-and-wife operation has grown into one of central New York’s most recognized craft distilleries, staying true to their small-batch roots while expanding their reach across the state. The distillery combines traditional distilling methods with modern equipment, including their custom-made copper still that’s become the centerpiece of their production facility. Visitors can experience the full craft distilling process from grain to glass, with Shea often personally leading tours and sharing his journey from corporate life to craft distiller. The space maintains an authentic, working-distillery atmosphere where you can see, smell, and hear the production happening around you.