Colts Neck Stillhouse sits on Route 34 in horse country New Jersey, about 45 minutes from Manhattan in a surprisingly rural pocket of Monmouth County. Founded by Peter Kovar in 2018, this craft distillery occupies a converted warehouse that feels more like a neighborhood hangout than a slick tourist operation. Kovar, who previously worked in finance, got into distilling after years of home brewing and decided to bring small-batch spirits to an area better known for its equestrian estates and organic farms. They focus on whiskey, vodka, and gin, with everything made on-site using a custom copper still. The journey from concept to opening took Kovar about three years, navigating New Jersey’s complex distillery licensing while building out the production space and tasting room. He’s hands-on with every batch, often greeting visitors personally and explaining the process behind each spirit. The operation stays intentionally small—they’re producing maybe a few hundred cases annually—which means you’re tasting stuff that hasn’t been sitting in a warehouse for months. The philosophy here leans toward experimentation and local sourcing when possible, with Kovar constantly tweaking recipes based on what works and what doesn’t. Visitors walk into a working distillery where you can see the entire operation from grain to glass. The tasting room feels casual and unpretentious, with Kovar or his small team happy to talk through their process and let you sample whatever’s ready. It’s the kind of place where you might end up staying longer than planned, especially if you catch them during a distillation run when the whole place smells like sweet mash and copper.