Maine is known as the state to go to for lighthouses, blueberries, and lobster. However, there is a small and thriving craft distillery scene in Maine. Many of which offer distillery tours and tasting rooms. So before you head to this northernmost state, check out this ultimate distillery guide to the best distilleries making craft spirits in Maine. 

1. Hardshore Distilling Company

Visit the tasting room at the Hardshore Distilling Company and discover a new kind of gin. Its flagship craft spirit is the Hardcore Gin. However, the team at Hardshore is constantly experimenting and innovating. So, each visit will bring you a new experience. Discover the layered and varied flavors that gin can embody. Also, learn to make delicious craft cocktails beyond the basic gin and tonic. 

2. Batson River Brewing

You can visit one hotspot or all of the four locations: Batson River Brewing, Biddeford, Kennebunk, Portland, and Wells. Each location offers a menu containing delectable bites, cocktails, and beer. From the distillery, you can try Clock Farm Vodka, Dixie Bull Rum, Langsford Road Bourbon, and Riparian Gin. Each craft spirit is made in small batches to ensure quality and consistency. Unfortunately, the distillery does not offer tours. However, the brewery does have regular tours with discounted pours. These tours take place at the Wells location. 

3. Luce Spirits

Head to downtown Rockland, ME, and you can visit the tasting room of Luce Spirits. This nano-distillery offers unique herbal craft spirits mixed into inventive cocktails. Try the Aquiline Vitae. It is a Swedish spirit crafted from an old family recipe. The Old Tom is a juniper spirit that is the grandfather to the modern dry gin. It’s earthier with a stronger flavor. Janara is a black walnut liqueur that is rich in flavor. Finally, there is the She-Bear Traditional Absinthe. Luce Spirits is one of the best distilleries in Maine for experiencing traditional herbal alcohol. 

4. Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery

Visit the tasting room and enjoy wine and spirits made from fruit grown on the Sweetgrass farm. In addition to several wines, the farm has a robust distillery program. It produces gin, brandy, liqueur, rum, whiskey, and vermouth. You’ll find delicious Maine flavors of blueberries, cranberries, and maple. Tastings and tours are offered at the Union, ME, location. This is where the farm, winery, and distillery are located. They also have a second additional location in Portland, ME, that offers some of the best distillery tastings and craft cocktails. 

5. Wiggly Bridge Distillery

The Wiggly Bridge Distillery offers one of the best distillery tours in Maine. Their newest location is an 1880’s barn. You can use it at the tasting bar and sample the craft spirits as you watch the master distillers at work. Their spirit lineup includes whiskey, bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, and agave. You can pay to join one of the distillery tours offered. There is the Founder’s Tour and the Distillery Tour. There are also three unique hands-on experiences you can pay to be a key part of, the Batch Blending Experience, Cocktail Class, or Distiller For a Day. 

6. Maine Craft Distilling

At Maine Craft Distilling, you will find an impressive spirit lineup that includes whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, brandy, and moonshine. Local flavors like apple and blueberry are present, giving the spirits a fruity taste. They offer some of the best distillery tours in Maine. The Whiskey Helps Tour shows you in-depth how the Stone Whiskey is made. The Farm to Flask Tour gives you a more general experience, flight tasting, and a sampling of local cheeses. Also located at the distillery is the Public House. It’s a full bar and event space offering unique craft cocktails and small plates. 

7. Three of Strong Spirits

There are no shortcuts taken at Three of Strong Spirits. Evaporated cane juice and organic molasses are some of the high-quality ingredients used to make craft spirits. They focus on making rum and gin, which you will find in several varieties. Regular distillery tours are offered, making it easy to see the incredible craft effort that goes into making Three of Strong Spirits one of the best distilleries in Maine. You can also visit the tasting room, a full bar with indoor and outdoor seating. 

8. Split Rock Distilling 

Great things happen when friends work together. That is what happened at Split Rock Distilling. They hand-built the distillery and tasting room in an old barn on a historic local road. They then sourced local ingredients from their farmer friends. Today, they make a variety of craft spirits, including bourbon, gin, and vodka. A highlight is the blueberry vodka using native Maine blueberries. While they do not offer full distillery tours, they have an impressive tasting room. You can see the distillery operations from the tasting room, creating an immersive experience.  

9. New England Distilling

One of the best distilleries in Maine is also one of the oldest. New England Distilling’s history dates back to the 1850s. Its lineup only consists of five craft spirits, gin, rum, rye whiskey, bourbon, and saison whiskey. Their craft spirits have won several awards recognizing the quality of flavor and distillation. You can take a distillery tour and see the excellence and history for yourself. You will see raw materials, fermentation, and stills. Tours are $10 per person, and it’s best to call ahead to reserve a spot. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens on a distillery tour?

A distillery tour typically includes a walk around the facility and operations. You may see the stills, aging barrels, or batch mixing area. It is a behind-the-scenes look at how a spirit gets made. A knowledgeable guide will explain what you are seeing and answer questions. 

What is the difference between a tasting room and a bar? 

A tasting room will only contain the spirits made by the distillery that hosts the tasting room. This space is dedicated to serving you small amounts of each spirit so that you may taste and decide which to buy. The purpose is for you to buy one or more bottles of spirit. A bar is a gathering place that serves cocktails, beer, and wine in larger serving sizes. A tasting room and bar must comply with different state laws. 

Do you tip at a distillery?

If you feel that your tour or tasting guide did an exceptional job, then it is acceptable to tip to show your appreciation. 

Discover new distilleries in each state with Distillery Nearby as your guide.