Some distillery tours are just more historically relevant than others. And if you’re looking for a truly unique tour experience, you’ll want to add the Whiskey Rebellion Trail to your must-visit list!

What is the Whiskey Rebellion Trail?

The Whiskey Rebellion Trail is a series of cultural institutions and historical markers that spans four major cities with ties to the Whiskey Rebellion: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and Baltimore. It also includes stops in rural areas and small towns between these regions. The Whiskey Rebellion Trail was established to celebrate and promote mid-Atlantic whiskey — both for its rich history and its vibrant new life in craft distilleries. Consider this your ultimate guide to partying like it’s 1791. 

What was the Whiskey Rebellion?

The Whiskey Rebellion was a series of political demonstrations and violent protests that arose in response to then Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton’s federal “whiskey tax.” Although it was technically a tax on all distilled spirits, it was implemented at a time when whiskey’s popularity was exploding. In fact, many poor and newly independent Americans used whiskey as currency, essentially making the new tax an income tax that wealthier distillers did not have to pay.   

Starting in 1791, the Whiskey Rebellion lasted for three years, receiving support across western Pennsylvania from militia farmers who refused to pay the tax. Subsequently, smaller distillers would end up paying more tax per gallon of whiskey than those with large-capacity stills, making it impossible for the small operations to compete. Considering that many of them had fought in the American Revolutionary War less than a decade earlier, the rebels believed that they were continuing to fight for those same values — namely, taxation without local representation. Also, the whiskey tax was the first tax on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government, which operated under President George Washington.  

These resistors banded together to intimidate government officials who were sent to collect the tax, often resorting to violence. In 1794, the rebellion came to a head in a series of conflicts between rebels and tax collectors from the State. The events of 1794 lead to a violent insurrection that was ultimately stopped by a show of force from George Washington’s army. It’s believed that this is the only time in US history that a sitting President led troops into battle.

Why Choose the Whiskey Rebellion Trail?

If you want to indulge in craft whiskeys, explore one or more major Mid-Atlantic cities, and dig into a wild history with a familiar cast of characters, this is the trail to take! Each major city/region of the Whiskey Rebellion Trail has another name to represent where it fits into the controversial history of American whiskey.

Tour passes sold through the Whiskey Rebellion Trail’s official website are good for 30 days after purchase, and you can do as little or as much of the trail as you want! Here’s what you can expect from each region of the trail:

The Order – Greater Philadelphia Region 

The first region is The Order, named for the new law that sparked the protests against the federal whiskey tax. This legislation was written and passed in Philadelphia, then the capital of the United States. Here are some things to do in Philadelphia along the Whiskey Rebellion Trail:

• Five Saints Distilling
• Manatawny Still Works Distillery & Tasting Room-Pottstown
• Manatawny Still Works Craft Spirits Shop & Tasting Room- Passyunk
• Stoll and Wolfe Whiskey Distillery

The Rebellion – Greater Pittsburgh Region

The Pittsburgh region of the trail is The Rebellion, as Pittsburgh was at the center of much of the Whiskey Rebellion’s action. The city carries on the tradition of distilling whiskey while continuing to innovate and break new ground. Things to do in Pittsburgh along the Whiskey Rebellion Trail include:

• Burgess & Burgess Distillery
• Golden Eagle Inn
• Lawrenceville Distilling Co.
• Liberty Pole Spirits
• Maggie’s Farm
• Quantum Spirits
• Tall Pines Distillery
• Wigle Whiskey Distillery

In addition to the many places you can get some whiskey, The Rebellion — made up of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas of Western Pennsylvania — boasts four cultural institutions with ties to the Whiskey Rebellion: 

• Bradford House Museum
• West Overton Village and Museums
• Whiskey Rebellion Festival (takes place the second weekend in July)
• Woodville Plantation

Things to Do in Baltimore

The Baltimore region of the trail is called The Finale. Beyond Maryland farmers’ involvement in the rebellion, Baltimore’s contribution to whiskey history continued. In the 1920s, Maryland was the only state that didn’t ratify the Prohibition amendment, making Baltimore one of the few US cities producing whiskey. The area is still home to a thriving whiskey scene, including these fun things to do in Baltimore when you’re on the Whiskey Rebellion Trail:

• Baltimore Spirits Company
• McClintock Distilling Company
• MISCellaneous Distillery
• Old Line Spirits
• Sagamore Spirit
• Tenth Ward Distilling Company

Things to Do in Washington D.C.

The final region of the Whiskey Rebellion Trail, The Resolution, covers the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. A highlight of the region is Mount Vernon, where George Washington himself had one of the country’s largest distilleries at the time. Don’t worry, he paid his whiskey tax! If you’re doing other sightseeing in D.C., consider adding The Resolution for a delicious twist. Here are some whiskey-forward things to do in Washington D.C:

• Cotton & Reed
• Don Ciccio & Figli
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon
• District Made Spirits
• Republic Restoratives Distillery

Whiskey Rebellion Trail FAQ 

How does the Whiskey Rebellion Trail work?

On the website, you can purchase passes for one or more of the trail’s four regions. Show the passes at participating distilleries and historical institutions for trail-exclusive perks!

Can I buy a pass at one of the trail’s participating distilleries or museums?

Trail passes can only be purchased on whiskeyrebelliontrail.com. At the moment, passes for the trail must be redeemed via mobile device. Each pass can be used up to 30 days after its initial use. 

How will the participating distilleries and museums know I’m “on the trail?”

Just show the ticketing agent or another employee the pass on your phone. They’ll help you redeem your exclusive savings!

Interested in what other distilleries are in the area? Check out the Distillery Nearby website to learn more about the best distilleries and distillery tours in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and beyond!