Cider & Spirits
Cider and Distilling in New York
National Rank in Distillery Concentration
*East of the Mississippi
1
Number of Craft Distilleries
76
Number of Cideries
125
Economic Impact of Cider Industry
1,700,000,000
The Alcohol of Choice for Past New Yorkers
Before Prohibition, whiskey and cider were easily the most popular alcohols of choice for New Yorkers, with their high alcohol content and ease of access due to abundant orchards, fields, and the Erie Canal making New York one of the leading distilling and cider making centers of the 19th Century. The distilling industry in particular was the target of the Temperance Movement, whiskey becoming the drink of choice to isolate due to its highly intoxicating effects.
Like the local beer and wine industries, alcoholic cider making and distilling in particular was essentially eliminated from the New York landscape with the passing of Prohibition. It would take until 2006 for the first distillery in New York after Prohibition to open, and cideries would not operate in a significant capacity until after the passage of the Farm Cideries law in 2013.
Cayuga County
Distilling and cider making are not as substantial industries in Cayuga County as wine making and brewing, with only a handful of cideries and one currently licensed distillery operating in the county (though new businesses such as Cellarmen’s Folly are working to receive their licenses). The recent explosion of the industries in New York have provided opportunities for new business growth in these areas, and cider making in particular is seeing a steady growth in independent production throughout the region.
Relevant Dates
Some of the most important dates in the development of the modern craft cider and distilling industry in the region.
1933
End of Prohibition
1933
Prohibition almost completely eliminated the many taverns and saloons that operated through the sale of whiskey and cider by the barrel. The industries would not recover in the area until nearly a century later.
2007
Farm Distillery Act Passed
2007
The Farm Distillery Act spurred the modern growth of the business, allowing a simpler licensing for farm distilleries and the direct sale of product to customers. The industry grew from 1 distillery in 2006 to over 75 today!
2013
Farm Cideries Law Passed
2013
The Farm Cideries Law allowed the licensing of farm cideries for the manufacturing and sale of ciders made from New York crops. The industry exploded from a handful of independent cideries to over 125 today!
