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.
Murray's Fools Distilling Co.
About the Distillery
Murray’s Fools Distilling Co. is a fully licensed farm distillery in Upstate New York with roots in the Adirondack tradition. Since its founding in 2015, the company has produced small-batch spirits using local ingredients. On the product list are, among others, The Snowshoe vodka, La Pomme du Lac apple brandy, WolfJaw single malt whiskey, Osprey aquavit, and Guideboat gin, and the distillery operates a weekend-open facility in Glenville.
History
The company was established in 2015 by Sarah and Randall Beach as a farm distillery with a focus on small-batch, artisanal spirits and the use of regional resources. The name draws on the historical Murray Rush from 1869 and William Henry Harrison Murray's descriptions of the Adirondacks, a story the family actively ties to the company's values of nature and individual freedom. The original production was based in Altona near the Adirondack Park’s Blue Line; in 2022 Murray’s Fools established another location in Glenville in Schenectady County, where they now have a weekend-open facility and participate in local events and collaborations.
Raw Materials and Production
Murray’s Fools operates as a farm distillery with small-scale, small-batch production and an approach that highlights regional ingredients. The company is fully licensed and produces several types of spirits from the same production platform, including vodka, apple brandy, single malt whiskey, aquavit, and gin. The production profile is craft-oriented and centered on combining local ingredients with a flexible, small-scale setup, rather than industrial mass production.
Whisky
The portfolio consists of a limited, craft-oriented selection: The Snowshoe (vodka), La Pomme du Lac (apple brandy), WolfJaw (single malt whiskey), Osprey (aquavit) and Guideboat (gin). The products are presented as small-batch releases that reflect the distillery's farm-to-glass approach and regional rooting, rather than a large, commercial lineup.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Status |
|---|---|---|
| WolfJaw Single Malt Whiskey | Single Malt Whiskey | Current; Core range |
| The Snowshoe | Vodka | Current; Core range |
| La Pomme du Lac | Apple BrandY | Current; Core range |
| Osprey | Aquavit | Current; Core range |
| Guideboat | Gin | Current; Core range |
Visit the Distillery
The Glenville location is open on weekends: Friday 17:00–20:00, Saturday 13:00–20:00, and Sunday 13:00–18:00, where events are also announced. There is a dedicated events overview, and the company participates in local initiatives such as Schenectady SIPS. Weekend visits provide the opportunity to meet the products and purchase spirits directly from the distillery.
The stated opening hours are Friday 17:00–20:00, Saturday 13:00–20:00, Sunday 13:00–18:00 (holidays may affect these times).
Philosophy and Craft
The company’s philosophy is rooted in a heritage of freedom, individuality, and closeness to nature. The founders emphasize drawing on regional ingredients and creating small-batch spirits that reflect a craft-oriented approach and a connection to the Adirondack tradition.