February 14, 2024
A Northern Virginia getaway can take you from a downtown distillery to a working farm, with time for a good meal and a little exploring along the way. Behind the tasting rooms, you’ll find makers with different ideas about what Virginia spirits can be.
Some focus on rye whiskey or grape-based brandy. Others explore botanical flavors, revive historic methods or connect their spirits to the crops growing around them. A visit gives you a chance to discover those differences and hear the stories behind the bottles.
Before you go, download the Virginia Spirits app to discover nearby distilleries and build your own trail. With the Virginia Spirits Passport built into the app, you can check in at participating locations, earn points and redeem rewards as you explore.
Use this guide to build a weekend around Loudoun County, then explore the other destinations through separate outings or a longer stay.
In downtown Purcellville, Catoctin Creek offers a place to explore rye whiskey and the decisions that shape its flavor.
Founded by Becky and Scott Harris, the distillery welcomes visitors for tours, spirits flights and cocktails. Reserve a tour to learn about production, then explore the current lineup. For a hands-on experience, ask about the Catoctin Creek Filling Station, where visitors can fill their own bottle.
Make it part of your trip: Pair a reserved tour with lunch and time exploring Purcellville.
At Flying Ace Farm in Lovettsville, the countryside is part of the experience. The working farm grows, harvests, stores and mills crops onsite, connecting its agricultural operations with its food and craft beverages.
Its American Ace spirits include bourbon, whiskey and rum. With a restaurant and brewery also on the property, Flying Ace offers several ways to build an afternoon around local food and drink.
Make it part of your trip: Make Flying Ace your main afternoon destination, with time for a meal and the farm setting.
Mt. Defiance in Middleburg explores traditional spirits with its own botanical touches. Its approach gives curious visitors a reason to look beyond their usual order and ask about the herbs and recipes behind the lineup.
Spirits and cider are now available at the Barn. Head to the upstairs cocktail loft for a spirits tasting or cocktail, or explore cider in the downstairs tasting area. The team can share information about production during your visit, although formal distillery tours are not currently offered.
Make it part of your trip: Pair the Barn with lunch and an afternoon exploring Middleburg.
KO Distilling in Manassas produces Bare Knuckle whiskeys and Battle Standard 142 gins, giving visitors a range of styles to explore.
Visit the tasting room for a cocktail or arrange an experience that takes you into the production facility and barrel room. Ask how different grains affect whiskey or what barrel aging brings to the finished spirit.
Make it part of your trip: Build KO into a Manassas outing, leaving time for a meal and exploring town.
MurLarkey’s current home in Manassas offers several ways to get closer to the craft.
Explore its tasting experiences or book a guided tour of the stillhouse and aging rickhouse. The lineup includes bourbon, whiskey and vodka, with distinctive expressions such as Three Tea Whiskey providing a starting point for questions about flavor and ingredients.
For visitors seeking something more involved, browse the current experience offerings, including fill-your-own-bottle options.
Make it part of your trip: Choose a reserved MurLarkey experience as the centerpiece of a Manassas visit.
Falls Church Distillers offers a range of spirits and a visitor program that includes tasting flights, cocktails and tours.
Its tour description covers production and the challenges of establishing a distillery, adding a business story to the experience. Contact the team to confirm the current visitor location, schedule and available offerings before arranging your trip.
Make it part of your trip: Arrange your visit first, then build nearby dining and activities around the confirmed location.
Lost Whiskey began with architects and craftspeople who saw a connection between whiskey, gathering spaces and good stories.
Its Fairfax warehouse serves as a base for bottle pickups, tastings and occasional events. This is a visit to arrange in advance rather than a tasting room to assume will be open throughout the weekend. Contact the team about a warehouse tour or check its channels for upcoming gatherings.
Make it part of your trip: Plan a confirmed warehouse visit during a Fairfax outing.
Orkney Springs uses wheat-based vodka proofed with Orkney Spring source water, alongside a range of flavored vodkas and gins designed for cocktails.
Its current visitor location is in Alexandria. Reserve a visit and ask about the botanicals and natural flavors behind the lineup, or explore which spirits might suit a favorite cocktail.
Make it part of your trip: Include a reserved tasting in an Alexandria getaway.
At Mount Vernon, a working reconstruction of George Washington’s distillery brings early American spirits production into view.
Explore the distillery and gristmill to understand the relationship between grain processing, agriculture and whiskey-making. The site is separate from the estate’s main entrance, so review its current tour schedule and admission information when planning your visit.
