The Better Man Distilling Company sits on River Avenue in downtown Patchogue, bringing craft spirits to Long Island’s south shore. Founded by Ryan Hubbard, a former investment banker who traded Wall Street for whiskey making, the distillery opened its doors in 2017 after a two-year journey through New York’s licensing maze. Hubbard partnered with master distiller Tom Johnson, who previously worked at Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, to launch their operation in a renovated 3,000-square-foot industrial space that once housed auto parts manufacturing. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and seasonal spirits using a 500-gallon copper pot still custom-built in Kentucky. The name comes from Hubbard’s philosophy that making whiskey forces you to slow down, be patient, and become a better version of yourself through the craft. The industrial-chic space features exposed brick walls, concrete floors, and towering fermentation tanks that visitors can walk among during tours. They produce about 1,200 bottles per month, with everything from mashing to bottling done on-site by a team of four.
