Colin Spoelman and Kings County Distillery

Kings County Distillery got a license to make moonshine and bourbon whiskey in 2010.  When that happened, co-founder Colin Spoelman, a native of Harlan, Kentucky, moved the operation from his apartment to East Williamsburg.  His compassion for the booze that has long been a part of his Appalachian heritage fed the public's loyalty to his brand and Kings County Distillery quickly outgrew the 35 Meadow Street space.  In April of this year, the distillery signed a 20-year lease in the Paymaster Building in Brooklyn's historic Navy Yard.

Clay Risen wrote an article for the Times last week about the two domineering sides to whiskey distilling; traditionalists that age their moonshine in 53-gallon oak barrels for upwards of 20 years, and distilleries like Kings County who are achieving similar (often superior) results aging their product for nine to fifteen months in five-gallon barrels.

Digest NY founder Craig Cavallo recently took a tour of the new Kings County Distillery space and had a chance to chat with Colin about the state of small batch spirits in today's market and how the public graciously accepts his product as an alternative to big brand bourbons.

Read the article over at our friend Tom Ran's website The Scout Mag.