History

Litchfield Distillery is located in Northwest Connecticut and is run by Batchers’ trio of David, Jack, and Peter Baker. The company describes itself as Batchers who respect agriculture and the local area: they express the motto The Spirit of Hard Work® and claim to work with Connecticut growers to create craft spirits in small batches. They emphasize Connecticut-grown ingredients and a community-driven, locally produced culture, and they have been active in community projects such as Building Homes for Heroes. Over the years they have released various Founders’ Reserve releases and expanded the lineup to include Connecticut-grown bourbons, rye, and an American single malt. They describe themselves as Connecticut-grown and Connecticut-malted and highlight their large rickhouse as Connecticut’s largest.

Production / Manufacturing

Raw materials come from Connecticut and the areas around Litchfield County; among the notable sources cited is Thrall Family Farm (malted barley) as a source for their American Single Malt and their Connecticut-grown approach to malted barley. The production focuses on small batches and decades of aging, with a range of expressions that leverage different finishes and mash bills. Several releases use #4-charred American oak and various finishes (e.g., Port Cask Finish), and some products are clearly Connecticut-grown, including bourbons and a rye. They also describe private barrel programs and the option for customized barrel aging and private labels.

Products / Whiskey Series

• Founders’ Reserve Bourbon – Connecticut-grown, 8-year-old, Bottled-in-Bond variant included in the lineup.
• Litchfield Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 92 proof; a standard Straight Bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel and a warm finish; described as spicy with a long finish in the note set.
• Batchers’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 92 proof; notes include vanilla, caramel, apple, and a long, spicy finish.
• Batchers’ Port Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey – Port wine cask finish; mention of the expression can be found in the product lists.
• Batchers’ Double-Barreled Bourbon (6-year) – 6-year bourbon; notes listed as vanilla, caramel, apple and a long, spicy finish; #4-charred finish and a complex mid-palate suggested in the descriptions.
• Batchers’ Cinnamon Bourbon – 86 proof; cinnamon-infused bourbon with a warm cinnamon character, balanced, natural flavor.
• Batchers’ Coffee Bourbon – 86 proof; cold-brewed coffee infusion notes; earthy and chocolate tones; highlighted as good for cocktails.
• Batchers’ Vanilla Bourbon – 86 proof; vanilla-forward with caramel notes and a long finish.
• Batchers’ Maple Bourbon – 86 proof; maple notes alongside the bourbon profile, often with classic vanilla/caramel tones.
• Batchers’ Peach Vodka (and other Batchers’ vodka variants) as well as other spirits such as gin and agave-spirit are also part of the portfolio and mentioned as part of Batchers’ line.
• American Single Malt Whiskey – 100% malted barley, Connecticut-grown (Thrall Family Farm, Windsor, CT); aged in #4-char American oak; 3 years old and 92 proof; described as earthy malt character with honey, caramel and cinnamon notes; based on a new American Single Malt standard (TTB) added in 2025, and they claim AMS is a new official category in the USA.
• Batchers’ Rye Whiskey – Straight Rye Whiskey; 70% winter rye and 30% malted barley; aged in honey-combed cooperage to intensify caramelization; 92 proof; dry spicy notes and a dry finish.
• Batchers’ Birched Bourbon, Litchfield Distillery Maple Bourbon, and other special releases (e.g., Cinnamon Bourbon): each with its own specific flavor profiles listed in the product descriptions.

Additional notes on flavor profiles (excerpts from the pages)

• Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Nose with vanilla and caramel, palate with spicy sweetness and tobacco, finish long and spicy (highly descriptive from the product text).
• Double-Barreled Bourbon: Nose of vanilla and caramel with apple, palate spicy and a bit sweet with tobacco notes, finish long and spicy with citrus.
• Cinnamon Bourbon: Nose warm cinnamon, palate soft cinnamon with caramel and vanilla, finish long with dry cinnamon.
• Coffee Bourbon: Nose coffee tones (cold brew), palate dark coffee with toffee and cocoa, finish medium with continued coffee notes.
• Vanilla Bourbon, Maple Bourbon, Birch Maple and other variants follow similar character descriptions on their respective pages.
• American Single Malt: 100% malted barley, 3-year age and 92 proof; notes of roasted grains, honey, caramel and cinnamon, with oak character and a warm finish.

Events and Special Initiatives

• 2025 Building Homes for Heroes Campaign – Litchfield Distillery participates in the annual bourbon fundraiser in partnership with NeJaime’s Wine & Spirits, CT Bourbon Bastards and Miles Finch Innovation; 100% of the proceeds go to Building Homes for Heroes.
• 2025 Founders Reserve – launch of the first Connecticut-grown bourbon with an 8-year age statement; described as a milestone.
• 2025 Creme de Maple CT Retail Store List – list of Connecticut retailers and the option for shipping outside CT.
• 2025 Holiday Gift Guide – special gift collections and gift boxes, including Founders’ Reserve and other batch/gift items.
• Private Barrel Program – the option to choose and bottle your own barrel, participate in the selection and possibly bottling. Options include private tastings, letting a barrel age further or receiving samples at home.

Tours / Tastings

Tours and tastings are a central part of the experience at Litchfield Distillery. Tours and tastings are free; tours run hourly from 11:00 AM and the last tour around 4:00 PM (3:00 PM on Sundays). The Distillery Store is open seven days a week (hours vary during the day). The address is Litchfield Distillery, 569 Bantam Road, Litchfield, CT 06759; phone 860-361-6503. Booking is recommended, but walk-ins may also be accepted depending on space.

Philosophy

Litchfield Distillery markets The Spirit of Hard Work® as the foundation for both production and community involvement. Batchers’ Manifesto highlights values such as pride in work, that what does not meet standards is not released, and the importance of environmental considerations and community involvement. They also emphasize loyalty, integrity and being part of a network of local farmers and suppliers, which together make up “The Spirit of Hard Work.”