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Move over, Kentucky. New Jersey’s liquor distilleries are catching the eye (and palate) of tipplers inside the state and out. Jersey Spirits Distilling Co., based in Fairfield, is distinguished by its natural products made entirely with fresh Garden State–grown ingredients. Below, founder and master distiller John Granata shares his “pure Jersey” approach with us.

[RELATED: An Insider’s Guide to 25 New Jersey Distilleries]

How did you come to be a distiller and owner of Jersey Spirits? There’s no set career path to becoming a distiller. I took the long road and made a big switch around 10 years ago. I’d been an independent TV producer, but after the ’08 recession, the streaming companies got so big they were producing everything in-house. Their newly minted executives thought they were creatives, and I didn’t love the business anymore. For my next role, I wanted to do something that, like production, combines creativity with technology, science with art. But I didn’t know what.

Did you have an aha moment? I absolutely did. I found my inspiration while on vacation with my wife, Susan, in Park City, Utah. At a whiskey tasting at High West Distillery, we were bowled over by the subtlety and smoothness of the liquor. We got very interested in distilling and started to volunteer at distilleries in Kentucky, New York, Vermont and Florida. We learned everything we could about distilling, which is very scientific and precise, and I got into it.

We opened in 2015, and our production has quintupled since then. Today I’m a master distiller, and our daughter Noël is our operations manager and a distiller, too. Susan does sales and marketing, and designs our bottles and Jersey-centric labels.

Did you have a background in food and beverage? Well, I grew up Italian, in Bloomfield. My grandfather was a longtime chef at Perry’s in Newark, and we were all into food. I grew up feeling that the kitchen was the place to be, and that good food with distinctive flavor is a great achievement. I remember being four or five and climbing up to the roof of my grandma’s house in Spring Lake to flip over her sun-drying tomatoes.

As an adult, I got into baking. I once owned a restaurant, Evergreen, in Upper Montclair, and was very involved in the cooking, with the goal of developing the flavor of every dish. The venture didn’t last, but owning another food or beverage business was always in the back of my mind.

What’s the concept behind Jersey Spirits? For one thing, the timing was good, as New Jersey relaxed its regulations regarding craft distilleries in 2013, opening the door to small-batch producers of under 100,000 [750-ml] bottles annually. Susan and I created our brand and our spirits very consciously. After we appraised all the liquors out there, we put flavor at the top of our wish list. We came to feel that smoothness isn’t enough, even for vodka and gin, and we saw a place for really nice-tasting alcohol, with perceptible flavor as part of the mix.

We also wanted to make our spirits taste, and be, as natural as possible, coming from fresh, real fruit or honey or what have you. It was shocking to discover that nearly all the flavored liquors on the market are made from chemical-laden syrups or outright synthetic flavorings. We New Jerseyans know what good is, with a palate that’s sky-high. Susan and I were certain there was a need for great-tasting liquor with none of the off-taste and aftertaste of fake ingredients.

And finally, we wanted to celebrate our state and its brilliant food and agriculture scene. Our name, Jersey Spirits, reflects what we think of as the actual Jersey spirit—that swagger of self-confidence and pride in our richly historic, varied, delicious place, from spectacular beaches to beautiful old towns to pioneering organic farms. New Jerseyans are second to no one.

Our products are not only made here, but all our ingredients are made from Jersey-grown crops or fruit, fresh and raw. And we’ve been winning gold and silver medals at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the New York International Spirits Competition. In New Jersey, we do it right.

Why did you base Jersey Spirits in Fairfield? I’ve lived in Essex County my whole life: Bloomfield, West Caldwell, West Orange. I’ve tried and failed to leave! And Fairfield is the liquor capital of New Jersey—seriously, with the most alcohol licenses of any town in the state. Three distilleries, two breweries and a winery. Fairfield is a cool place.

What’s Jersey Spirits’ product range?We make it all. Vodkas, rums, gins, whiskies, bourbons—the first bourbon distilled in the state since Prohibition. We even produce a single malt whiskey and a grappa. You can see our specific offerings on our website. Everything is pretty unique, such as vodka flavored with Jersey produce: hot pepper, cucumber that’s amazing in a vodka tonic, a horseradish vodka for an incredible Bloody Mary. [There are cocktail recipes, too.]

Our Jersey Hooch liquor is really popular, with complex, not-over-sweetened flavors, so you can taste the Jersey fruit and spices in our Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Smash, PB & J Sandwich, peachy Beach Tea and more. Jersey Hooch is low-alcohol, around 40 proof, so you can sip it without worrying it’ll go right to your head.

Where can Jersey Spirits be bought and tasted? We’ve gotten a warm reception from retailers statewide and are sold in close to 200 stores, which you can find on our interactive map. We’re at Total Wine, Bottle King, many Buy-Rites and ShopRite liquor stores, and lots of independent shops. We also sell at our distillery, including curbside pickup. You can taste Jersey Spirits in more than 50 bars and restaurants across the state. And our distillery has a tasting room, plus an outdoor area serving shots, flights and cocktails. No reservation; open Wednesday through Sunday.

