Video Field Trip: Van Brunt Stillhouse

Editor-in-Chief Amanda Schuster chats with distillery co-founder Daric Schlesselman in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

In 2012, Daric Schlesselman and his wife Sarah Ludington opened Van Brunt Stillhouse in a remote space in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, where it took its place in what was then emerging as a bonafide Brooklyn distillery trail. Since then, the Stillhouse has gone on to produce award-winning spirits, including a silver medal for their American Whiskey in the 2014 NY International Spirits Competition, and opened a tasting room with its own cocktail bar, attracting a local following as well as crowds of spirits enthusiasts from around the world.

On a chilly January morning, Editor-in-Chief Amanda Schuster chatted with Schlesselman about making whiskey and other spirits in Brooklyn, and the local history and other inspirations that help shape the operation into such a successful and unique one.

Huge thanks to the talented Kiwi Callahan of Digital Limit Agency (the outfit that did such a stunning job making over our website last year) for her directorial skills, especially difficult to navigate on such a frigid day when I was still recovering from a wretched respiratory illness (hence why you mostly see Daric and not me!).

Enjoy the video and hope to see you on the Brooklyn Distillery Trail!