Agawam Gin - Porter Distillery

John Porter moved to Agawam in 1771 and built the house that still stands at 1410 Main Street.

In 1780, he founded a distillery that made gin from Connecticut Valley rye. His grandson Harvey carried on the business as the H. Porter Distilling Company. Agawam gin was very high quality and well regarded across the country. The Porter distillery had the best record of any in the country, with an evaporation rate of only 20 gallons out of an allowance of 100. The distillery was sold in 1917 and during Prohibition produced cider and potato chips. Upon repeal of the Volsted Act, the mill again began producing gin, but closed permanently in 1938.

Harvey Porter had two children, Minerva, who married Charles Palmer Davis, founder of Current Events magazine, and Harvey E., who spent his life on the 100-acre Davis farm, where raised tobacco and potatoes.

The Town of Agawam’s Building Maintenance Department currently maintains offices in the former distillery building, located at 1347 Main Street.

The Agawam Historical Association has in its collection several Agawam Gin bottles manufactured through the years.