Gristmill Distillers
Terms of Service
Last Updated: April 17, 2026
Welcome to Gristmill Distillers. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website located at www.gristmilldistillers.com (“Website”) and any interactions with Gristmill Distillers, including private tastings and product purchases (“Services”). By accessing our Website, participating in our Services, or purchasing our products, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Website or Services.
1. Our Business
Gristmill Distillers is a licensed craft distillery located in Keene, New York. We produce and distribute spirits under applicable New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) licensing and regulations. Our operations include:
- Private, by-appointment tastings during select summer months
- Direct sales of our spirits through authorized channels
- Online information and potential future e-commerce offerings
We do not accommodate walk-up public visits or tours. All visits and tastings are by prior appointment only. Please contact us via email ([email protected]) or telephone ((518) 527-8131) to arrange a private tasting.
2. Legal Age Requirement
Alcohol Sales and Tastings:
Gristmill Distillers sells alcoholic beverages exclusively to individuals who are 21 years of age or older. By accessing our Website, purchasing our products, or participating in our tastings, you represent and warrant that you are at least 21 years of age and of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction.
Age Verification:
For in-person tastings, valid government-issued photographic identification will be required and verified at entry. For any future online or mail delivery of our products, we will implement industry-standard age verification methods, which may include but are not limited to: (a) customer age affirmation at purchase; (b) automated verification against official identity documents; and (c) physical ID verification by delivery personnel at the point of delivery, with adult signature required. All identification records are maintained in accordance with New York State Liquor Authority requirements and applicable law.
3. Responsible Consumption and Risk Acknowledgment
Alcohol Consumption Risks: By purchasing, receiving, or consuming any Gristmill Distillers product, you acknowledge that alcohol consumption carries inherent health and safety risks, including but not limited to:
- Impaired judgment, coordination, and reaction time
- Potential for alcohol-related injuries or accidents
- Health conditions aggravated by alcohol (including pregnancy-related risks, medication interactions, and pre-existing medical conditions)
- Potential for alcohol dependence
You are solely responsible for evaluating the risks of alcohol consumption in your personal circumstances, including consulting with a healthcare provider if you have medical concerns. You assume all risks associated with your purchase, possession, and consumption of our products.
Responsible Drinking: You agree to consume our products responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws. This includes:
- Never driving or operating machinery while impaired
- Not providing alcohol to minors or anyone unable to legally consume alcohol
- Complying with local open container and public consumption laws
4. Private Tastings
Tasting Availability:
Private tastings are offered on a limited basis during select summer months. Availability is not guaranteed and is subject to scheduling, production capacity, and staff availability. Tasting appointments must be arranged in advance by contacting Gristmill Distillers directly.
Tasting Reservations:
To request a private tasting, contact us at [email protected] or (518) 527-8131. All reservations are subject to confirmation. Confirmed appointments are binding; cancellations must be made with reasonable notice (specific notice period to be communicated upon booking confirmation).
Identification Required:
Valid government-issued photographic identification must be presented upon arrival. No exceptions. Failure to provide identification will result in cancellation of the tasting, and entry will be denied.
No Walking Up/Unannounced Visits:
We respectfully request that you do not visit our facility unannounced. We are located in a residential area, and unannounced visits disrupt our neighbors and our operations. Entry is strictly by prior appointment only.
Conduct During Tastings:
Participants must conduct themselves responsibly and respectfully. Gristmill Distillers reserves the right to refuse service or terminate a tasting at any time if a participant exhibits disruptive, disrespectful, or dangerous behavior, or appears to be excessively intoxicated. No refunds will be issued in such circumstances.
5. Product Purchases
Product Availability:
Products are offered subject to availability. Gristmill Distillers does not guarantee product availability, pricing, or future stock. Product offerings, descriptions, and prices are subject to change without notice.
Ordering (Current & Future Channels):
Currently, direct product orders may be arranged through private tastings or by special request via email or phone. If Gristmill Distillers implements e-commerce ordering in the future, all online orders will be subject to these Terms, including age verification, state-specific shipping restrictions, and applicable taxes and fees.
State-Specific Restrictions:
The sale and shipment of alcoholic beverages are subject to federal and state laws. Gristmill Distillers will only ship to states where direct-to-consumer shipment is legally permitted. Not all states permit direct shipment of spirits from distilleries. It is the customer’s responsibility to verify that their state of residence permits receipt of direct shipments of alcoholic beverages. If you place an order for a state that does not permit direct shipment, your order will be cancelled, and any payment will be refunded.
Taxes and Regulatory Fees:
All applicable federal excise taxes, state and local sales taxes, and regulatory fees are the responsibility of the customer unless explicitly stated otherwise. Taxes will be calculated and collected at the point of order or delivery, as required by law.
