Virginia’s wine-making industry has been gaining much attention. But the Virginia distillery scene was blooming even before the wines.

Today, we’ll present the ultimate guide to over 45 Virginia distilleries that make some of the nation’s top whiskey, moonshine, vodka, and gin. Since visiting all of them would take a whole season, here are the best of Virginia’s craft distillery tours.

1. A. Smith Bowman, Virginia Distillery

This distillery is well known for making award-winning bourbon. For instance, its single barrel John J. Bowman bagged the Globes’ best bourbon award during the 2017 whiskey awards. Its Abraham Bowman Bourbon won the same award in 2016.

The distillery’s large, brick warehouse facility gives it an aged look and offers tours from Monday to Saturday. Moreover, you will sample spirits only available at the distillery while touring.

Location: 1 Bowman Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Phone: +1 540-373-4555

2. Tarnished Truth Distillery

No ultimate guide to the Virginia craft distillery scene is complete without Tarnished Truth Distillery. Located at the lower level of the historic Cavalier Hotel, Tarnished Truth Distillery makes Old Cavalier Bourbon Whiskey that’s aged for nine years and has cinnamon, black pepper, and butter toffee notes. 

The distillery also has a High Rye Whiskey that’s three years old with clove, honey vanilla, cinnamon, and oak notes.

You can tour their facility and then sample other top-selling spirits and cocktails in one of their luxurious bars called the Hunt Room.

Location: 4200 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: +1 757-965-9652

3. Cape Charles Distillery 

Inspired by the elegant Virginia coastline and beautiful mountains, Cape Charles Distillery uses only local ingredients to make their spirits. For example, the company harvests water from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Since it began operation in 2017, the distillery has quickly gained recognition in a short span. It won the Best Distillery in Eastern Virginia consecutively for three years (2019,2020,2021)

Cape Charles Distillery founders believe in combining quality ingredients and years of expertise to make top-level spirits—a fact you can confirm by booking a tour of their facility.

Location: 222 Mason Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310
Phone: +1 757-695-3737

4. Catoctin Creek, Virginia Distillery

Here is a company that played an immense role in the rebirth of rye distilling in America. Its flagship product, Roundstone, a “pre-prohibition rye,” contains 100% organic rye.

Additionally, the distillery makes superb brandies using local fruits, including pears, apples, and peaches. You can consume each brandy individually or mix them in a cocktail.

The company holds tours and tastings from Tuesday to Sunday inside a room lined with bricks with a central bar overlooking the warehouse where distillation occurs.

Location: 120 W Main St, Purcellville, VA 20132
Phone: +1 540-751-8404

5. James River, Virginia Distillery

For gin lovers, James River Distillery has all you need. The company’s Commonwealth gin is popular in stores and bars across Virginia. The gin has a juniper London style with fresh botanicals.

Recently, the company pushed its creative efforts further by releasing Oster Vit, an aquavit filled with oyster shells. 

You will find the tasting room open from Monday to Thursday, and you can even book a facility tour online.

Location: 703 East Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: +1 804-716-5172

6. Springfield Distillery 

If you pass by Southern Virginia, be sure to stop by Springfield Distillery to sample some of its Scratch whiskeys.

Even though the distillery majors in scratch whiskey, made from molten barley and Virginia corn, they also have numerous flavored drinks. These include fruit-inspired apple, orange, and blackberry whiskeys.

That’s not all. Springfield has inventive flavors like honey, sweet heat, and butterscotch. 

Once you are done walking through the facility, head over to the distillery’s rustic tasting room to enjoy flight tastings combining multiple whiskeys. 

Moreover, you can stay overnight in cabins built by the distillery owners. The cottages have a perfect blend of rustic exteriors and modern comfort accessories.

Location: 9040 River Road Halifax, VA 24558
Phone: +1 434-575-9317

7. Iron Clad Distillery Company 

Named after the Iron Ships that docked on Virginia’s coastline, Iron Clad Distillery specializes in producing small-batch bourbons made from malted barley, rye, wheat, and corn. The artisans then store the spirit in American oak barrels and let it age for a year. The result is a balanced bourbon with a dry finish and caramelized sweetness.

In addition to the distillery’s signature whiskey, the company has bourbons finished in honey casks, maple syrup, and coffee barrels.

Visit Iron Clad’s tasting room to taste their whiskey, either mixed-in cocktail samples or straight. Please tour their well-built facility and finalize by buying one or two products at the distillery shop.

Location: 124 23rd St, Newport News, VA
Phone: +1 917-696-8880

8. Silverback, Virginia Distillery 

Located on Route 151 (also called the “Alcohol Alley” due to its three breweries, five wineries, a distillery, and cidery,) Silverback Distillery is worth touring.

The distillery has a rather strange, but flavorful, Monkey gin that can win over even the most skeptical drinker. However, if you are a rye fan, you can go for its Black Honey rye, made using locally sourced honey.

To get a facility tour, you will require an early booking. However, the tasting room is open for walk-ins from Monday to Thursday. It serves the company’s entire spirit collection and sweet craft cocktails.

Location: 9374 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Afton, VA 22920
Phone: +1 540-456-7070

9. Vitae Spirits 

Walk a few blocks past the University of Virginia Campus, and you will come across Vitae Spirits, a distillery making out-of-the-box spirits.

For instance, you can pour its anisette spirit over ice and add a pint of water, or use it to substitute absinthe in cocktails, like Sazerac. Also, its orange liqueur is an ideal upgrade for a Margarita.

Vitae Spirits facility is open for tours from Wednesday to Sunday. And you can bring children, though tastings are only for people 21 or older.

Location: 715 Henry Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: +1 434-270-0317

10. Blue Sky Distillery

Blue Sky, a midsized award-winning distillery, produces its Small Batch Reserve whiskey using 100% wheat from local farms. Distillery tastings and tours are free for visitors 21+, and later you can buy some of their spirits to carry home.

Location: 17466 Benns Church Blvd, Smithfield, VA 23430
Phone: +1 757-255-8827

Frequently Asked Questions

How many craft distilleries are in Virginia?

There are more than 45 registered craft distilleries in Virginia, which will increase as more people enter the industry.

What are the best places to visit in Virginia?

They include:

• Shenandoah National Park
• Mount Vernon
• Virginia Beach
• Blue Ridge Parkway

What city has the most craft distilleries in Virginia?

Richmond City has nine craft distilleries, more than any other city in the state.

Final Words

Visit three or more craft distilleries listed in the above ultimate guide to experience some of Virginia’s premium gin, bourbon, and moonshine.

Better yet, you can check out Distillery Nearby to learn about the different whiskey trails, types of spirits, and festivals near you.