Fordham Lee Distillery sits on Church Street in historic Middletown, Maryland, where Doug and Nancy Lee turned their passion for craft spirits into a small-batch operation that opened in 2015. The husband-and-wife team converted a century-old building in the heart of this Frederick County town, creating an intimate distillery that produces bourbon, rye, and specialty spirits using traditional methods and locally sourced grains when possible. Doug brings engineering precision to the distilling process while Nancy handles the business side, and together they’ve built something that feels more like visiting friends than touring a commercial operation. The space maintains its historic character with exposed brick and original hardwood floors, while housing modern distilling equipment including their custom-built copper still that produces around 200 gallons per batch. You’ll find their spirits reflect the methodical approach of small-scale production, where every barrel gets personal attention and quality trumps quantity at every step. The Lees didn’t start this as seasoned distillers but as enthusiasts who spent years perfecting their craft before going commercial, and that journey shows in the care they put into both their products and the visitor experience. What started as a retirement project has evolved into a respected Maryland distillery that’s earned recognition for both their bourbon and rye whiskeys.
