Ralph Erenzo and his son Gable are avid rock climbers and used to a challenge. When the father's plan to build a "climbers' ranch" on land he'd purchased in Gardiner, N.Y. (near some excellent rock climbing sites) didn't pan out, he needed a Plan B.

Tuthilltown Distillery has now expanded its product line to include five different whiskeys, plus vodka and gin, both distilled from local apples; spirits are distributed nationwide. The 18-person business is very much an artisanal, made-by-hand operation and, since it's just a short drive from Bergen County, well worth a visit.

To read more about the distillery, click here.