Distillery profile

Shady Knoll

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery is located in Millbrook, New York, and combines a large orchard with small-scale distillation. The farm grows apples and selected grains for its own products and makes double-distilled spirits in a French Charentais alembic pot still. The production includes apple brandy in a Calvados-style, a pommeau, and several types of whiskey, all with a clear focus on the farm's ingredients and barrel finishes.

History

Shady Knoll began as a farm with a very high diversity of apple varieties, and the move toward distillation drew early attention in 2017 when a sample brandy by Andrew Richards was mentioned in the trade press. The first commercial apple brandy was released in 2019, and since then the distillery has received awards from, among others, the American Distilling Institute and Fifty Best. Over time, Shady Knoll has expanded its product lineup to include several types of whiskey and a pommeau, while the farm's role as a supplier of most of the raw materials has become a central hallmark.

Raw Materials and Production

The raw materials are at the core of Shady Knoll's approach: the farm grows over 120 apple varieties and selected grains such as rye and corn, with some supplementary grain coming from nearby farms. The apples are picked progressively as they ripen, pressed, and allowed to naturally ferment for several months without added commercial yeast. The grains are milled in a hammermill, cooked in a mash tun, and fermented in the farm's own fermentation tanks. Distillation is double in a traditional French Charentais alembic pot still, often 'on the grain' to preserve the grain's complexity. Cuts are made manually using nose and taste to select the heart. The combination of farm-based inputs, natural fermentation, and pot-still double-distillation defines the craft used on site.

Aging and Cask Types

Shady Knoll works with a mix of new and used oak casks. Apple brandy is aged primarily in new American oak barrels (toasted) and then finishes in used Portuguese Madeira casks. The whiskies mature in both new charred American oak casks and in used Port casks; some bottles also gain extra complexity from used Wild Turkey casks or internal Shady Knoll casks. The systematic use of Port- and Madeira-finish is a recurring element in their aging strategy.

Whiskies

The whisky range currently includes three core releases: Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey, Shady Knoll Whiskey (same mash bill as rye), and Shady Knoll Four Grain Whiskey. Rye and Four Grain follow clear aging and finish concepts: Rye undergoes primary aging in new American oak and Port finish; Four Grain is aged in new charred oak and receives a Port finish. In addition to the whiskies, the distillery also produces apple brandy and a pommeau, underscoring the farm's dual focus on fruit- and grain-based spirits. More new whiskey products are expected in the future.

Whisky Type / Series ABV Age Cask & Style Status
Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey Rye Whiskey Aged at least 3 years in new American oak, then finished for at least 3 months in used Portuguese Port casks New American oak barrels (primary aging); finish in used Portuguese Port casks Current; Core range
Shady Knoll Whiskey Whiskey Aged at least 2½ years in a combination of used Portuguese Port casks, used Wild Turkey casks and used Shady Knoll casks Used Port casks, used Wild Turkey casks and used Shady Knoll casks (blended regime) Current; Core range
Shady Knoll Four Grain Whiskey Four Grain Whiskey 42 % Aged at least 4 years in new charred American oak and then finished for at least 3 months in used Portuguese Port casks New charred American oak barrels (primary aging); finish in used Portuguese Port casks Current; Core range

The Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile

The flavor profile combines fruity apple tones and baked apples with warm spices and pronounced oak influence. Early tasting notes from the sample brandy included butterscotch and nutmeg as well as nuances of butter and baked apple, while product descriptions highlight the effect of toasted/charred American oak and finishes in Port and Madeira casks. The combination of the farm's ingredients and cask choices creates a profile where fruit, warm spices, and a strong oak finish recur.

Philosophy and Craft

The company prioritizes farm-based ingredients and traditional methods: natural apple fermentation without added yeast, double pot-still distillation, and manual cuts based on nose and taste. The artisanal approach is combined with a certification such as 'New York Grown & Certified' and a goal of producing in small quantities with a focus on the terroir of the raw materials.

Sustainability

Farm-grown ingredients to reduce reliance on external, anonymous raw materials. New York Grown & Certified.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Double Gold (2021, Double Gold, Shady Knoll Apple Brandy)

  • Bronze (2019, Bronze, Shady Knoll Apple Brandy)

  • Bronze (2022, Bronze, Shady Knoll Apple Brandy)

  • Silver (2019, Silver, Shady Knoll Pommeau)

  • Best Spirit (2018, Best Spirit, Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey)

  • Gold (2021, Gold, Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey)

  • Silver (2022, Silver, Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey)

  • Silver (2019, Silver, Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey)