Van Brunt Stillhouse Opens Distillery In Red Hook

April 2, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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Featuring First Small-Batch Rum In NYC Since Prohibition Era

RED HOOK — A new distillery is in operation in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Van Brunt Stillhouse is offering artisanal distilled spirits to New York City. Located near the Red Hook waterfront, Van Brunt Stillhouse is hand-crafting New York’s first homemade rum since prohibition.

Artisanal distilling is growing across America, and New York City has joined the trend. Van Brunt Stillhouse’s small-batch approach will deliver high-quality spirits to New Yorkers, adding to the already burgeoning local craft resurgence in Brooklyn.

In addition to rum, Van Brunt Stillhouse looks forward to rolling out a full line of spirits: moonshine, a Red Hook whiskey and an old-fashioned gin as well as seasonal offerings made from local farm products.

Van Brunt Stillhouse’s first product will be Due North Rum, a full-flavored light rum made with minimally processed sugar. Rum, America’s first international commodity, was at the center of the conflict between the American colonies and England. Van Brunt Stillhouse will be bringing that independent and enterprising spirit back to New York.

Cornelius Van Brunt was one of the founding fathers of Breukelen. He and his family farmed the land along the Gowanus Creek and helped forge the eclectic society that became Brooklyn. Centuries later, in the 1800s, the Brooklyn waterfront hosted gin, rum and whiskey distilleries. Van Brunt Stillhouse’s finely crafted spirits continue the pioneering spirit of Brooklyn.

Van Brunt Stillhouse is the creation of Daric Schlesselman, who is currently an editor with “The Daily Show.” The distillery will be open on April 28.

The Van Brunt Stillhouse spirits will be available on shelves later this month.