From the outside of the iconic Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn—home to Widow Jane, the setup might seem unconventional. Widow Jane operates across six separate buildings, cleverly adapted to meet the demands of this growing and beloved Whiskey brand. “The physical layout is anything but traditional,” Chief Production Officer, Josh Anderson shared, “but there’s a scrappy ingenuity to it that perfectly reflects the team behind the bottle.”

Inside, Josh found a team whose passion runs as deep as their water source—literally. Widow Jane’s water is trucked in from the limestone-rich Rosendale Mines in upstate New York. This natural, iron-free cave water is one of the elements that gives Widow Jane its signature profile and speaks to their commitment to sourcing with purpose.

The true art, however, lies in the blend. Widow Jane 10 yr sources exceptional distillate from Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana, where Baby Jane is a blend of Kentucky and New York distillate. But it’s the team’s palate, highly trained, exacting, and collaborative, that brings everything into harmony. There is deep scrutiny, repeated tastings, and a shared sense of accountability to every barrel that bears the Widow Jane name.

While visiting, Josh was deeply impressed by the outstanding leadership of Steve Kaplan and Michele Clark “Their ability to flex and adapt post-acquisition, while also delivering smart cost-saving solutions, is something to be admired,” he said. “They’re not just managing change, they’re driving it, thoughtfully and intentionally.”

Staying connected to sites like Widow Jane is about more than operational visibility. “These teams are the heartbeat of our brands,” Josh says. “Widow Jane is not only a success story from the Samson & Surrey acquisition; it’s a signal of where we’re headed. There’s bold aspiration here, and the team’s energy is contagious.”

And the view from the neighborhood? You can see the Statue of Liberty. “It’s fitting,” Josh laughed. “There’s something amazing about crafting bold American whiskey with Lady Liberty in the background.”