New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery is a family-owned small‑batch distillery and farm in Winchester, New Hampshire. Here, 18 spirit expressions are produced under five brands—from bourbon‑infused Clark & Chesterfield whiskies to Apple‑ and potato‑based Ashuelot vodka and locally inspired moonshine. The distillery combines local sourcing of ingredients, hand labeling, and an experience‑oriented tasting‑room formula where guests can see the distillation equipment and actively participate in making their own RTD cocktail.

History

The distillery’s history begins in 2015, when Robert Patton-Spruill founded New England Sweetwater with a family heritage in distilling. In 2022, sisters Alisa Lawrence and Nilaja Young together with their spouses Karl Lawrence and Kenny Young took over the operations — an ownership change that brought the family together around a vision of long-term, heirloom craftsmanship. Under the family’s leadership, the portfolio has grown to 18 expressions across five brands, and the distillery has earned regional recognition in New Hampshire and national awards, including several medals at San Francisco competitions in 2024. Today, New England Sweetwater is both a production site and an experiential destination for locals and visitors.

Raw Materials and Production

The raw materials are clearly locally rooted: vodka and gin are built on an apple- and potato-based mash, the bourbon expression uses a corn/rye/barley mash bill for their limited-edition bourbon, and rum is distilled from American Black Strap molasses. The distillation equipment includes copper pot stills that guests see on the tour; techniques range from triple‑distillation of Ashuelot Vodka to double‑distillation of single malt and vapor‑infusion of gin botanicals. Maceration is also used for spiced rum and infusion of cocoa nibs for Chocolate Whiskey. The production focuses on small-batch control, with each batch tracked 'from grain to bottle' by the master distiller.

Maturation and Cask Types

The aging includes the use of American oak casks and ex‑bourbon casks; American Single Malt is described as solera‑aged in ex‑bourbon casks, and the bourbon edition is aged in 53‑gallon American oak casks. Moonshine and Kingfish Rum are also described as cask‑aged, indicating a broad use of oak aging across the portfolio. The distillery continually experiments with solera methods and classic barrel aging.

Whiskies

The portfolio includes five brands: Clark & Chesterfield (whiskey line with, among others, Maple, Honey, Single Malt, Bourbon and Chocolate), Ashuelot (vodka and gin), Monadnock (moonshine), Kingfish (rum) and Sweetwater Libations (RTD cocktails). The range spans traditional expressions like bourbon and single malt as well as flavored bottles and ready-to-drink cocktails, making the offer broad — from collectors’ items and limited releases to easy‑drinking RTDs and seasonal products.

