Tasked with making and marketing a product in high school, Matthew Gallagher created Gallagher’s Grog.
Using a Maxwell House coffee can to form the shape, Gallagher crafted a miniature barrel designed to age rum as a 17-year-old, and the rest is history.
More than four decades later, Gallagher opened a distillery in Carbondale with his wife, Sharon.
“I guess it was fate,” he said.
Owner of Gallagher Distillery Matthew Gallagher shows off a miniature barrel that he made when he was 17-years-old in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Owner of Gallagher Distillery Matthew Gallagher describes the distillation of his products in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A bottle of Gallagher Gold whiskey is for sale in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bottles of bourbon whiskey are for sale in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bottles of rum are for sale in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Owner of Gallagher Distillery Matthew Gallagher shows off a miniature barrel that he made when he was 17-years-old in Gallagher Distillery in Carbondale Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Gallaghers — who reside in Tobyhanna — held a soft opening for the new business at 16 Salem Ave. in the city last month and will host a grand opening celebration Saturday at noon.
“It’s a beautiful city and I was lucky enough to find this property,” Matthew Gallagher said. “It has good foot traffic and the road is very busy with vehicles.”
After working as a truck driver for more than 40 years, Gallagher currently serves as a dispatcher for a trucking company in Bethlehem, working an overnight shift.
Gallagher’s passion for distilling started in 2024 after he began watching the TV show “Moonshiners.”
“It just piqued an interest with me, and one thing led to another,” he said. “I stuck with it through trial and error. Every day is a learning process.”
The distillery produces bourbon, moonshine, aged and straight spiced rum, and three varieties of whiskey — Gallagher Gold, Gallagher Rye and Gallagher Red.
“A lot of people like the bourbon,” Gallagher said. “It has hints of caramel and vanilla, and it’s aged over two years in a barrel.”
Gallagher strives to source ingredients for the spirits from local farmers to both support area agricultural producers and also cut down on costs.
“We get our corn from a farmer in Stroudsburg and our grains from River Bend, North Carolina,” he said. “I’d like to find a local farmer that does grains — but that’s pretty hard to do up here — because the shipping costs way more than the grain.”
Gallagher hopes to expand offerings by eventually selling flavored moonshine and delving into beer production.
He noted it takes about a week to produce the liquors — from making the recipe to fermenting it, and then to run it.
“With that said, it could take a year, five, or 10 depending on how long you want to age your whiskey,” Gallagher added.
Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon believes the distillery will be a positive addition to the city’s business landscape.
“I was thrilled because the more unique things we have, the bigger of a draw we are,” she said. “I’ve always loved the idea of having a distillery in town.”
Bannon has been working to connect Gallagher with existing businesses in town like the Peanut Bar.
“We find out that when people partner up with one another, it works out so much nicer,” she said.
Gallagher envisions establishing relationships with business owners both locally and beyond.
“I’m looking forward to going to bar owners and making that happen as far as selling the spirits, not only to the local bars but expanding out,” he said. “I’ve already had an offer to ship overseas to Ireland and I want to see one of the bottles at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in New York City.”
As the weather warms up, Gallagher aims to bring food trucks to the property and potentially host live music at the distillery.
“We want to be part of the community because if you’re not part of the community, the community is not going to help you,” he said.
All in all, he just wants to continue meeting more people and bonding over bourbon.
“We like to listen to other people’s stories, and what better way to get to know somebody than over a sip of your drink?” Gallagher said.