6. Shipping and Delivery (If Applicable)
If Gristmill Distillers offers shipped delivery of products in the future, the following terms will apply:
- All shipments will be made through authorized carriers and will be clearly labeled as containing alcohol
- Delivery requires the recipient to be present and to provide valid government-issued photographic identification confirming they are 21 or older
- An adult signature is required upon delivery
- Shipments cannot be left unattended; refusal of delivery at the doorstep does not complete the transaction
- Gristmill Distillers is not responsible for damage in transit; claims should be directed to the carrier
- International shipping is prohibited
7. Website Use and Intellectual Property
Website License:
Gristmill Distillers grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Website for lawful, personal purposes only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any Website content without express written permission.
Intellectual Property Ownership:
All content on the Website—including text, images, logos, product photography, trademarks, and graphics—is the property of Gristmill Distillers or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Gristmill Distillers® and all related marks are trademarks of Gristmill Distillers. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
User-Generated Content:
If you share photos, reviews, or other content featuring Gristmill Distillers products or facilities (“User Content”), you grant Gristmill Distillers a royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display such content for non-commercial marketing and educational purposes (including on our Website and social media). You represent that you own or control all rights to any User Content and that its use does not infringe third-party rights. You may tag or credit Gristmill Distillers in your social media posts; we appreciate attribution.
8. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimers
“As-Is” Disclaimer:
The Website and all Services are provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Gristmill Distillers makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability, or non-infringement of Website content.
Service Warranties Disclaimed:
Gristmill Distillers does not warrant that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, free of harmful code, or continuously available. We do not warrant the suitability of our products for any particular purpose beyond their use as distilled spirits for lawful consumption by persons of legal age.
Limitation of Liability:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Gristmill Distillers and its owners, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages; loss of profits, revenue, or data; business interruption; or any other damages arising out of or in connection with (a) your access to or use of the Website or Services, (b) your purchase or consumption of our products, (c) injury or illness resulting from alcohol consumption, or (d) any third-party conduct or content. This limitation applies even if Gristmill Distillers has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Product Liability: Gristmill Distillers is not liable for misuse, unauthorized use, or third-party interference with our products. You assume all responsibility for the lawful use and consumption of our products in compliance with applicable laws.
9. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Gristmill Distillers, its owners, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with (a) your access to or use of the Website or Services, (b) your violation of these Terms, (c) your violation of any applicable law or third-party right, (d) your consumption of our products, or (e) any injury or damage caused by your actions or omissions. This indemnification obligation survives termination of these Terms.
10. Privacy and Data Protection
Privacy Policy: Your use of the Website and Services is governed by our Privacy Policy, available at www.gristmilldistillers.com/privacy-policy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information, including your rights to access, delete, or correct your data.
Age Verification Data: Personal information collected for age verification (including date of birth, address, and identification data) is subject to heightened protection and is retained only as long as required by New York State Liquor Authority regulations or as necessary for fraud prevention and customer service purposes. We do not share age verification data with third parties except as required by law or to our authorized shipping partners for delivery verification.
Compliance: Gristmill Distillers complies with applicable privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and New York State privacy standards. If you have privacy concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles. New York Liquor Authority regulations shall govern all matters relating to the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Jurisdiction and Venue: Both you and Gristmill Distillers consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Essex County, New York (or such other venue as the company may elect). You waive any objection to venue or claim of inconvenient forum.
Arbitration (Optional): At Gristmill Distillers’ discretion, disputes may be resolved through binding arbitration rather than litigation. If arbitration is elected, it will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and held in Essex County, New York. This does not apply to disputes involving infringement of intellectual property rights or emergency equitable relief.
12. Third-Party Links and Content
The Website may contain links to external websites and third-party content not controlled by Gristmill Distillers. We have no responsibility for the content, accuracy, policies, or practices of third-party sites. Your access to third-party sites is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions. We do not endorse any third-party content unless explicitly stated.
13. Website Accessibility
Gristmill Distillers is committed to making our Website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us at [email protected] so that we can work to address your concerns.
14. Regulatory Compliance
Gristmill Distillers operates under the licensing and regulatory requirements of the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA). All production, sales, and distribution activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local alcohol laws, including labeling requirements, advertising restrictions, and age verification protocols. We reserve the right to modify these Terms to reflect changes in applicable law or SLA guidance.
15. Changes to These Terms
Gristmill Distillers reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the Website. Your continued use of the Website or Services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this document indicates when these Terms were last revised.
16. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or, if that is not possible, it will be severed. The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
17. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms, please contact us:
Gristmill Distillers
NY-73 Scenic
Keene, New York 12942
United States
Telephone: (518) 527-8131
Email: [email protected]
—
Important Notice
Gristmill Distillers currently does not accommodate walk-up public visits or casual tours. We operate by appointment only to maintain a respectful environment for our neighbors and to ensure proper compliance with local regulations. If you are interested in a private tasting during summer months or have questions about our products and operations, please contact us directly at the information above. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you by appointment.
