Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania. It sits on the banks of the Delaware river on the East Coast of the United States. Philadelphia played an important role in the American Revolution- especially Independence Hall where the declaration of independence was signed.

There is a great distilling scene in Philadelphia, and the city has a lot of other exciting things to offer. If you are interested in visiting the distilleries in the area, or even opening one of your own, then keep reading to find out more.

About Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a friendly city with a unique charm. It is rich in history and culture, with great outdoor spaces and fantastic food.

What To See & Do

A lot of people know Philadelphia as the hometown of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, and you can visit his statue on Franklin Parkway and take in the iconic architecture of the area. This includes the Museum Of Art and the steps leading up to the building, which Rocky runs up during his training in the movies.

Visitors also love to visit the Independence National Historical Park which is both visually stunning and educational. This is where you will find independence hall and the liberty bell. Love Park is an outdoor space with an iconic statue and a water fountain which is the perfect place to sit and take in the atmosphere of the city.

If you are looking for family friendly fun, try the Philadelphia Zoo, widely known as America’s first zoo. You can also visit Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens with indoor and outdoor art installations. There are plenty of other parks and museums across the city which each offer a unique experience.

What To Eat & Drink

The Philly cheesesteak is probably the most well known dish to come out of Philadelphia. A hoagie roll is filled with thinly sliced beef steak, caramelized onions and melted provolone cheese.

It can be customized with additional toppings like bell peppers, hot sauce, mushrooms, blue cheese, or different types of cheese like blue cheese or aged cheddar.

Philadelphia is also well known for soft pretzels which are sold in figure 8 shapes as a popular street food. Make sure you visit the 9th Street Italian Market which is one of the nation’s oldest food markets.

There are lots of independent restaurants in Philadelphia with a Bring Your Own Booze policy, helping them to avoid the expensive liquor licenses and concentrate on offering high quality food.

Philadelphia is a culturally diverse city, so you can sample all sorts of different cuisines. Stop by Chinatown for some authentic Chinese food, or check out some of the establishments in the North East of the city for Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican and much more.

You should also keep an eye out for the range of fantastic food trucks that operate within the city. You can find more information about them here.

Is Philadelphia Accessible?

Philadelphia has worked hard to become an accessible city, with wheelchair access to museums, historic sites, restaurants, hotels and much more. This is a city where everyone is welcome.

The majority of sidewalks are wheelchair friendly, so it is easy to get around and explore with independence and dignity. The public transportation is also wheelchair friendly.

What Distilleries Are There In Philadelphia?

If you are interested in visiting distilleries in the area, here is a list of Philadelphia distilleries.

Philadelphia Distilling

This converted historic factory is now used as a distillery and offers tours and tastings. This distillery was founded in 2005 and was the first craft distillery to be opened post-prohibition in Pennsylvania.

Red Brick Craft Distillery

This distillery carefully crafts small batch spirits including whiskey and rum. All the spirits are brewed, fermented, aged and bottled in Philadelphia.

New Liberty Distillery

Located in a vibrant neighborhood in North Philadelphia, this craft whiskey distillery is a great place to visit. Take a tour to get a feel for the historic building and then end with some tasters.

Palmer Distilling Co

An award winning small craft distillery making gin and moonshine.

City Distilling

80 proof vodka distilled in Philadelphia by people with bartending experience. They are passionate about creating high quality vodka that is versatile and tastes fantastic.

Strivers Row Distillery

A grain to glass distillery which started out as the smallest commercial distillery in America. It has now grown, but is still based in the Harrowgate area of Philadelphia.

Otto Distilling Co

This distillery specializes in handcrafted rums. You can book a tour or a tasting session and buy bottles of rum or mixed drinks.

Stateside Vodka

One of the best distilleries for handcrafted American Vodka, Stateside Vodka is well known and respected in the industry.

Charles Jacquin et Cie Inc.

A historic Pennsylvania distillery making rum, vodka, cordial and spirits. Established in 1884, they are America’s oldest cordial producer.

Manatawny Still Works

Not only is this a fantastic distillery for American whiskey, they also produce vodka, gin, rum and brandy. It is located Northwest of Philadelphia On the banks of Manatawny Creek.

Bluebird Distilling

A fast expanding grain to glass distillery just outside Philadelphia in Phoenixville.

Four Humours Distilling & Rickhouse

Inspired by the old approach to medicine – finding balance between the four humors of the body – this distillery finds the perfect balance of ingredients and methods to create American whiskey. You can take a tour and experience a whiskey tasting.

Opening & Operating A Distillery In Philadelphia

If you are considering opening a distillery in Philadelphia, you need to make sure you follow state law and federal regulations. You will need the correct license to distill and sell alcohol.

What Are The Licensing Requirements?

Malt or brewed beverages can be manufactured for personal use up to 200 gallons per calendar. If you exceed this amount or you are found to be selling the beverages then you will be prosecuted.

If you intend to distill for resale then you will need a license for this. Even if you don’t intend on selling the beverage, if you are going to manufacture more than 200 gallons then you need a license.

Federal law states that you need a basic permit for permission to manufacture spirits. You also need a license for the equipment which is a permit for a distilled spirit plant. State law in Philadelphia requires you to apply for a manufacturer’s license and a broker’s license.

What State Fees Do You Need To Pay?

The manufacturer’s license is $1500 and the broker’s license is $10. The application filing fee is $20.

What Restrictions & Laws Are In Place?

The production of moonshine is illegal and the local government takes this very seriously. They even offer rewards to reporting fellow residents for producing moonshine. Once you have your distilling license you can produce up to 100,000 gallons per calendar year.

You can sell liquor from your licensed premises, but you can also apply for permission to sell it at two ‘satellite’ premises (such as a bottle shop). You can also sell other licenced products for consumption on site at your distillery.

If you want to sell your products at events or at farmers markets then you need to apply for permission for this. Your distillery can be open from 9am until Midnight Monday to Saturday and 9am until 11pm on Sundays.

Philadelphia is known for having restrictive alcohol laws. Make sure you adhere to the laws to avoid prosecution.

Only adults (aged 18 or over) can serve alcohol. 17 year olds who have graduated high school are sometimes permitted, but to protect your business from any liability you should hire 18 year olds or older.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or consume alcohol – make sure you carefully check I.D.s before serving alcohol on your premises.

Summary

Philadelphia is a culturally diverse city with a lot of exciting attractions on offer. It has a friendly atmosphere, great food, and a history of distilling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Alcohol Is Philadelphia Most Well Known For?

Philadelphia is best known for its locally distilled Whiskey & Rye (especially Stoll & Wolfe), gins and vodkas. Kentucky is known for being the birthplace of American Whiskey, but Philadelphia has its own rich history of distilling which is often overlooked.

Is It A Good Idea To Open A Distillery In Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is a fantastic city with an exciting distilling scene. It is a less saturated market than in some other cities, but still gets a lot of interest. If you have a solid business plan then there is no reason that your new distilling business won’t be successful in Philadelphia.

Can You Attend A Distillery Tour In Philadelphia?

Most of the distilleries in Philadelphia offer tours and tasting sessions. If you are interested in the distilling scene in Philadelphia or you are considering opening your own distillery in the area, you should definitely go on a few tours first.