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FAIRFIELD, NJ -- Fairfield’s VFW Post 7925 is planning to build a “Green Space” for the community as a sign of appreciation to its Fairfield residents and to promote a program called “Freedom Rocks,” post commander Brian Gallagher announced.

Recognizing the community’s support in enabling the VFW post to remain open and supplying help in refurbishing of the facility, the post has teamed up with local contractors to build an “impressive garden area” on its grounds for the public to enjoy said Gallagher.

The garden will be named Schlapfer Gardens after one of the post’s founding members, World War II Veteran Warren Schlapfer. He and other WWII Veterans chartered the new post in 1946.

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Schlapfer was a local resident of Fairfield before and shortly after WWII. He passed away in 2022 and was laid to rest with military honors in Fairfield.

To honor his legacy of his belief in family and community, the post is hosting a community-first project called “Freedom Rocks” through the assistance of Fairfield residents Ashli Antonakos and Nicole Sudol.

Any Fairfield resident who wishes to participate will be given a small decorative stone that they will be asked to paint in honor of any veteran they may know or just to paint a simple patriotic design in honor of all veterans. The rocks are available for pickup any Wednesday or Friday at the VFW between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. There is no cost for the rocks.

The decorated stones will be placed in Schlapfer Gardens by each individual contributor during the unveiling of Schlapfer Gardens on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. There are potential plans to place each of the stones in a cement pathway to ensure each stone will be placed in perpetuity.

“Participating families are not only invited to attend the unveiling of the new garden, but are strongly encouraged to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity to create these decorative stones that signify the strong foundation of community that VFW Post 7925 believes in,” stated Gallagher.

In a statement to TAPinto West Essex, Gallagher said, “We wanted to give back to the Fairfield community for their support over the years as well as honor one of our founding members. Schlapfer Gardens will be a place where our residents can enjoy a place of tranquility to remember and reflect. We cannot thank Sponzilli Landscaping Group enough for taking on this project and leading the charge to make this a reality.”

For additional information, visit http://www.vfwevents.org and or email [email protected]

FAIRFIELD, NJ -- Fairfield voters in November’s election will vote on three spending proposals that could reinstate programs and staff that were cut in September due to lack of funds in the 2023-24 school budget.

If all three proposals are passed, the average homeowner will pay an additional $43.39 a month in taxes.

“If these proposals are not voted in by Fairfield voters, the education of Fairfield children will suffer,” said Frank LaMorte, a concerned parent.

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Tyler Masterson, another concerned parent, told TAPinto West Essex, “I dropped off my ballot today and left with knots in my stomach, in fear that members of this community do not understand and recognize the dire need the school district is in, and how crucial it is for our residents to pass the three budget proposals on the ballot. The school district is at a tipping point.”

The school board said that these proposals must pass for the betterment of the students. At a previous Fairfield Board of Education (FBOE) meeting, board member Anthony DePascale said an outreach committee was formed to push the message. The FBOE is not legally allowed to do this. They are relying on the outreach committee, Fairfield Education Foundation, and the Fairfield Home and School Association.

LaMorte is on this outreach committee. He explained the board selected a few parents and HSA members to get the word out to the community about the FBOE and what is going on with the schools and Board.

The FBOE adopted its 2023-2024 budget, but in order to maintain the state mandated 2 percent cap, the new budget includes a reduction in staff and program cuts.

Some of the cuts being made include the termination of two general education teachers, one special education teacher and one library media specialist position. As of now, the budget does not include continuing the instrumental band and orchestra programs for grades 4-6 or before and after school clubs in both schools. Field trips for grades K-6 are not in the budget, and some lunch aide positions have not been restored, along with an occupational therapist assistant position.

The first proposal would raise an additional $930,008 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively to reduce general education class size in grades K through 6; reduce special education class size; reinstate the media program for grades K through 6; continue the instrumental band and orchestra program for grade 4 through 6; employ two part-time district registered nurses; employ a full-time technology/network administrator; reinstate before/after school clubs in Adlai E. Stevenson School and Winston S. Churchill School; expand district-wide security; add a full-time custodian; add a full-time speech teacher. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. If passed, this proposal will cost the average homeowner $19.44 a month.

The second proposal for additional funds would raise an additional $235,916 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively to increase classroom supplies; purchase new computers and technology at Winston S. Churchill School; purchase of digital software; restore field trips for grades K through 6; restore seven lunch aide positions; restore the occupational therapist assistant. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards, and if passed, this second proposal will cost the average homeowner $9.88 a month.

The third proposal would raise an additional $540,000 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively for employment and/or contracting of bus aides. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. This third proposal will cost the average homeowner $14.07 a month.

Masterson described the situation saying that over the last several years conditions have changed. The fifth-graders were moved out of the school building and into trailers, and the district cut courtesy busing. She said, “These were changes we could see. There have been many more detrimental changes over the last year that aren’t so obvious, but they are starting to compound, and it’s adding up. Our amazing teachers and staff have done all they can to make do, but many lessons and students are starting to fall through the cracks. How can we turn it around and start to improve?” The answer is first by voting on the ballot questions. This will restore the positions and programs we had in place last year, but more importantly, it will prevent further devastating cuts, which are inevitable if the budget doesn’t pass.”

