Rum, rye, moonshine, gin: whatever you call your favorite, craft spirits distilling is serious business in the Deep South. And you can enjoy it straight from the still by taking one of these relaxing spirit tours in Alabama distillery facilities. Going into the Heart of Dixie, visitors can find countless artisanal venues and bars. But still, deep in the Appalachian Mountains are a few craft distilleries worthy of the drive.

Get a tour of Clyde May’s Distillery

If you love whiskey, you can take appreciation of the drink to the next level by visiting Clyde May’s Distillery in Troy. The distillery is named after Alabama moonshiner and bootlegger Clyde May and is part of Conecuh brands. And interestingly, legend has it that in his heyday, Clyde May used to produce up to 300 gallons of whiskey a week at a still near Almeria.

He would skillfully craft his spirits in copper stills using locally sourced grains and spring water from Conecuh Ridge, just south of Montgomery. While May typically produced unaged whiskey, he occasionally used baked apples to coat charred oak casks. This allowed the ingredients to age for five or six years. Moreover, the apple-infused flavor is still cherished in today’s version of Clyde May’s Alabama-Style whiskey.

Tour the 80-acre facility to find out what goes into making that perfect Alabama-style bourbon. Then, there’s a large barn with couches to relax and sip a lineup of spirits, including Clyde May’s Alabama-Style Whiskey.

Sip true Southern spirit at John Emerald Distilling Company

This Opelika distillery offers interesting spirit tours in Alabama to see how a truly authentic Southern spirit is made. John Emerald Distilling Company, one of the first federally licensed distilleries in Alabama since Prohibition, specializes in handcrafted spirits. And they rely on locally-sourced ingredients to make their spirits. A few spirits they make are single-malt whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum.

Their award-winning John’s Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is crafted from malted Irish barley smoked with peach and pecan wood. It tastes like a Scotch while its aging mirrors that of bourbon distilled using charred American white oak.

You can take a tour of their family-owned distillery, sip on delicious craft cocktails at the in-house bar, and relax comfortably by the pond in their vast outdoor area. Also, there are occasional bottling parties, so there’s always something to discover here.

Explore how gin is made at Redmont Distilling Company

For an insider’s look into the world of Alabama’s vodka and gin, head to Redmont Distilling Company in Birmingham. This award-winning distillery had a seemingly quiet rebrand in 2019 and is now co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Redmont Distilling also pays homage to Birmingham’s Red Mountains.

Their distillery spirit tours allow you to explore their facility and sample different flavors of Alabama spirits – including Redmont Vodka, Vulcan Gin, and The Charles Barkley with Redmont Vodka. Redmont Vodka is made from corn and distilled eight times to provide a smooth finish. So, you can drink straight from the source at the in-house bar. Moreover, if you fancy a cozy atmosphere, there’s or sit on the patio and a deck where visitors can relax and enjoy their cocktails.

Sip and swirl at gorgeous Ozan Winery and Distillery

Established in 2001, this Calera distillery offers delicious wines and spirits – all of which can be enjoyed in a tasting room that’ll make you feel like you wandered into a classic European vineyard. With classic stone walls and ceiling beams, their tasting room is a top attraction with breathtaking views and atmosphere. And they love nothing more than to provide guests with a delicious craft cocktail made with their vodka, bourbon, or rye.

Take a walk through the vineyards, enjoy magnificent sunsets, and forage for ingredients to use in your craft spirits. Go behind the scenes into the process of spirit-making and sample different flavors of Yella Hound Spirits straight from the barrel. Finish it off with a lazy walk to the rustic wine-tasting room.

Sample Moonshine at Murder Creek Distillery

This family-run distillery has attracted whiskey lovers from all over the country because of its incredible selection of moonshine. Murder Creek Distillery has locations in Downtown OWA in Foley and Brewton. They specialize in small-batch whiskeys that range from familiar to far out.

Schedule a spirit tour before you show up to see how their artisanal moonshine is made. Sip their smooth Pecan Praline or the sweet and sassy Murder Creek’s Hot Shot. Additionally, other flavors include the Southern Cherry Bombs and Alabama Apple Pie. Visitors can also enjoy a few craft spirits and cocktails at their cozy lounge.

Get a history lesson on bourbon at Dread River Distillery

Beginning in 2019, Dread River Distillery is raising the bar for purveyors of spirits in downtown Birmingham. With a broad portfolio of gin, vodka, rum, whiskey, and bourbon, there is always a reason to head to their complex for great tastings. This family-friendly spot offers bourbon finished in Caribbean rum casks and bottled at 90 proof in its tasting room. The result is a whiskey that tastes great straight or in one of the special cocktails they’ll whip up for you at their distillery.

Learn the making of bourbon at Irons Distillery

Irons Distillery produces small-batch, artisanal bourbon spirits for anyone looking to imbibe. They’re offering tours of their distillery in Huntsville, where you can learn about making their Irons ONE Bourbon Whiskey and Irons ONE Bourbon Mash Whiskey (both are aged in charred oak barrels). The spirit tour also includes a sampling, so prepare to treat yourself to a drink on-site.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spirit Tours & Alabama Distillery Adventures

Is there whiskey made in Alabama?

Clyde May’s Alabama-style whiskey stands out as one of Alabama’s most renowned whiskeys. It’s made from rye, corn, and barley and is aged carefully in charred oak barrels for a period of several years. Additionally, as an added trivia nugget, Conecuh Ridge Fine Alabama Whiskey became the official spirit of Alabama when the Senate passed a resolution in March of 2004.

What bourbon is made in an Alabama distillery?

Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey, a high-quality aged moonshine whiskey, is Alabama’s official spirit.

What alcohol is made in Alabama?

In Alabama, you can get craft spirits such as rye whiskey, bourbon, flavored moonshine, and vodka and gin.

Discover more spirit tours nearby

The Alabama distillery tours above are sure to hit the spot. So, start exploring and add Alabama to your travel list! Want to discover more spirit tours near you? Visit here.