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.
New Scotland Spirits
Overview of the Distillery
New Scotland Spirits is a combat veteran-owned craft spirits producer from New Scotland, New York, whose whiskies are built on grain sourced in Upstate New York and the Capital District. With the Helderberg name as the focal point, the company works closely with local growers, regional maltsters and Adirondack Barrel Cooperage to highlight local ingredients and barrel work in their whiskies.
History
The project was started in 2016 when the founders returned home and began developing the idea of spirits ’from field to bottle’. Through partnerships with local farms (e.g., Indian Ladder Farms, Lime Kiln Farm and LaGrange Farm), Hudson Valley Malt and regional distilleries, New Scotland Spirits built a network that enabled commercial launches. In 2022 the first Helderberg whiskies hit the market, and their five-year wheated bourbon won a gold medal and 92 points from the Beverage Testing Institute the same year. In June 2024 the company opened a tasting room and introduced fixed opening hours, strengthening its connection to the local community.
Raw Materials and Production
Production rests on four main grains: barley, corn, rye and wheat. Barley is used entirely in the single malt, while corn and wheat are used in the bourbon blends and rye in the rye versions. The grain is sent to local maltsters for malting, after which the mash is converted by enzymes into fermentable sugars. Yeast converts these sugars into alcohol in the fermentation process, and the subsequent distillation separates the alcohol by heating and condensing the vapors. The company collaborates with regional partner distilleries for certain production phases and uses local cooperages for the barrels, which helps define the products' character.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation primarily occurs in charred white oak barrels from Adirondack Barrel Cooperage. Charring of the barrels caramelizes the wood's organic compounds, and New Scotland Spirits highlights this barrel influence as a central source of the sweet profile in their whiskies. Several of the aged releases are described as around five years old, and the barrels' role in flavor development is attributed significant importance.
Whiskies
The core range consists of the Helderberg series: Helderberg Single Malt, Straight Rye, Winter Wheat, and Helderberg Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond. The line is complemented by 68W, an American corn whiskey with a grain bill of 80% corn, launched with a veteran-focused angle. Many of the aged bottles are described as five-year editions, and the products are sold locally through select retailers as well as via the company's website.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helderberg Single Malt Whisky | Single Malt | 41 % | 5 years | Charred white oak barrels | Flagship single malt consisting solely of barley grown at Indian Ladder Farms and noted as a five-year edition (82 proof). | Current; Core range; Sold locally and via the company's website |
| Helderberg Straight Rye Whisky | Rye Whisky | 41 % | Charred white oak barrels | Helderberg Rye is described as part of the core range and marketed in an 82 proof edition. | Current; Core range; Sold locally and via the company’s website | |
| Helderberg Winter Wheat Whisky | Wheat Whisky | 41 % | Charred white oak barrels | Winter Wheat whisky in the Helderberg series; winter wheat is supplied, among others, by LaGrange Farm. Marketed in an 82 proof edition. | Current; Core range; Sold locally and via the company’s website | |
| Helderberg Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond | Bourbon (Bottled-in-Bond) | 50 % | 5 years | New charred white oak barrels | Wheated bourbon in Bottled-in-Bond format (100 proof / 50% ABV), noted as a five-year edition and the company’s award-winning bourbon. | Current; Core range; Sold locally and via the company’s website |
| 68W American Corn Whisky | Corn Whisky | 68W is an American corn whiskey with a grain bill of 80% corn; the name refers to the Army Combat Medic MOS, and a portion of the proceeds is donated to veteran organizations. | Current; Sold locally and via the company’s website |
Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile
Flavor notes range from citrus and candied fruit notes to sweet malt and caramel, as well as a spicy rye profile. BTI’s evaluation of Helderberg Bonded Bourbon mentions orange peel/orange marmalade, kettle corn and toasted multigrain bread; wheat/bourbon variants are described with caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; the rye variants are highlighted as peppery with floral/honey-like elements. These directions recur in product descriptions and tasting notes.
Visit the Distillery
The tasting room opened in June 2024 with a soft opening on June 20, 2024 and a grand opening on June 21, 2024, which included a ribbon cutting with local chambers of commerce and officials. After the opening, the site operates from 11:00 to 23:00 seven days a week. Visitors can purchase products and participate in tastings; the tasting room serves as the brand's primary local contact point and gathering place for events.
The stated opening hours are 11:00–23:00, seven days a week.
Philosophy and Craft
At the core of New Scotland Spirits is local grounding: the raw materials are sourced regionally, and production is elevated through collaborations with family farms, local maltsters, partner distilleries and cooperages. The company prioritizes quality in grain selection, malting and barrel work, and combines its craft-focused approach with active community engagement, including support for veteran organizations.
Awards and Recognitions
- Gold Medal (92 points) (2022, Gold Medal, 92 points, Helderberg Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond)
Latest News
Launch of the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room! – 2024-06-13
Announcement of a soft opening on June 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM and an official grand opening on June 21, 2024 at 6:30 PM; the events included a ribbon cutting with local chambers of commerce and officials. The grand opening also marked the start of normal hours 11:00–23:00 seven days a week.