Indiana is a haven for craft spirits and brandies, boasting a vibrant craft distillery scene featuring several distilleries and tours. Whether you fancy yourself a fruity cocktail or prefer to drink your liquor straight, these craft distilleries in Indiana are a must-visit (and sip!) From rum in the sun to moonshine in the very room it was crafted, a delightful experience awaits you in the Midwest.

West Fork Whiskey Co., Indianapolis

Located across the street from Grand Park, West Fork Whiskey Co. offers so much more than just delectable hand-crafted libations. Its 30,000-square-foot facility spans over 12 acres and includes everything you would want in a craft distillery tour. With a sampling room, a speakeasy cocktail bar, retail space, and a family-friendly restaurant, the space is cozy yet expansive and offers the best of everything.

Start your tour at The Mash House, the family-friendly restaurant featuring Hoosier classics like bluegill, pawpaw, and corn pudding. Indeed, the menu is filled with “corn-forward” delicacies as they want to showcase local produce and farmers.

But whiskey is what is at the heart of West Fork Whiskey. Go behind the scenes to explore the distillery and witness the process of small-batch whiskey-making firsthand. The engaging 45-minute craft distillery tour then concludes with a tasting session where guests can savor a broad range of West Fork Whiskey’s award-winning spirits. Don’t forget to pick a few bottles of limited-edition bourbon or whiskey (they release two each month) to take home.

Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery, Indianapolis

Hotel Tango is Indiana’s first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery since Prohibition. After years of experimenting with distilling their own whiskey, Travis Barnes, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his wife Hilary Barnes opened Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery (the name pays homage to the NATO phonetic alphabet used by the armed forces) in 2014.

Best known for its premium spirits and playful takes on bourbon, Hotel Tango offers one of the best craft distillery tours in Indiana. At its original tasting room in Fletcher Place, guests can sample a rotating menu of craft cocktails and mixed drinks. If you fancy a touch of romance in your sip, try the mixology classes, where you’ll learn how to create your own cocktails using Hotel Tango spirits.

Cardinal Spirits, Bloomington

Cardinal Spirits in Bloomington is a distillery that prides itself on producing high-quality, hand-crafted spirits using local ingredients. Take one glance at their bottles, and you’ll see why their spirits have charmed many drinkers across the state.

Cardinal Spirits offer good value tours at their distillery, which also features a tasting room, cocktail bar, and restaurant. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their grain-to-glass distilling process highlighting some of Indiana’s native fruits.

Guests can also enjoy a tasting flight of Cardinal Spirits’ diverse lineup of craft spirits and canned cocktails, which includes vodka, gin, and spiced rum. Their fruity vodka, made from grapes, boasts a delightful floral finish with an enticing flavor profile for sipping straight. Another notable drink is Bramble Black Raspberry Vodka which has notes of agave nectar and Indiana’s best black raspberries.

Hard Truth Distilling Co., Nashville

Nestled in the scenic Brown County, Hard Truth Distilling Co. is Indiana’s largest craft distillery destination. It provides an authentic mix of artisan spirits and great outdoors for spirits enthusiasts. The tasting tour takes place inside the 325-acre Hard Truth campus, which also features an on-site restaurant. There is also a two-story rental cabin tucked away in the woods for visitors looking for a more extended stay.

Let kids explore the picturesque views of the campus while you sip Hard Truth’s craft spirits and cocktails. Their whiskey lineup includes gin and vodka as well as something you won’t find anywhere else in the Midwest – “Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey.” This specialty-crafted whiskey is 94% rye and boasts a nice and toasty 58.3% alcohol by volume (ABV). And it tastes as good as it comes (a little bit of peppery and spicy notes).

 At the expansive barrel room, visitors can look forward to a multi-sensory experience where you get to see, hear and smell the experience of a grain-to-glass artisanal distillery. The tasting tour lets you get up close and personal with craft spirits.

 Additionally, Hard Truth offers guided hikes (Get Lost ATV Tour) on their nature trails. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll appreciate the surrounding beauty as you indulge in a tasting experience along the journey.

Three Rivers Distilling Co

Three Rivers Distilling Co. in downtown Fort Wayne also offers guided craft distillery tours. They make delicious, small-batch spirits in a wide range of flavors, including rye, coffee liqueur, gin, rum, and moonshine – and all taste like a good time. You can take a tour of their distillery to learn their craft firsthand. Go behind the scenes to examine the whiskey production from grain to bottle and enjoy specialty cocktails and tasting flights. After your tour, grab some local delicacies at the restaurant attached to the distillery.

Huber’s Starlight Distillery

This family-owned distillery has traditions dating back to the early 1800s. Huber’s Starlight Distillery draws its inspiration from the distilling legacy of the family’s ancestors and produces fine brandies that reflect the essence of Indiana’s craft distillery scene. Take a tour at their Huber’s Orchard, Winery, and Vineyards location to enjoy great artisan European-style brandies and spirits. Fresh blueberry juice is distilled and aged in red barrels for five to ten years. This extended maturation period allows the flavors to harmonize and develop, resulting in a truly exceptional and nuanced blueberry liqueur. They also have a small-batch peach brandy distilled from homegrown peaches.

Distillery 64, Louisville

Distillery 64‘s humble beginnings trace back to a five-gallon plastic bucket and a makeshift still made from an old kitchen sink. It has since transformed into a trendy industrial venue, offering delectable bar bites and fine cocktails. Tasting tours take place inside an old W.P.A. warehouse situated in the vibrant Midtown area of New Albany. Locals affectionately refer to it as “the old Robinson Nugent building.” The speakeasy style is an integral part of the Distillery 64 overall experience.

Frequently Asked Question About Indiana Craft Distillery Scene

What is the famous Indiana distillery?

Famous Indiana distilleries include West Fork Whiskey Co., Old 55 Distillery, Hotel Tango Distillery, and Huber’s Starlight Distillery.

How many distilleries are there in Indiana?

As of 2020, Indiana’s craft distillery scene had 37 active distilleries, the 17th most in the U.S.

What is the difference between a distillery and a craft distillery?

A distillery is a facility where spirits are produced on a large scale, while a craft distillery produces spirits in small batches, often with a greater emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, and unique flavor profiles.

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