Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Union Grove Distillery
About the Distillery
Union Grove Distillery is located in Arkville in the Catskill Mountains and is a family-operated, farm-licensed craft distillery. The site is especially known for Vly Creek Vodka, distilled from New York apples and wheat, and has a broader range including Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit, Drie Brook Rye Whiskey, FirGin and several naturally flavored vodkas. The distillery's tasting room offers cocktails, tastings and tours on weekends.
History
Brian and Penny Mulder run Union Grove Distillery from their family-operated, farm-licensed facility in Arkville. Their first label, Vly Creek Vodka, was produced from local apples and wheat and has distinguished the house by winning gold and “Best of Category” at the American Distilling Institute in 2017, as well as achieving 92 points and a place in Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits in 2019. Following the vodka's success, production expanded with a maple-based spirit, a three-year rye whiskey and a gin that uses local wood branches and botanicals, as well as several flavored vodkas.
Raw Materials and Production
Union Grove emphasizes local ingredients: Vly Creek Vodka is distilled from NY apples and wheat, while flavored vodkas are based on NY corn and gain flavor through long extraction from whole ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, freshly roasted coffee and tea. Drie Brook Rye is produced with a mash bill of 75% rye and 25% malted barley, with some of the rye grown locally. FirGin derives its character from maceration of fresh balsam fir and Norway spruce branches along with other local botanicals. Maple Spirit is distilled from locally produced maple syrup. Technical details about fermentation, distillation and equipment are not provided, but raw material origin and craft methods such as infusion and maceration are prominent.
Aging and Barrel Types
Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit is aged in twice-used charred oak barrels, which previously contained bourbon and then maple syrup; the spirit spends a minimum of six months in these barrels and is bottled at 40% ABV. Drie Brook Rye has an aging period of three years and is bottled at 46% ABV. Beyond these concrete examples, not a wide selection of barrel types is highlighted.
Whiskies
Union Grove's range spans from pure vodkas and naturally flavored vodkas to a local maple spirit, a three-year rye whiskey, and a locally inspired gin. Vly Creek Vodka is the flagship product with broad distribution, while Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit is more limited and often available directly from the distillery. The flavored vodkas demonstrate the house's approach to natural extracts without added sugar.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vly Creek Vodka | Vodka | 40 % | The first and most widely distributed Union Grove release, distilled from NY apples and wheat and bottled at 40% ABV. Has won awards and is widely available via the producer's product locator. | Current; Core Range; Wide distribution; product locator on the producer's website | ||
| Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit | Maple Spirit | 40 % | Minimum 6 months | Twice-used charred oak barrel | Distilled from locally produced maple syrup and aged at least six months in used, charred oak barrels, which previously contained bourbon and then maple syrup. Bottled at 40% ABV and available in limited locations and at the distillery. | Limited; Limited distribution; available at the distillery and selected locations |
| Drie Brook Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | 46 % | 3 years | Rye whiskey with a mash bill of 75% rye (some rye grown locally at Lazy Crazy Acres) and 25% malted barley. Aged for three years before bottling at 46% ABV. | Current; Core Range | |
| FirGin | Gin | A Catskills-inspired gin where fresh branches of balsam fir and Norway spruce macerate in high-proof spirit to draw pine and forest aromas. Also includes local ingredients such as wild ginseng, lavender and freshly harvested horseradish; a light handling of juniper berries is used. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Coffee Flavoured Vodka | Flavoured Vodka; Flavored Vodkas | Flavored vodka infused with naturally extracted aroma from locally roasted coffee, with no added sugar; based on New York corn. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Cinnamon Flavoured Vodka | Flavoured Vodka; Flavored Vodkas | Flavored vodka where the cinnamon aroma is drawn from whole cinnamon sticks over time. No added sugar; based on New York corn. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Black Tea Flavoured Vodka | Flavoured Vodka; Flavored Vodkas | Vodka flavored with orange pekoe and black cut pekoe tea; natural tea extracts without added sugar. | Current; Core Range |
Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Three recurring flavor signatures in the range are the maple character from Catskill Mountain Maple Spirit, pine and forest aromas from FirGin (balsam fir and Norway spruce) and roasted/spiced notes in the flavored vodkas (locally roasted coffee, whole cinnamon, black tea). In addition, Vly Creek Vodka contributes fruity apple notes, and Drie Brook Rye adds grainy, spicy structure from the rye.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery's tasting room is open Thursday to Sunday and offers cocktails, bottle sales and tastings during the stated hours. Union Grove offers tours and accepts inquiries for larger group visits or private events via a contact form. Tasting room hours are Thursday 2-7pm, Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 3-9pm and Sunday 2-7pm.
The stated hours are Thursday 2-7pm; Friday 3-9pm; Saturday 3-9pm; Sunday 2-7pm.
Philosophy and Craft
Union Grove prioritizes local ingredients and small-scale craftsmanship in a family-owned framework. They work with natural, whole ingredients in flavoring, use maceration and infusion to transfer character from local botanicals, and avoid the addition of sugar in their flavored vodkas.
Awards and Recognitions
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Gold & Best of Category (2017, Gold medal; Best of Category, Vly Creek Vodka)
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92 points; Top 100 Spirits (2019, 92 points; Top 100 Spirits, Vly Creek Vodka)