Make it part of your trip: Give Mount Vernon its own history-focused day, including the estate if time allows.
Near Fredericksburg, A. Smith Bowman offers a closer look at the work behind its bourbon.
Book a guided tour to explore production, barrel aging and bottling, followed by a tasting for visitors 21 and older. Complimentary tours and tastings make it an accessible starting point for someone curious about how bourbon reaches the bottle. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Make it part of your trip: Pair your tour with a meal and time exploring Fredericksburg.
At Belmont Farm in Culpeper, moonshine and copper-pot distillation are central to the experience.
Master distiller Chuck Miller and the operation have appeared on Moonshiners, but visiting offers a chance to learn about the production behind the television story. Explore Virginia Lightning and the Kopper Kettle lineup, and ask what the copper pot still contributes to the spirits.
Make it part of your trip: Choose Belmont Farm for a Culpeper outing focused on moonshine and distilling traditions.
Old House in Culpeper brings a winery, brewery and distillery together on one property, offering different experiences for a group with varied interests.
Visit the distillery tasting room to explore the spirits, and ask about the onsite World War II museum and the family connections behind it. Check the schedule for each venue before arriving, since the distillery’s hours differ from the wider property.
Make it part of your trip: Build a weekend afternoon around the distillery and a meal on the property.
Copper Fox’s Sperryville location occupies a former apple cider factory, giving its production story a distinctive setting.
Book a tour to explore how its whisky and spirits are made, then enjoy a flight or cocktail in the tasting room. The riverside cocktail garden overlooks the Thornton River and offers a place to spend time with friends after learning about the craft.
Make it part of your trip: Pair Copper Fox with time exploring Sperryville and the surrounding countryside.
At Dida’s in Huntly, the story begins with grapes and a family’s winemaking experience.
Located at Rappahannock Cellars, Dida’s makes small-batch grape-based spirits from the family’s wines. Explore aged brandy and clear eau de vie, then ask how aging and barrel finishing change the character of the spirit. A brandy cocktail offers another way to discover the lineup.
Make it part of your trip: Make Dida’s part of a Huntly and Sperryville getaway, with time to enjoy the countryside.
For a two-day getaway, focus on Loudoun County. Choose one main distillery experience each day, with optional stops based on your interests and available time.
Start in Purcellville with time to look around town and enjoy lunch before your reserved visit to Catoctin Creek.
Take a tour, explore a spirits flight or ask about the Filling Station experience. Plan around your reservation so you can enjoy the visit without rushing.
If you’d like to spend the afternoon in a farm setting, continue to Flying Ace Farm near Lovettsville for a meal and countryside views. You can also make Flying Ace your main destination for the day.
Return to your accommodations and leave the evening open for dinner.
Spend the morning exploring Middleburg’s shops and streets, then enjoy lunch at the Middleburg location of King Street Oyster Bar. Check the restaurant’s current hours before visiting.
Head to Mt. Defiance’s Barn for a spirits tasting or cocktail in the upstairs loft. Ask about the botanical ingredients and classic recipes behind the lineup.
Keep the rest of the afternoon flexible, with time for another look around town or a relaxed return home.
Explore Manassas: Choose a reserved experience at KO Distilling or MurLarkey, then build a meal and local exploring around it.
Head toward Culpeper: Plan a visit to Belmont Farm or Old House, choosing the experience that best fits your interests.
Discover Huntly and Sperryville: Combine countryside exploring with a planned stop at Dida’s or Copper Fox. Extend your stay if you’d like to enjoy both.
Build a history-focused outing: Give Mount Vernon’s distillery and gristmill or A. Smith Bowman its own day.
Arrange a closer-to-the-city visit: Explore Alexandria with a reservation at Orkney Springs, or contact Lost Whiskey about a Fairfax warehouse experience.
Stay in Loudoun County for the Purcellville, Lovettsville and Middleburg itinerary. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern offers a Middleburg lodging option.
Choose Manassas, Culpeper or Fredericksburg if the distilleries in those areas are the focus of your trip.
Look around Alexandria or Fairfax for a getaway centered on the destinations nearer Washington, D.C.
Check driving distances before booking. Northern Virginia traffic can affect your plans, so leave room between reservations.
Check each distillery’s current hours, tasting options and reservation requirements before setting out. Plan transportation in advance, choose a designated driver and leave plenty of time for meals and exploring.
Use the Virginia Spirits app to discover nearby distilleries and build your own trail. Whether you’re curious about a family recipe, a new style of whiskey or the story behind a bottle, start with a stop that interests you and see where it takes you.
