Distilling and Brewing in Somerset County- Ah the History

Craft brewing and distilling is alive and well in Somerset County. With a rich history going back to before the Revolutionary War, the history of spirits and brewing in Jersey is a long-savored tradition. Today, Somerset County is offering a new program called Sip and See, a new campaign to promote tourism with what has become a budding industry in Somerset County. Whether you’re on a farm, or in a historic village, the fun of supporting craft brewers and distillers helps support local businesses and promote the beauty and history of the Jersey countryside. The Mr. Local History Project has been traveling the tour and digging in a bit on the history of alcohol over the area’s past two centuries. Take a read, then get out there and enjoy the beauty, the deliciousness, and the history.

Sip and See – The Passport and Tour

Sip and see your way through Somerset County! This is your chance to visit five of the county’s craft beverage destinations and win a FREE Sip & See Somerset shirt. Take a peek at the video below to view a full list of participating craft beverage locations.

Promotional clip from Visit Somerset County for the Sip n See Tour

How Does Sip & See Work?

Visit one of the below-participating destinations to pick up your passport. To complete your passport, visit each of the five craft beverage locations and get your passport stamped. Please note that operating hours vary by location. Please check with the location in the event hours have changed. Stamps will only be given on passports at craft beverage destinations, not parks, gardens, retail locations, event facilities, etc.

Along with Somerset County Tourism, the Sip and See Tour has become a big hit for weekenders looking for fun in the Jersey hills. At the end of the story, you can get your map and passport.

Jersey’s Sipping History

On a recent trip to Dublin, Ireland MLH stopped into the Jameson Distillery, founded in 1780, and learned and sipped our way through the history of the world-famous whiskey distiller. We started conversing with our host and told them that Jameson and a distiller in New Jersey had started at the same time and are still distilling today. She was shocked! Many people don’t know that Laird’s, a distiller in Colts Neck, New Jersey, is the oldest functioning distiller in America. Their famed Laird’s Apple Jack brandy has been produced at the same distillery since 1692.

Laird’s Apple Jack in Monmouth County has been produced in Jersey since 1692.

After emigrating from Scotland and settling in Monmouth County in 1698, William Laird began distilling his own recipe of apple brandy. It is believed that William was a distiller back in his home country. After landing in New Jersey, he used the resources available to him to do the same. Abundant with apples, he began creating.

Prior to 1760 As a Revolutionary soldier serving under, George Washington wrote to the Laird family requesting their Applejack recipe. Entries appear in Washington’s diary referring to the production of “Cyder Spirits.” As a Revolutionary soldier serving under Washington, Robert Laird and his family provided the troops with Applejack.

Nathaniel Currier (American, Roxbury, Massachusetts 1813–1888 New York) Washington Taking Leave of the Officers of His Army–at Francis’s Tavern, Broad Street, New York, December 4th, 1783– Washington was a big Laird fan!

Craft brewing and distilling are big business in the Garden State today. Most crafters also leverage local ingredients. Somerset and Hunterdon counties, which are rich with farmlands, take advantage of these locally grown hops, wheat, and corn, in addition to beautiful country scenery.

The Somerset Hills of Northern Somerset County

In northern Somerset County, Peapak, Gladstone, Bernardsville, Bedminster, and Basking Ridge all participated in the distilling business.

The Bunn Lake and Mill where at the turn of the century was one of the largest distillers in the state.

A vintage early 1900s rye whiskey bottle from the former Claremont Hotel in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

Today, Burnt Mills Cider Company is a full-blown brewer of delicious brews and spiked ciders. Word has it that Claremont Distillery in Fairfield is opening up in Bernardsville soon, so now there are a few more choices for your loc-ahol (we just coined that one!!!).

The Burnt Mills Cider Company has ties back to the rich history of milling in Bedminster, New Jersey. The name is taken from a revolutionary war event where the local mill in nearby Pluckemin was burnt along the Lamington River.

Distilling Startup Now Open in Hillsborough

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Bellmara-Distillery-exterior-840x323.jpg — Bellmara Distillery in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The first operating distillery active in Somerset County.

Bellmara Distillery in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The first operating distillery active in Somerset County.

A new single malt distillery in Hillsborough, NJ opened in 2022. Camden Winkelstein is one of the founders and Head Distiller at Bellemara Distillery. The distillery isn’t the only artisan beverage destination on the 19-acre Carriage Farm. Flounder Brewing Co. relocated there from an industrial park in June 2022. The two businesses plan to collaborate on both events and products, such as whiskey aged in former beer barrels or beer aged in former whiskey barrels, which will create new flavor profiles. Bellemara hopes to create 100% Jersey-grown-and-made products eventually. A single-malt gin and a single-malt spirit similar to vodka will be on the menu. Flavored varieties of the single-malt spirit will be released soon after.

Winkelstein started his post-Navy career with a trip across the pond. He spent a year in Scotland, earning a Master’s in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The distillery is named after a word of French and Scottish Gaelic origin: belle mare, or “beauty of the sea.” Address: 2 Clerico Lane Building 5, Hillsborough; bellemaradistillery.com.

So next time you’re thinking about traveling around Somerset County, take a look at the Sip and See Tour or check out the stories below to take a Jersey Tavern Tour. You won’t regret it!