History

Higher Ground Distilling was born from a dream and a person playing in a garage. It started as a hobby project to make its own corn whiskey and developed into a desire to create American whiskey and bourbon. According to founder Dave Webber, the idea grew from a hobby into a business, and the name comes from a historical period in the 1930s when a reservoir was created to control flooding, which led homes to move to higher ground - exactly where the distillery now sits. The distillery is located in Mayfield and focuses on sharing products and the joy of American spirits with friends and guests.

Founder

Dave Webber is founder and Master Distiller. He describes how the idea became a business and the importance of sharing American spirits.

Production / Manufacturing

We use high-quality grains from local New York State farmers for our handcrafted spirits. The process includes mashing, fermenting, and distilling to create a smooth and traditional spirit based on four grains. The bourbon uses a four-grain blend and water from the Sacandaga region, and it is aged in charred oak barrels to give a pronounced oak and caramel finish. Sacandaga Shine is produced as moonshine made from Adirondack water and four grains, distilled to a traditional spirit that provides an authentic moonshine experience. We offer the Flavor Your Shine station, where guests can blend their own flavor variants using our syrups and make their shine personal.

Products / Whiskey Series

Over the Dam Whiskey

Over the Dam Whiskey is an American whiskey made from four grains and water from the Adirondack region. It delivers a smooth and traditional grain-based spirit with oak and caramel notes.

771 Bourbon

771 Bourbon is a handcrafted bourbon aged in quality charred oak barrels and composed of a four-grain blend with water from the Sacandaga River and Great Sacandaga Lake. It yields pronounced oak notes and a sweet caramel finish.

Sacandaga Shine

Sacandaga Shine is a moonshine made with Adirondack water and four grains, producing a traditional, pure and smooth spirit described as true moonshine.

Flavor Your Shine

Guests can use our Flavor Your Shine station to blend their own flavor variants using our syrups and tailor their shine.

Visits / Experiences

The distillery is located on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield. The tasting room offers a fun and relaxed experience for guests over 21. Tasting Room Hours shows opening times and recommends reservations for groups of four or more. The distillery is also available for bottle sales, private events, and bachelor/bachelorette parties.

Philosophy

The motto 'Come as Strangers, Leave as Friends' and our approach to production are based on using the finest ingredients from local New York State farmers. We provide guests with a friendly and social experience and aim to share our American spirits and joy with our guests.