LaMorte stated, “The teachers and administrators in Fairfield have voiced many concerns about the loss of funding for various programs and challenges with reductions in staff. Without the passing of at least ballot questions 1 and 2, I feel this will negatively impact students’ overall educational experience and achievement levels. This can be a red flag for parents researching schools in our area and a direct impact on our property values.”

Realtor Janice Corsilli said, “One of the reasons our family moved to Fairfield was because of its excellent school system. If the school system continues to eliminate programs and teachers, it could affect the value of the town and the real estate values.”

Masterson stated, “The school district is the cornerstone of our community and plays a pivotal role in shaping the future prosperity of our town. The decisions we make today will not only shape the school, but also the town for years to come. The teachers and staff cannot put any more band-aids over obvious gaps. Please do not let complacency lead us down a path where we look back five years from now, when the picture is even more grim, still asking, 'How did we get here?'"

Parents have asked residents to take the time to watch the video titled Stevenson’s Coffee with the principal. In the video, several teachers share the negative impacts the students are facing today as a result of the budget cuts. It can be found on Dr. Trabucco’s website. Trabucco is the principal of Adlai Stevenson School.

Parents are asking, if anyone has parents or family members who live in town, retired/senior neighbors or young parents with pre-school children, to share this information with them and start the conversation.

There are other residents in town who are rejecting these proposals because they feel they are being penalized because of decisions made by the superintendent and FBOE

FAIRFIELD, NJ -- “If only the spirit of this day at Fairfield’s VFW could be bottled and sent throughout the United States,” said a Fairfield resident at the Veterans Day memorial service this Saturday. “We need more of this community spirit for the young and old alike,” she said.

The post not only held a service for Veterans Day but also dedicated the new serenity garden in memory of Warren Schlapfer, a World War II veteran, who fought in the Philippine Islands as a machine gunner. He was born and raised in Fairfield when it was all dirt roads and farmland. Schlapfer worked on his family’s farm during the day and at Curtis Wright at night. After the war, he came back home, and 77 years ago in 1946, he and other veterans created VFW Post 7925.

Gallagher said, “Warren visited us in 2019 and shared so many stories with us. In 2021, he cut the ribbon to our brick pathway "Freedom Walk." Unfortunately, in 2022, Warren passed away at age 98. However, his memory will live on through this public green space.” His family was at the service to cut the ribbon for the new Schlapfer Garden.

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After so many years, the VFW building was getting old and outdated, the parking lot was in disrepair, the outside was looking old and unappealing, and the members were getting older too. They were finding it very hard to keep the post alive. They thought they would have to close. However, the town stepped in, and Gallagher stepped up to the challenge of bringing back the VFW to a vibrant organization. Gallagher had a vision.

Gallagher said, “Over the past several years, the VFW has been slowly bringing the post back to life through rebuilding, repairing and refurbishing. Although our grounds were looking better than before, one eyesore was a patch of land in the back of the parking lot. Brush, dead leaves and trash accumulated over the years making it very unsightly. Last year, the town helped level out the area which helped the situation. One of our members, retired Army SGM Marco Chavez, suggested we speak with Sponzilli Landscaping Group to do something impressive with the landscaping.”

Gallagher explained that Sponzilli came in and reimagined the entire space and suggested a place where people could sit and enjoy the serenity of a garden. It was decided that it should be a public green space dedicated to the residents of Fairfield for their decades of help and support in keeping our VFW Post open. He said, “Without the assistance of this town, our doors would have been closed years ago.”

“We couldn't have done this garden without the generosity of Sponzilli Landscaping Group. They truly stepped up and recognized a project within the community that they could tackle. I'm amazed at how this came into fruition in just a few short weeks. Their work is extraordinary,” stated Gallagher.

He also told the crowd that only a few days ago, he asked Sponzilli if they could build a fire pit, and they did.

The fire pit was lit today, as children gathered around it, to hear Fairfield author Stephen Clifford read from his books, “Forgotten Wisdom Books: Lessons from a Former Marine.”

Other community members, including Ashli Antonakos, Nicole Sudol, Jill Plumstead Totka, many other adults and Girl Scout and Brownie troops helped make this a special day for children. The children were involved in the book lending center and a rock painting project for the garden.

Visitors were invited to come to the garden, take a book to read and sit on the new benches that were donated by supporters of the VFW. One can also come to the book lending center to donate books. Visitors were also invited to take a look at the “rock garden” where children painted inspirational and patriotic rocks that were placed in the garden cement.

Gallagher said, “At the end of the day, this is exactly what makes Fairfield a wonderful place to live. We're a strong community-minded town who support one another, and this new memorial garden is a testament to that. I hope our residents feel this is an appropriate way to show our thanks. It's our love letter to Fairfield as we truly appreciate their years of support.”