Prohibition Redux
We had no sooner published our story about the growth of small-batch distilleries in the tri-state region than we learned that another distillery—one with a nefarious history—was about to sell its first legal drink in 88 years.
On September 12th, guests at Harvest Homestead Farm raised glasses full of Dutch’s Spirits, an updated moonshine recipe, to toast the re-emergence of a 1930s-era distillery once operated by mobster Arthur Flegenheimer, better known as Dutch Schultz.
Harvest Homestead Farm, now redubbed Dutch’s Spirits, was, ironically, owned by a New York City cop in 1932. A cover for Schultz’ operation, it encompassed a warren of underground tunnels and bunkers where the Feds uncovered two 2,000-gallon stills, 10,000 pounds of sugar, a vast network of interconnected concrete tunnels as well as holding tanks and underground bunkers large enough to contain three trucks and a Lincoln sedan.
The bootlegging operation, which fed Schultz’ speakeasies in the Bronx, was in operation for only a year before the federal raid shut it down in October 1932.
In 2010, Ariel Schlein built the current distillery on the footprint of the original bunkhouse before selling to current owner, Brendan McAlpine, in 2017. A self-avowed history fan, McAlpine immediately saw the tourism potential of the site and has spent the last three years equipping the farm to welcome visitors.
A three-story, 12,000-square-foot Dutch barn built around the entrance to one of the original tunnels, houses a bar and tasting room on the main floor. Although the new stills aren't yet operational, Dutch’s Spirits is offering a variety of New York whiskeys for tasting. When the stills are brought online, the first spirit McAlpine plans to produce is Dutch's Sugar Wash Shine, an 80-proof sugar-based spirit created by the former owner from Schultz’s own recipe.
“It’s not what most people would associate with moonshine,” said McAlpine. The 80-proof spirit, made with raw turbinado sugar, is smooth enough to be enjoyed straight up or used in a wide variety of everyday cocktails. “It’s a perfect substitute for any cocktail recipe calling for light rum or vodka,” says McAlpine.
Dutch’s Sugar Wash Shine will be released this month with distribution in the NY Tri-State region shortly thereafter. McAlpine hopes his farm-to-bottle distillery will eventually include a full-service restaurant and event venue.
Currently, an outdoor tasting room is open to the public on weekends, 12-7PM, pouring Dutch’s Spirits, as well as local craft beer, wine, and spirits. The farm has a rotating slate of food trucks.
For more information about Dutch’s Spirits please visit using the link below.
