Whisky Advocate Blog

I got this this morning. VERY interesting. Will we see more like this? 

TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP 

June 2, 2010, 

Tuthilltown, Gardiner, NY 

TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS ANNOUNCED TODAY the formation of a new partnership 

with 140 year old family owned W. GRANT & SONS of the U.K. for the production and 

worldwide distribution of TUTHILLTOWN’s HUDSON WHISKEY brand of handmade 

whiskeys. 

The acquisition also adds the first American whiskey to the William Grant & Sons 

portfolio, which already boasts category-leading brands such as the world’s most 

awarded single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich as well as The Balvenie Single Malt 

Scotch Whisky, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, Sailor Jerry Rum, Frangelico Hazelnut 

Liqueur, Stolichnaya vodka, and more. 

Since first being introduced in 2006, The Hudson Whiskey range has created a stir both 

within the industry and the bartending community, as well as among discerning 

consumers. In this short time, the micro distillery located in Gardiner, New York quickly 

earned international acclaim not only for the quality of its products and innovative 

packaging and marketing, but also for its pioneering spirit – it is the first whiskey 

distilled in New York since Prohibition, and is the first ever New York State-produced 

bourbon whiskey. 

“We are both excited and proud to have added the Hudson Whiskey range to our awardwinning 

portfolio.” said Simon Hunt, Managing Director – North America, William 

Grant & Sons. “When our founder William Grant first built his distillery by hand in 

1886, he had one dream: to create the best dram in the Valley. That dram became 

Glenfiddich and that valley was the Valley of the Deer in Speyside. More than a century 

later, history is repeating itself in Gardiner as the Hudson Whiskey range becomes a part 

of the William Grant & Sons family. This time, the dram is Hudson Whiskey and the 

valley is the Hudson valley. We are delighted to see that the spirit endures into the 21st 

century.” 

“All us at TUTHILLTOWN are extremely happy to be working with a family company 

that shares our philosophy.” said Ralph Erenzo, distiller and partner at Tuthilltown 

Spirits. “This new relationship will enable us to maintain the high quality of our products 

and allow us to continue to meet the increasing level of demand, without sacrificing any 

of the principles that make us what we are. We’re delighted to be taking place among 

such distinguished spirits as Hendrick’s Gin, The Balvenie and Glenfiddich.” 

Partners Brian Lee and Ralph Erenzo began work on the distillery which is located at the 

site of the TUTHILLTOWN GRISTMILL, a National Historic Site in 2003 and placed 

their first products on Hudson Valley bars and in retail outlets in Spring 2006. The 

distillery’s products are distributed currently in seventeen States, seven EU countries and 

Australia. TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS DISTILLERY was named ARTISAN 

DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR 2010 by the American Distilling Institute at its annual 

conference in Kentucky in May; taking also Silver medals for its HUDSON 

MANHATTAN RYE and HUDSON FOUR GRAIN BOURBON, and Gold medal for 

the design of the MANHATTAN RYE package. The distillery makes use of locally 

grown grains and apples to produce whiskeys and vodka. 

TUTHILLTOWN was instrumental in the passage of the FARM DISTILLERY ACT by 

the NY Legislature, permitting farm based distilleries equal opportunity with wineries 

and breweries to allow tours, tastings and direct sale of products at the distillery, a first 

for NY State distillers. The distillery is open for tours on weekends. For more 

information visit 

www.tuthilltown.com

Ralph Erenzo, Tuthilltown 

845.255.1527