Whisky	Type / Series	Alcohol	Cask and Style	Flavor Profile	Status
Clark & Chesterfield Maple Whiskey	Flavoured / Finished Whiskey	30 %		Maple Whiskey combines real New Hampshire maple syrup with a high-rye bourbon base. The product description highlights a roasted, warm maple character that harmonizes with the spirit underneath.	Active; Core range; For sale, online via distillery or through BottleNexus for out-of-state
Clark & Chesterfield Honey Whiskey	Flavoured / Finished Whiskey			Honey Whiskey is blended with locally sourced New England wildflower honey and described as soft, floral and lightly sweet — an accessible choice for both new and seasoned bourbon drinkers.	Active; Core range; For sale; subject to availability with certain products sold only in NH directly from the shop or tasting room
Clark & Chesterfield American Single Malt Whiskey	American Single Malt	40 %	Ex-bourbon barrels (solera-aged); finish: Solera-aged in ex-bourbon	Double‑distilled from 100% malted barley and solera‑aged in ex‑bourbon casks; product description notes malt character, a layered mid‑palate, and a balanced finish.	Active; Core range; For sale; noted as a craft expression
Clark & Chesterfield Bourbon (One-Year Anniversary)	Bourbon	30 %	53-gallon American oak barrels	A limited-edition bourbon created for the distillery’s first-year anniversary; the specified mash bill is 70% corn, 25% rye and 5% malted barley and it is aged in 53-gallon American oak barrels.	Limited; Limited edition
Clark & Chesterfield Chocolate Whiskey	Infused Whiskey			Aged bourbon macerated with real cocoa nibs to create a semi-sweet, chocolatey infusion that still lets the whiskey shine through.	Active; Core range; For sale (some bottles only available in NH directly from the shop or tasting room)
Ashuelot Vodka	Vodka	40 %		Triple‑distilled vodka from a specially apple- and potato‑mash; described as clean, silky with a faint apple on the nose and a dry finish.	Active; Core range; For sale
Ashuelot Gin	Gin	40 %		A vapor‑infused gin made from locally grown apples and potatoes with eight botanicals including a pronounced coriander and citrus balance, designed to be light and fresh rather than heavy and piney.	Active; Core range; For sale
Cucumber Vodka	Vodka (flavoured); Ashuelot	40 %		Triple‑distilled Ashuelot vodka, vapor‑infused with locally grown cucumbers for a cool, refreshing bottle intended for summer service and cocktails.	Active; Core range; For sale
Monadnock Aged 100 Proof Moonshine	Moonshine (barrel aged)	50 %	Oak barrels; finish: Barrel-aged	A barrel‑aged moonshine expression that seeks smoothness without compromising character, presented at 100 proof.	Active; Core range; For sale
Monadnock Apple Pie Moonshine	Flavoured Moonshine	30 %		Seasonal, cider- and cinnamon-inspired bottle with a clear New England apple character; designed to evoke the classic autumn flavor profile.	Active; Core range; For sale
Monadnock Sweet Tea Moonshine	Flavoured Moonshine	30 %		Black tea‑infused moonshine sweetened with natural cane sugar and enriched with lemon for a Tart‑sweet, easy‑drinking bottle.	Active; Core range; For sale
Kingfish Gold Rum	Aged Rum	40 %	Oak barrels; finish: Aged in oak barrels	Distilled from American Black Strap molasses and aged in oak barrels; described with notes of citrus and caramel and a full-bodied palate.	Active; Core range; For sale
Kingfish Spiced Rum	Spiced Rum	40 %		Kingfish Gold macerated with a blend of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to create a spicy, wintery bottle—“Christmas in a Bottle” in company language.	Active; Core range; For sale
Sweetwater Libations — Rum Punch (RTD)	Ready-to-Drink Cocktail	15 %		A ready-made Rum Punch made with Kingfish Rum and tropical fruit notes; designed to be poured over ice and enjoyed immediately.	Active; Core range; For sale
Sweetwater Libations — Lemon Drop (RTD)	Ready-to-Drink Cocktail	12.5 %		Classic Lemon Drop made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup and Ashuelot Vodka; serving suggestions include a sugar rim and chilled serving.	Active; Core range; For sale
Sweetwater Libations — Pineapple Mint Mojito (RTD)	Ready-to-Drink Cocktail	12.5 %		An aromatic RTD with Kingfish Rum, fresh pineapple and real mint; designed for a bright, tropical serving over ice.	Active; Core range; For sale
Sweetwater Libations — Bloody Mary (RTD)	Ready-to-Drink Cocktail	12.5 %		A ready-made Bloody Mary with fresh tomatoes, garlic, celery, horseradish, Worcestershire, Tabasco and lemon – designed for brunch and sharing.	Active; Core range; For sale; some RTD editions are only available directly in NH

Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile

Three recurring flavor directions permeate the portfolio: sweet and roasty maple in Maple Whiskey, floral honey notes in Honey Whiskey, and malt-driven grain profiles in American Single Malt. Additionally, Kingfish Rum brings citrus and caramel notes, while the RTD line appeals with tropical fruit and bright acidity (e.g., Rum Punch and Lemon Drop). These shared traits give a picture of both sweetness-forward and barrel-aged expressions alongside fresh, cocktail-oriented bottles.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery invites you to 'The Sweetwater Experience' — an active 90‑minute tour where guests see the copper pot stills, make their own RTD cocktail with a personalized label, and finish with a guided tasting of six selected spirits. The price for the Experience is $75 per person, with a 5% discount for groups of four or more. The tasting room and shop are open Wednesday–Saturday from 12:00–18:00 and Sunday from 12:00–17:00; Monday and Tuesday are closed. Some products are only sold directly in the NH shop due to local distribution, but out-of-state orders can be placed via a partner distributor.

The stated hours are Tasting room: Wed–Sat 12:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–17:00; Mon–Tue closed. Experience books separately.

Philosophy and Craft

The distillery is built on three stated values: local grounding in New England ingredients, uncompromising craftsmanship in the form of small-batch and hand-labeling, and a family focus as an African American family-owned business. These principles guide both product development and the guest experience, where local terroir and the story behind the bottle are highly valued.

Prices and Recognitions

Silver Medal (2024, Silver, Clark & Chesterfield Maple Whiskey)
Gold Medal (2024, Gold, Sweetwater Libations Rum Punch)
Silver Medal (2024, Silver, Clark & Chesterfield American Single Malt Whiskey)
Gold — Best Distillery (2024, Gold)