New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, but it’s making a new name for itself as a leading location for wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Historically New York was home to many beer and spirit makers, especially at the time of prohibition. Over the years, fewer alcoholic beverages were produced in the city. Around 2000, there were a handful of breweries in the city, but today that number has jumped to over 40. I checked out a few to share with you, but Urban Adventure’s tours can help you plan the perfect tour to experience the best of New York City’s wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
This is where they age the whiskey at Brooklyn’s Interboro Spirits & Ale.
History of Distilleries in NYC
1640 – First brewery opened on Staten Island
1664 – Rum was distilled on Staten Island
1767 – First distillery established in Brooklyn
1810 – New York City has over 400 breweries and distilleries
1825 – New York City was home to over 1000 small distilleries
1920 – Prohibition forbids the sale of alcohol, ending New York’s strong brewing and distilling history
1979 – Home brewing is legal in NYC
2002 – Small farm brewing is legal again in NYC allowing spirit markers to start new businesses
2017 – Since legislation has changed to become friendlier to breweries and distilleries, they have been popping up all over the city. There are currently over 40 breweries operating in New York City in all 5 boroughs and several distilleries producing whiskey, rum, and gin.
How to find the best of New York City’s Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries
1. Wander around the city on your own
2. Sign up for one of Urban Adventure’s pre-planned tours like the Brewed in Brooklyn Tour or the New York Craft Cocktail Tour.
3. Take a private tour of local wineries, breweries, and distilleries where you choose the places most interesting to you or let Urban Adventures plan the perfect tour of wineries, breweries, and distilleries in New York City
Bonus Tip: This is the perfect GROUP outing. Birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, team building, etc.
The Urban Adventures tour group!
Can’t Miss Stops
- Rooftop Reds @rooftopreds at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Managing Partner Devin Shomaker from Rooftop Reds in the Brooklyn Navy Yard speaks about his rooftop vineyard.
We sampled the Rooftop Reds white blend and chardonnay. Both excellent choices!
- The Noble Experiment @tneNYC
The bar in the tasting room at the Noble Experiment.
The Noble Experiment tasting room.
- Interboro Spirits & Ales @InterboroNYC
View of the brewery from the Interboro Spirits & Ale tasting room in Brooklyn.
Behind the scenes look at the distilling and brewing process at Interboro Spirits & Ale in Brooklyn.
Tell me in the comments which Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries you’ll be checking out on your next tour!
Urban Adventures provided a complimentary tour in exchange for this review but the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am really loving the vibe of the Noble Experiment. Their packaging is what really draws me in. Yes, I am a sucker for unique packaging 🙂 Also, I find it interesting that small farm brewing became legal again in 2002. Just seems so recent and I wonder why not sooner…NYC must have strict laws around this stuff.
This is such a good guide for Distillery hunting! I have never done it in NYC, but based on what you’ve written, I will definitely have to next time I am there. I love all the beautiful photos you included, and the thorough explanations you wrote.
~xo Sheree
PoshClassyMom.com
These are all really great tips! I’m planning on visiting NY next year, and I’ll definitely try your tips out! x
I haven’t been to any of distilleries not even for beer 🙂 This looks so much fun with a tour group, I should have plans to do this in the future.
Love the look of this, I’ve always wanted to do a brewery or distillery tour. I’ve heard of a couple of gin-based ones here in the UK, I think I’d be pretty drunk by the end though.