Kerrs Creek Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Kerrs Creek Distillery is a small, family-owned farm distillery in New York State, run by Matthew and Jessica White together with Jessica's parents. The distillery highlights local ingredients — potatoes and apples from Delaware County, as well as corn from the Finger Lakes — and uses a water source carved from the mountain. Production takes place in small batches, and the range includes vodka, apple vodka, and a bourbon aged in hand-made oak barrels from New York.

History

The Kerrs Creek Distillery story goes back to the 1920s, when the family’s ancestors distilled spirits during Prohibition and smuggled bottles wrapped as household goods to speakeasies. The practical experience and proud commitment to craftsmanship are qualities the family has carried through the generations. Today the business is a modern family-owned operation, owned and run by Matthew and Jessica White together with Jessica's parents, Robert and Loretta Beckmann. As a farm distillery, they work with local farmers and use ingredients grown in New York State; potatoes and apples from their own and neighboring fields in Delaware County, as well as corn and other grains from the Finger Lakes. The family combines farming experience and tradition with small-batch spirit production, with a desire to create products the next generation can be proud of.

Raw Materials and Production

Production at Kerrs Creek centers on small-batch series and using ingredients from New York State. The vodka 'Silver Moon' is distilled from locally grown potatoes and blended with water from a well carved into the mountain. The flavored variant is produced by blending and distilling hand-picked wild and cultivated apples. Easy Speaker Bourbon is produced from locally grown and malted corn, and the distillery's approach emphasizes small-batch distillation and local sourcing. The distillery highlights collaboration with farmers in Delaware County and the Finger Lakes region, as well as the use of its own water source in production.

Aging and Cask Types

The documented aging applies to Easy Speaker Bourbon, which is aged in small handmade oak barrels produced in New York State. The small barrels are described as a means to achieve a smoother texture and optimized aging time. Beyond these casks there are no concrete details about other cask types, finishes, or cask treatments.

Whiskies

The range includes spirits highlighted on the website: Silver Moon Vodka (made from local potatoes), Silver Moon Apple Flavored Vodka (hand-picked apples), and Easy Speaker Bourbon (from locally grown and malted corn aged in small oak barrels). The name 'Ishka Triple Malt Whiskey' appears on the menu, indicating additional whiskey types in the portfolio. The apple vodka is listed as a limited release, while the other products are presented as the distillery's core offerings. Common to the portfolio is a focus on local ingredients and small-scale production.

The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies

The documented character traits of the products range from a clean, crisp character in the vodkas to a pronounced apple fruitiness in the flavored vodka and a silky-smooth texture in the bourbon range. Taken together, these traits create a style that combines freshness and clarity (vodka), fruity character (apple vodka), and a soft mouthfeel in the bourbon.

Visiting the Distillery

Contact information is available by phone and email, and the distillery encourages signing up for the newsletter to receive notices about new product releases. The products are sold at select retailers in the Catskills (e.g., Breakey’s Liquor Store in Walton, Strickland Hollow, and Delhi Liquor Store) and at local events; one event mentioned is Meredith Dairy Fest on June 13–14. For direct inquiries you can use the listed phone number or email address.

Philosophy and Craft

Kerrs Creek Distillery builds its practice on family, local ingredients, and small-scale craftsmanship. As a farm distillery they emphasize that their license requires the use of ingredients produced in New York State, and they actively work with local farmers to ensure traceability and a regional character in their spirits. The goal is to combine the family’s history with high-quality products.