From Cannons to Cocktails: Inside Defiance Hall & War Cannon Spirits in Crown Point
All photos courtesy War Cannon Spirits in Crown Point, NY.
When you drive along NY-9N toward the Lake Champlain shore, you might not expect what awaits behind the façade of War Cannon Spirits: a place where craft distilling meets deep Adirondack and Revolutionary-era history, and where the tasting room itself has been reborn with its own identity.
Welcome to Defiance Hall, the newly defined hospitality front of the distillery in Crown Point, NY.
A revolutionary rebrand.
What once may have simply been “the tasting room at War Cannon” has now matured into a distinct experience. War Cannon Spirits remains the production powerhouse — farm-distilling on a 22-acre property in nearby Ticonderoga and sourcing grain from regional farms — while Defiance Hall offers the visitor-facing destination: food, cocktails, events and historic ambiance.
This split in branding lets each side shine: the craft spirits house staying true to small-batch production and historic roots, the hospitality space leaning into design, storytelling and experience.
From fort to flavor.
Located between two principal 18th-century forts — Fort Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga — War Cannon’s locale is no accident. The craft is deliberately set in the Champlain Valley to draw upon heritage, place and purpose.
War Cannon Spirits Battle for Bennington Bourbon
On April 11, 2025, an episode of our podcast ADK Talks titled “Mountains to Highlands: War Cannon’s Distilling Magic and Burns Night Bash”, hosts Jane and Steve sat down with the founders of War Cannon to explore how distilling tradition meets Adirondack ingenuity. Listen now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
As one of the founders noted:
“We wanted every sip to tell a story — to connect people not just to what’s in the glass, but to where it came from.”
It’s a telling line. Because here, the story begins long before the mash bill.
The lineup: spirits with a story.
War Cannon’s spirits are not only thoughtfully made — small-batch, farm-driven, region-rooted — but many are tied directly to historic events, giving each bottle a narrative as rich as the flavor.
Battle for Bennington Bourbon
Chief Distiller, Joel Elder, makes the 90-proof, double-distilled four-grain bourbon with New York corn, malted barley, rye and wheat, with tasting notes of baked sweets, fresh corn, vanilla beans, wildflowers and maple syrup.
A portion of the proceeds from each bottle is donated to the Bennington, VT, Museum and the Bennington 250 Planning Committee — tying the product to the August 16, 1777 engagement that was described as “the first link in that chain of successes which issued in the surrender at Saratoga.”
It’s craft spirits with historical weight.
Cannon Trail Vodka
Distilled five times to over 95% purity, made from 100% whey and carbon-filtered with coconut shells — eco-friendly by design, smooth by result. It honors ambitious Revolutionary War logistics: Henry Knox’s “Noble Train of Artillery,” which hauled nearly 60 tons of cannon from Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point to Dorchester Heights in the winter of 1775-76.
Cannon Trail Vodka by War Cannon Spirits
The result is a vodka with whipped cream, spring water and honey flavor notes — and a back story almost as strong as the spirit itself.
Other current releases include the four-grain Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye and the “Partnership Products” series — each marked by a local historic moment and supporting preservation or commemoration efforts.
To see War Cannon Spirits' full product line-up, visit their website. Also, see where you can buy their products near you.
Inside Defiance Hall.
Walk into Defiance Hall, and you’re stepping into history: the tasting room is housed in a meticulously restored 1820 sawmill building. The reclaimed oak planks, the creek-side outdoor terrace, the wrap-around outdoor seating — all elements combine to give a laid-back yet elevated Adirondack vibe.
Sip a craft old-fashioned made with War Cannon bourbon, pair it with a smoked brisket or pulled-pork sandwich, and linger on the patio as the creek hums and the trees rustle.
In the evenings — expect live music, events in “The Loft” (their 3,500-sq-ft event venue) and an atmosphere that’s part tasting-room, part gathering place.
Whether you’re a spirits connoisseur or a history buff looking for a place with character, Defiance Hall delivers.
Defiance Hall by War Cannon Spirits.
Plan your visit to Defiance Hall, War Cannon Spirits’ Tasting Room.
Address: 2849 NYS Route 9N, Crown Point, NY 12928. (War Cannon Spirits)
Hours: At the time of this writing, Defiance Hall hours are Wednesday 4:30-9 pm, Thursday 4-9 pm, Friday 4-10 pm, Saturday 12-10 pm, Sunday 12-8 pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday. Visit the War Cannon Spirits website to check current hours.
On-site facilities: Tasting room, retail shop, outdoor terrace and full food menu. You can also charge your EV while visiting.
At War Cannon Spirits — and under the roof of Defiance Hall — you’re not just drinking a craft spirit, you’re lifting a glass to place, to story, to the Adirondack way of doing things. Each bottle is a battle cry for craftsmanship, heritage and the joy of discovery.
So raise your glass, inhale the wild-flower and maple-syrup notes of that bourbon, savour the smooth whisper of the vodka, and embrace the spirit of Crown Point. Slàinte Mhath.
Tour War Cannon Spirits and meet Chief Distiller, Joel Elder.
Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near Crown Point.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
Looking for the best things to experience in the Adirondacks? Let ADK Taste be your guide.
Upcoming events in the area.
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