A rich history of whiskey-making in Pennsylvania goes back over a hundred years. Prohibition may have put a damper on distilling, but it was a pause. Today, there is a strong craft distillery scene in Pennsylvania. Some distilleries have a long history that goes back generations. Others are fairly new, with founders striking out with little more than a dream. This is the ultimate guide to the best distillery tours in Pennsylvania. 

Thistle Finch Distillery

As one of the best distilleries in Pennsylvania, the Thistle Finch Distillery is a must-visit. You can take distillery tours on Saturday and Sunday. The intimate tour experience will teach you about the history of the building, Lancaster, and the whiskey-making process. Once the tour completes, you can visit the tasting room. Here, you can sip the rye whiskey, vodka, and gin. The craft spirits are made from 90% locally grown grains. They use a unique mix of rye, wheat, and malted barley. Parking at the distillery can be tricky, so review the website for where to park and where not to park. There is also an on-site bar and restaurant where you can munch on handhelds and snacks. 

Blackbird Distillery

The Blackbird Distillery is the first legal moonshine distillery in Pennsylvania. Only two people in the world know the recipe for the moonshine. They create 29 moonshine craft spirit flavors and three creme liqueur flavors. Each small batch is handmade from start to finish. They do not offer full distillery tours. However, you can take a “pour tour” to sample some of the many moonshine flavors. The distillery also sells smoked meats and cheeses that make a perfect pairing for your bottle of moonshine. 

Red Brick Craft Distillery

The distillers at Red Brick pride themselves on being craftsmen. They distill in small batches to create high-quality craft spirits. Here, they distill malt whiskey, rum, and gin. They also have unique offerings, such as a whiskey and birch beer blend. Pineapple whiskey is a fruity offering for those who prefer a sweet flavor. Distillery tours are available. However, you will need to sign up in advance on the distillery’s website. Tours cost $20 per person. You can also book a private tour and tasting experience for $160. Tours also include a tasting room experience. If you can’t make it to the distillery, you can still visit Red Brick. The distillery often has booths at many of the farmers’ markets around Philadelphia. 

Stateside Vodka

The story behind Stateside Vodka is a bit unconventional, but so is the vodka. Two determined brothers who knew nothing about distilling vodka decided to start their own distillery. After many years of trial and error, they now have one of the best distilleries in Pennsylvania. For $15, you can take a distillery tour to learn about the distillery origins, distilling process, and tasting. On Thursday, you can take advantage of their free distillery tour night. The vodka you will try is gluten-free, kosher, distilled seven times, has zero sugar, zero carbs, and is cold-filtered. They also make canned cocktails. Visit the cocktail lounge attached to the distillery to sample craft cocktails and nibble on snacks. 

Bluebird Distilling

The easing of Pennsylvania distilling laws inspired the founder of Bluebird Distilling. Today, it is quickly earning its place as one of the best distilleries in Pennsylvania. The Phoenixville location is the primary location and where the distilling happens. They also have a location in Ardmore and another soon in Germantown Avenue. You can take a distillery tour at the Phoenixville location. There is also a tasting room where you can sample the craft spirits. The distillery crafts whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin, agave, and rum. They also have a unique offering of seasonal craft spirits, including honeycomb gin, summer whiskey, and pumpkin rum. 

Philadelphia Distilling

As the first craft spirit distillery in Pennsylvania after the prohibition, Philadelphia Distillery is often touted as one of the best distilleries in Pennsylvania. They also offer one of the best distillery tours in the state. You get a behind-the-scenes look at the hand-hammered copper stills, learn the distillery history, and sample the craft spirits. You could also sign up for a cocktail demonstration for hands-on learning. The craft distillery lineup includes gin, absinthe, and vodka. 

Big Spring Spirits 

Big Spring Spirits’ distillers focus on more than just making great-tasting craft spirits. They also strive to be a contributing member of the local community while also being environmentally sensitive. It can easily be considered one of the best distilleries in the state. It is the first LEED Gold-Certified distillery in Pennsylvania and the second in the country. There are three tasting room locations where you can enjoy custom craft cocktails and a unique food menu. The craft spirit line at Big Spring is extensive, with vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, bourbon, cordials, and craft bottled cocktails. 

Wigle Whiskey

The Nutting family behind Wigle Whiskey distills craft spirits with organic ingredients. The distillery’s name comes from one of the pioneering distillers in Pennsylvania, Philip Wigle. The distillery honors the rich history of whiskey-making in Pennsylvania. Today, the Wigle craft spirit lineup includes whiskey, bourbon, gin, absinthe, amaro, and ready-to-drink cocktails. Visit the Pittsburgh location on Saturday for a distillery tour and tasting. There is also a second location at the Ross Park Mall. However, this location is a bar and bottle shop. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many distilleries are in Pennsylvania?

It is difficult to know the exact number of distilleries in Pennsylvania. Currently, Distillery Nearby has 77 distilleries listed. However, new distilleries are opening all the time. 

What is the oldest Pennsylvania distillery?

The oldest distillery in Pennsylvania is Bomberger’s Distillery, also known as Michter’s Distillery. The original building is no longer used for distilling. Similar craft spirits are sold under the Michter’s label out of Kentucky. Thistle Finch Distillery in Pennsylvania blends craft spirits under the Bomberger label. 

What is the most liquor in Pennsylvania?

According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, unflavored vodka was the highest-selling spirit in 52 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Find and taste unique craft spirits from all over the country with Distillery Nearby.