Berkshire Mountain Distillers sits in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in a converted 19th-century blacksmith shop that owner Chris Weld transformed into the Berkshires’ first legal distillery since Prohibition. Weld, who comes from a finance background, founded the operation in 2007 after falling in love with artisanal spirits during travels through Europe. The distillery occupies a rustic stone building on South Main Street, where they produce gin, whiskey, rum, and seasonal spirits using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Weld’s journey from Wall Street to distilling wasn’t exactly linear. He spent years researching traditional distilling methods and sourcing equipment, including a custom-built copper pot still from Germany. The operation started small with gin production, using botanicals foraged from the surrounding Berkshire Mountains. Master distiller Weld handles production himself, maintaining tight control over every batch that comes off their 300-gallon copper still. Visitors find themselves in an intimate setting where you can actually chat with the person who made your spirits. The stone walls and exposed beams create an authentic craft atmosphere, and tours feel more like conversations with a passionate craftsman than formal presentations. Weld often leads tastings himself, sharing stories about sourcing juniper from local farms or experimenting with different botanical combinations. It’s the kind of place where you leave knowing more about distilling and feeling like you’ve met someone genuinely obsessed with their craft.