An Idea Is Born: Boston’s First Craft Distillery

Welcome to Bully Boy Distillers, Boston’s first craft distillery. We have signed a lease on space near Boston’s South End, and we have placed an order for a six hundred liter copper pot still, all of which means Boston’s first small-batch distillery is close to becoming a reality. No doubt many of you are scratching your head, so let’s back up for a moment.

In 1920, the Federal government enacted the 18^th Amendment – otherwise known as The Noble Experiment or Prohibition. With this a generation of despondent drinkers was forced to either abstain, which was unacceptable, or learn the ancient art of distilling spirits, which was illegal. Unwilling to live in a world without libation, a smattering of brave souls chose to risk the government’s ire. Around this time, our grandfather Richard started amassing an arsenal of bootleg whiskey, rum, and vodka. With names like “Medford Rum,” “Cow Whiskey,” and “Very Old Vodka,” these early precursors to today’s craft spirits were harsh and remarkably undrinkable (We know. We’ve tried all three). Richard stored his spirits in a dank vault in the catacombs of his farmhouse basement. The vault doubled as the unofficial neighborhood tavern, and Richard was known to hold court with family and friends deep into the night.

In 2003, roughly seventy years after Prohibition was abolished with the 21^st Amendment, Massachusetts enacted legislation making it easier for farms to distill spirits. The bottles were covered in dust and cobwebs, but the vault was inspiring and we hatched the idea for a distillery that continues the legacy of artisan distilling in Massachusetts, albeit in a more drinkable form, and carries on Richard’s commitment to our family farm. Paying particular attention to the caliber of ingredients used in our products, Bully Boy will hand-produce premium spirits in small batches, emphasizing quality over quantity. As homage to our Grandfather, who served as inspiration, we named the distillery after his favorite work horse, Bully Boy, and made a decision to conduct the operation in a manner that supports local agriculture. Bully Boy’s legacy as a "willing and patient family member" is memorialized with a plaque dated 1926, which is pictured above.

Stay tuned for more details related to our product line and launch – our blog will be updated regularly.