Cooper’s Daughter Spirits sits on a working farm in Claverack, New York, about two hours north of Manhattan in Columbia County. Founded in 2013 by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell, who previously launched Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, this operation represents their move from urban craft distilling to rural farm-to-glass production. The distillery occupies a restored 19th-century barn on the Haskell family property, where they produce whiskey, gin, and seasonal spirits using locally sourced grains and botanicals. The name honors the tradition of coopers—the barrel makers whose craftsmanship shapes every drop of aged whiskey. Spoelman, who cut his teeth distilling moonshine legally in New York City, brought his technical expertise upstate to create something more rooted in agricultural tradition. Haskell, whose family has deep ties to Columbia County, provided both the land and the local connections that make their grain-to-glass approach possible. They mill their own corn and work with nearby farms to source wheat and rye, creating a true farm distillery model that goes beyond just having a rural address. The operation started small but has grown into a significant regional producer while maintaining its artisanal approach. Their copper pot stills sit in the renovated barn alongside fermentation tanks and a small rickhouse where their whiskeys age in full-size barrels. The setting feels authentically agricultural—you’re visiting an actual working farm that happens to make exceptional spirits, not a tourist attraction dressed up like one.