Murray’s Fools Distilling Co. – Fine spirits for adventurous lives

History

Founding and origins

Murray’s Fools Distilling Co. was founded in 2015 by Sarah and Randall Beach and is Clinton County’s first craft distillery. The company is named after Murray Rush, one of the events in Adirondacks history, and the brand draws on W.H.H. Murray and Adirondack nature as sources of inspiration. According to the company, the name was chosen as a tribute to freedom, individuality, and nature.

Location and growth

The original distillery is located in Altona, NY, just steps from Adirondack Park. In 2022, a second location opened in Glenville, NY, which would later become a central hub for production and visits. Emphasis is placed on small-batch production and local content.

Vision and legacy

The brand ties the Adirondack era’s spirit to modern craft spirits. Production is connected to a historical narrative of excursions into nature and the journey toward independence and creative expression.

Production and manufacturing

General approach

Murray’s Fools is a farm distillery that focuses on small-batch distillations and the reasons behind the craft – history, freedom and nature experiences. Production incorporates local ingredients from New York and a close connection to the Adirondack region.

Base ingredients and techniques

• The Snowshoe Vodka is made with NY whey as its base. It’s described as very smooth in profile.
• WolfJaw Single Malt Whiskey uses NY-malted barley and small amounts of peated barley; aged in new American oak barrels. Aromas noted include butterscotch and campfire, with notes of brown sugar, vanilla and pepper, where peat smoke becomes noticeable at the finish.
• La Pomme du Lac Apple Brandy is a noble apple brandy made from 100% NY apples and aged in new American oak barrels. The flavor profile is described as apple-like with spicy, adventurous warmth.
• Osprey Aquavit has a water-based spirit cut and contains caraway and dill with hints of juniper and other botanicals that reach into the Adirondack forests.
• Guideboat Gin balances tradition and the new world by using six botanicals and a pronounced juniper, intended to evoke the feeling of wilderness and adventure.

Production sites and raw materials

• NY ingredients are used broadly, including malted barley and apples from Upstate New York.
• Production takes place at a small-scale distillery near Adirondack Park, reflecting the company’s culture and philosophy.

Products and the whiskey line

The Snowshoe Vodka

• Base: NY whey
• Profile: Very smooth and characterful vodka

WolfJaw Single Malt Whiskey

• Type: American Single Malt (notes: butterscotch, campfire, brown sugar, vanilla, pepper)
• Aged in new American oak barrels; peat smoke becomes more prominent in the finish

La Pomme du Lac Apple Brandy

• Base: 100% NY apples
• Aging: New American oak barrels
• Profile: Autumn apples with spicy warmth

Osprey Aquavit

• Base: whey-based spirit
• Flavor: Caraway, dill, hints of juniper and other botanicals

Guideboat Gin

• Six botanicals
• Designed to evoke the Adirondack nature and the sense of adventure

Visits and experiences

Visit facilities and hours

The distillery offers a visitor experience through a tasting room, open on weekends. Additional information and hours can be found via their Facebook page.

New locations and events

The first distillery is located in Altona, while the Glenville location opened in 2022 and continues to develop with a visitor environment and plans for additional facilities (e.g., Adirondack Barrel Cooperage). There has been focus on open events and open houses, and ongoing events and collaborations are held as part of the town’s craft movement.

Tours and 'See How It Works' activities

Tours and collaboration initiatives are mentioned as part of a series of events called See How It Works Sunday Series, where MFDC together with Adirondack Barrel Cooperage and Wolf Hollow Brewing gives guests the opportunity to see how breweries and distilleries operate.

Philosophy and background

Heritage and identity

Murray’s Fools Distilling Co.’s philosophy is based on the legacy of W.H.H. Murray and Adirondack nature. The company emphasizes historical significance, human freedom and the rhythm of nature as part of their brand and products.

Local focus and community

The company emphasizes locally produced ingredients from New York and supporting regional agriculture and the local community through openness, visits and collaborations around culture and experiences.

Communicating craft

Through blogs and updates MFDC tries to share the process behind the craft, including how they produce vodka (from grain to bottle) and the importance of letting consumers form their own impression of what is handcrafted. They highlight dialogue around ethics and transparency of the process in marketing.

Production in harmony with history

The fusion of tradition and innovation

Murray’s Fools Distilling Co. connects Adirondack history with modern small-batch production, manifested in their stories about Murray Rush, and in their products based on local ingredients and the region’s nature.

Local connections and partnerships

Through collaborations with museums and cultural institutions and by being present in the community, the company reflects its belief in cultural and regional identity as part of its corporate purpose.