History

Background

White Hills Distillery is located in Shelton, CT and run by Dan Beardsley. The story links the present to a family tradition of distilling that goes back to Prohibition. According to Dan, one of his ancestors, Clark Beardsley, is mentioned in stories about delivering liquor in bottles painted white to resemble milk, and an incident in front of the police chief left a historic mark on the family's distillery. Dan saw his first still as a child in his grandparents’ attic and was fascinated by tales of moonshine and how it was produced and delivered to the town's people. Nearly 90 years later he continues the tradition – now legal and regulated.

Dan opened White Hills Distillery just a stone’s throw from his popular cider mill and apple orchard, both located on the family farm at 278 Leavenworth Road. He runs a distillery housed in a renovated barn overlooking the apple orchards. According to Beardsley, he has equipment for at least one 100-gallon still as well as several smaller stills and many old casks for bourbon and whiskey, aging to the desired perfection. The Beardsley family has been part of Shelton since 1849 and originally ran a nearby dairy farm and later expanded to fruit trees and breeding. The distillery project was born after four years of dedication, and Dan has worked without loans or partners – a condition his father, David, set as a requirement to obtain the barn use.

Production and Local Agriculture

White Hills Distillery promotes a farm-to-flask approach and aims to use locally produced ingredients where possible. They specifically mention grain from Thrall Family Farm in Windsor and water from Stone Gardens, which supplies watermelons to Melonhead Moonshine and cucumbers to vodka. Jones Family Farms contributes strawberries and blueberries to the flavored vodkas. The farm is also home to more than 11,000 dwarf apple trees and more than 400 peach, nectarine and plum trees in the orchards. Dan participated in a six-day masterclass at Moonshine University in Louisville to refine the craft, and he runs production of a wide range of spirits including bourbon, whiskey, fruit brandies, vodka, rum, gin and moonshine – all through his own means.

Products and the Whiskey Line

White Hills produces a wide range of spirits, including bourbon, whiskey, moonshine, vodka, rum, gin and tequila-style products. The whiskey-related offerings include: - Connecticut Grain Bourbon: an ultra-small-batch bourbon, made from grain grown on Thrall Farm, sourced to Reverie Brewing in Newtown and then distilled and aged at White Hills. Notes described as butterscotch, caramel and vanilla with a longer finish, and aged in small barrels. - Single Barrel Bourbon: a full-flavored bourbon, aged at least six years, with notes of caramel, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla, plus a peppery finish. - White Hills Single Barrel Rye Whiskey: a very smooth whiskey with a grassy sweetness from the rye and a white pepper finish, aged in American oak for at least 4 years. - Hopped Whiskeys: Blondie and Red Head – very small batches distilled from beer and ales from Veracious Brewing, aged in new toasted and charred 5-gallon barrels, which yields a rich and smooth mouthfeel. - Moonshines and other products: Apple Pie Shine, Melon Head Shine, Honey Shine, White Hills Fire Shine and Candy Cane Shine – all handmade and infused with natural flavors and locally sourced ingredients. - Connectiquila: 100% blue agave spirit with variants Blanco, Reposado and Añejo (Reposado aged 6-12 months and Añejo aged 12-36 months respectively). - Clark's Envy Apple Brandy: 100% apples from their own cider yield, aged in calvados-style for at least 2 years with no added sugar. - Aged Rum (Connecticut Shoreline Rum): rum aged in barrels and made from sugar syrup with caramel notes, inspired by the history of smuggler rum along the Connecticut coast during Prohibition. - Vodka and infusions: White Hills Vodka (quadruple-distilled), Strawberry Infused Vodka, Cucumber Mint Infused Vodka and Blueberry Infused Vodka – all handcrafted in small batches.

In addition to the above, it is noted that careful use of locally sourced ingredients and seasonal ingredients is part of the company’s philosophy and marketing. A particular focus is on the farm-to-glass concept and on using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Visits and Experiences

The distillery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday with tours of the distillery area and tastings in the separate bar in the reconstructed barn, which overlooks the apple orchards. As part of the experience, it is described that the distillery is an adults-only area (18+), and there is a family area outside for those who do not enjoy spirits. There is also the possibility to host events and private tastings in the private tasting lounge or to rent the distillery for events. There are also various details about venue rental and services for events, including bartenders and price lists available on the site.

Philosophy

White Hills cultivates a farm-to-flask philosophy and prioritizes locally produced ingredients and collaboration with neighboring farms to ensure seasonal products. The company describes itself as a blend of passion, experience and a strong will to preserve farmland and cultural heritage through a careful reconstruction of the old barn and the use of wood and materials from the original building. Emphasis is placed on honesty in the production process and a willingness to learn and improve the recipes continuously without taking on loans or partners.