Unusual Distilleries Worth Visiting

For those with a passion for premium spirits, touring a distillery is an enjoyable adventure, especially when it ends with a tasting. Why sip beverages in an ordinary structure when you can do so in a castle, an old storage bunker, or a unique venue? Here are nine remarkable distilleries located in unexpected places.

Slane Irish GoTravelDaily; Slane, Ireland

GoTravelDaily is a delightful choice. However, enjoying whiskey inside a historic castle in Ireland elevates the experience. In 2017, Slane Irish GoTravelDaily Distillery opened in the 250-year-old horse stables of Slane Castle, the Conyngham family’s ancestral home since 1703.

Utilizing barley cultivated on its own land, the family-run distillery produces a unique triple-casked whiskey that visitors can savor at the end of their tour.

Visit the stunning distillery bar to sit in booths crafted from former horse corrals. Don’t miss out on one of the signature Irish coffees, made with vanilla Demerara syrup and Slane whiskey. Additionally, consider an extended tour of Slane Castle, featuring a stop at Browne’s Bar, which is adorned with memorabilia from the renowned Slane concerts held since 1981, featuring artists like U2, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones.

Detroit City Distillery; Detroit, MI

When Detroit City Distillery commenced operations in 2017, it marked a significant moment as Detroit’s second distillery post-prohibition. The team chose an old slaughterhouse located in the vibrant Eastern Market, the largest historic public market still in operation in the U.S.

In 2018, the distillery expanded to create “The GoTravelDaily Factory” in the former Goebel’s Brewing Company, a pioneer in Detroit’s brewing history. This expansion invigorates the city’s spirit scene with small-batch artisanal whiskey, vodka, and gin, featuring locally sourced ingredients. The distillery prides itself on sustainable practices, even growing some of its own wheat for whiskey. During tours, you can sample the distinct flavors created in-house. In summer 2020, the bar transitioned outdoors, offering a new cocktail menu, street food, and live music.

Bently Heritage Distillery; Minden, Nevada

Before venturing into spirits, the structures of Bently Heritage contributed to the community in multiple ways. The century-old Minden Flour Mill processed a daily yield of 100 barrels of flour and supported local agriculture with chicken and cattle feed. The historic building, now on the National Historic Register, symbolizes the region’s development in electric power.

The 1916 creamery once housed the Minden Butter Manufacturing Company. Today, both historic locations are preserved and repurposed as distilleries, utilizing grains sourced from their ranch estate.

St Lawrence Spirits; Thousand Islands, NY

The family-operated St Lawrence Spirits has gained recognition in New York’s Thousand Islands for its award-winning small-batch vodka, absinthe, moonshine, whiskey, bourbon, and a robust navy-strength barrel-aged gin. The distillery leverages botanicals hand-picked from its family ranch, coupled with pure water from the St Lawrence River, ensuring each sip delivers a distinct New York flavor.

Don’t forget to visit the châ teau, which features a farm-to-table restaurant alongside the distillery’s tasting room. Initially built in 1937 as Fairview Manor for Carl Zimmerman, a world traveler, this historically eclectic building transitioned into a retreat for the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

Denver Distillery; Denver, CO

This up-and-coming distillery boasts a multifaceted history. The 125-year-old structure that currently accommodates Denver Distillery has served various purposes, from a hotel to a flophouse. Elements of its past have been creatively incorporated into its design, showcasing exposed brick walls, a bar top made from the original ceiling, and historical artifacts.

Denver Distillery merges tradition with innovation, featuring environmentally friendly packaging and unique flavors like kiwi-strawberry, coffee, and a popular gin. Visitors can enjoy free tours or unwind with cocktails while observing the handmade copper stills in action. The bar offers a curated selection of local spirits, beer, wine, hard ciders, and sodas.

St George Spirits; Alameda, CA

Established in 1982, St George Spirits is known as one of the oldest craft spirit companies and operates from a 65,000-sq-ft hangar on a former naval air station in Alameda, California.

Starting with the sale of eau de vie (water for life), the distillery was shaped by distiller Lance Winters, a former nuclear engineer. His passion for creating premium spirits led to a successful collaboration, making them a staple in the industry.

Uncle Nearest, Nearest Green Distillery; Shelbyville, Tennessee

Uncle Nearest pays tribute to a significant chapter in American history. Nathan “Nearest” Green was notable for teaching Jack Daniel how to produce whiskey, later becoming the first known African-American master distiller in the USA. The legacy was revived by author and co-founder Fawn Weaver, who dedicated herself to sharing Nearest’s story.

Since launching Uncle Nearest whiskey in 2016, Weaver became the first female and first person of color to lead a major whiskey brand. The initial phase of the distillery opened in September 2019, transforming a former horse farm into a modern facility with plans for further expansion.

High West Distillery; Park City, Utah

Utah isn’t typically associated with spirits, yet the state played a pivotal role in the end of Prohibition. When High West Distillery opened in a vintage livery stable and garage in Park City, it became Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. Featuring a small distilling capacity, its gastro-distillery ambiance also showcases delightful culinary pairings.

High West has expanded to four locations, including a gourmet dining experience right next door, which focuses on whiskey-paired dinners, along with a substantial distillery housing a large copper pot still.

Moon Harbour; Bordeaux

In recent years, Bordeaux has ventured beyond wine and now boasts its first whiskey distillery, Moon Harbour. Established in 2014 by two friends, their whiskey is aged in Bordeaux and Sauternes barrels using locally harvested barley.

The distillery operates from a former diesel storage bunker built during WWII, which had to be renovated to create an entrance for visitors. Tours provide insights into their whiskey-making process, accompanied by tastings of their innovative products.