November 17, 2023
Mountain views might bring you to the Shenandoah Valley, but its small towns and local makers give you plenty of reasons to stay. A weekend here can take you from an underground cavern to a farm distillery, with a good meal and a conversation worth remembering along the way.
Exploring the Valley through its spirits reveals different connections to the region. In Luray, a small distillery gives new life to a former auto shop while a family farm turns locally grown ingredients into whiskey. In Maurertown, another maker explores how water, grains and barrel choices shape the finished spirit.
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 plan a getaway around Luray and the Woodstock area, leaving time to get to know the places between your stops.
Blue Shepherd Spirits began with owners Alex and Sarah’s interest in visiting distilleries and learning how each maker creates different flavors. They brought that curiosity home to Luray, transforming a former auto shop into a distillery and tasting room.
Alex, a veteran and firefighter/paramedic, and Sarah, a nurse and first responder, built a business focused on spirits made in-house in very small batches using local grains and goods. The name has a personal connection, too: Bruce, their blue German shepherd, inspired the brand.
The lineup gives visitors several ways to explore their approach, from vodka made with local corn to citrus-forward New World Gin, rum and whiskey. Try a tasting or a cocktail, then ask about the ingredients or the differences between batches.
Make it part of your trip: Pair Blue Shepherd with time exploring Luray. If you’re hungry, check the schedule for Blue’s Dog Bowl, the food truck serving smash burgers and loaded fries.
Filibuster’s story began in a Washington, D.C., liquor store before the brand established its distillery in the Shenandoah Valley. Today, its Maurertown operation brings an experimental approach to bourbon, rye whiskey and gin.
For someone interested in how spirits are made, there’s plenty to ask about. Filibuster uses water from onsite limestone wells and both copper pot and column distillation. Its lineup includes dual-cask expressions, making barrel selection another useful starting point for understanding flavor.
Explore the current reservation options before your visit and ask which experiences are available. Bring a question you’ve always wanted to ask about whiskey, whether it’s how grains affect flavor or what happens during maturation.
Make it part of your trip: Pair Filibuster with a meal and a walk around nearby Woodstock.
At Kindred Pointe in Mount Jackson, a property that began as a horse-boarding operation has evolved into a destination for wine, cider and spirits. Its former stables became home to KP Spirits Distillery in 2025, adding another chapter to owners Amy and Bruce Helsley’s story.
Visit the Mount Jackson location, KP Spirits II, to explore the current spirits lineup through a tasting or cocktail. Ask about the move into distilling and how the team’s experience making other craft beverages influenced its approach.
For a group with different interests, the winery and distillery offer several ways to get to know what’s being made on the property. Check each tasting room’s schedule before visiting, as their hours differ.
Make it part of your trip: Plan this as a Saturday stop during your time exploring Mount Jackson and the Woodstock area. Choose KP Spirits II or Filibuster as your main distillery visit, or extend your stay to enjoy both.
You don’t need to cover the entire Valley in one trip. Give yourself two days to explore these areas, or choose one as your home base and save the other for another visit.
Start your morning at Luray Caverns, where a self-guided tour takes you through the underground landscape. General admission also includes the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village and Toy Town Junction, so leave room in your schedule if you’d like to explore more.
Head into town for lunch at Gathering Grounds Patisserie & Café, then spend some time looking around before your distillery visit.
Choose Blue Shepherd for its small-batch spirits and tasting room experience, or arrange a visit to River Hill to explore the connection between farming and whiskey-making. If you’d like to include both, confirm their schedules first and leave enough time to enjoy each stop.
For dinner, consider the dining options at the Mimslyn Inn, which also offers a convenient place to stay near downtown Luray.
Make Woodstock your starting point for the second day. Take time to explore town and plan a meal at Woodstock Café, located on South Main Street. Check its current menus and service times when building your schedule.
Continue to Maurertown for your planned Filibuster visit. After exploring a farm-based operation or a small-batch tasting room in Luray, this stop offers another perspective on how makers approach their spirits.
Keep the rest of the day flexible. A leisurely lunch, a few shops or an extra night in the Valley can give you time to enjoy the trip without watching the clock.
If spending time outdoors is part of your ideal getaway, add a morning or an extra day in Shenandoah National Park. Plan a hike or explore the park’s scenic overlooks, choosing an outing that fits your interests and available time.
Review the National Park Service’s current conditions, entrance fees and planning information before you go. Schedule outdoor activities before your distillery visits so you can give each part of the day the time it deserves.
Stay in Luray if Blue Shepherd, River Hill and Luray Caverns are at the center of your plans. The historic Mimslyn Inn offers guestrooms, suites and cottages, along with onsite dining.
Look around Woodstock and Shenandoah County if you’d like to focus your getaway on Filibuster and the surrounding towns.
Choose a cabin or rural stay if you want more downtime between outings. Browse Shenandoah Valley lodging options and check each property’s location against your planned stops before booking.
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.
