Distilleries in West Virginia

Black Draft Farm & Distillery

Crafting Appalachian Tradition with Modern Flair

Black Draft Farm & Distillery in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is a family-run operation that refuses to be coddled by industry fluff, turning Appalachian grit into hand-crafted small-batch and bold bourbon and rye today.

Beyond grain, the distillery produces a vodka so pure it could star in a courtroom drama and a moonshine that doesn’t need a licence to make you feel like a rebel. Locally sourced barley, rye, and even the berries that grow on their own land keep the spirit unpretentious and sharp.

Free tastings are offered, letting you sample the unflavoured First Harvest Moonshine alongside The Blues! Blueberry Vodka. A back patio, old-barn façades, and live folk nights add a touch of rustic charm and good company.

The place feels less a museum than a workshop, where each bottle feels like a well-argued monologue rather than a mass-produced commodity. Craft cocktails and good music ensure you leave with a story worth retelling.

Why we love this distillery

Distillery produces unique, delicious liquors.
Spacious buildings with multiple areas to explore.
Live music venues often with local bands.
Free tastings of each liquor available on site.
Beautiful back patio with outdoor seating options.

What visitors love

Black Draft Farm & Distillery offers a welcoming atmosphere with plenty of space, clean facilities, and a variety of drinks and spirits for sale. Visitors appreciate the friendly staff, great food options from local vendors, and lively entertainment choices.

Appalachian Distillery

Ripley, West Virginia

Historic craft distilling with West Virginia roots

Appalachian Distillery, right in Ripley, West Virginia, is a low-key legend of a place where grain-mashing isn’t a chore, it’s an art-form that would make a seasoned pot-singer swoon. The lads here still hand-mash their local grains like it’s a heritage ritual, then age the spirit in barrels that have seen more history than most of us. The result? A bourbon that carries a taste of the Appalachian mountains without the pretentious over-blowing you find in some boutique houses.

The menu’s range is oddly refreshing: you’ve got a paw-paw infusion that surprises the palate, a single-barrel release that’s already getting rave reviews, and enough variations to keep your taste buds guessing. A touch of confusion over ABV levels adds character, not disarray. Each bottle comes in a hand-blown jug, which makes you feel like you’re part of some clandestine speakeasy — minus the jazz. Bottom line: this place nails authenticity without the snobbish attitude.

Why we love this distillery

Variety of unique flavor profiles
Paw paw flavor is a standout product
Confusion over ABV levels noted
Single-barrel bourbon received praise
Wide selection of options available

What visitors love

Appalachian Distillery is praised for its high-quality products, with many customers enjoying their single-barrel bourbon, flavored shines (such as blackberry and watermelon), and other offerings like paw paw and apple pie. Staff are described as friendly and knowledgeable.

Hatfield Family Distillery

Charleston, West Virginia

Handcrafted spirits and wines with a historical twist

The Hatfield Family Distillery in Charleston, West Virginia is a proper, no-fancy-fancy operation that takes itself far too seriously. With a heritage stretching back a century and a half, they still churn out spirits with the same “old-world” methods that Devil Anse Hatfield would have nodded to if he hadn’t been busy rum-running.

They call it “crafted” when in fact the people are hand-bottling their own moonshine and whiskeys. Their awards for wine and moonshine aren’t handed out by a bored boardroom, but earned in the mud-slick alleys of Appalachia. A particular quirk is their “Char in a Jar” whiskey — literally a barrel-charred sip in a jar, because the world needed one more way to show how pretentious a distillery can be.

Family-run, small-batch, with a beer-pub atmosphere rather than a Michelin-star restaurant, the Hatfield brand reminds you that quality doesn’t need a fancy brochure. Just go in, grab a bottle, and pretend you’re the sheriff of the frontier.

Why we love this distillery

Offers award-winning wines and moonshine flavors.
Distillery's history is very interesting and unique.
Family-run business with welcoming atmosphere.
Unique Char in a Jar whiskey experience offered.
Hand-bottled, small-batch spirits available for sale.

What visitors love

Visitors rave about Hatfield Family Distillery, praising its exceptional moonshine and bourbon, as well as its rich history and welcoming atmosphere. Outdoor seating is limited due to bee concerns, but the distillery's beautiful setting makes up for it.

Still Hollow Spirits

Harman, West Virginia

Unique mountain whiskeys with Appalachian roots.

High up in the Appalachian Mountains, Still Hollow Spirits in Harman, West Virginia, has turned the family business into a sort of alchemy — corn, water, and sheer stubbornness. This is a fifth-generation operation that treats its craft like a tightly-kept, and frankly, delicious secret.

They grow heirloom Bloody Butcher corn, siphon water straight from a limestone spring, and let no filtration masquerade as a high-tech trick. The result is whiskey that feels gritty, historic, and oddly proud of its mountain air.

All of the heavy lifting — from pot stills to barrels — is hand-built, because modern convenience can never replace a good, honest labour. They partner with the local Big Timber Brewing, so the mash isn’t the only thing that has been given a community touch.

Owners are — ask anything and you’ll get a wink and a story instead of a brochure. Prices stay sensible and each bottle feels bespoke, a proud piece of the mountain.

Why we love this distillery

Locally sourced ingredients from native plants used.
Spirits made with collaboration with local Big Timber brewing.
Bottles are reasonably priced for small batch distillery.
Knowledgeable and friendly staff, especially owners.
Cute little distillery in the middle of nowhere.

What visitors love

Still Hollow Spirits is praised for its unique, locally sourced ingredients and expertise, offering an immersive experience with knowledgeable staff sharing the history and process behind each spirit. Delicious products, including syrups, are also highly recommended.

BootLeg Distilling

Martinsburg, West Virginia

Locally crafted, Appalachian-inspired spirits

BootLeg Distilling sits in Martinsburg, West Virginia, run by a family that has taken the phrase “no nonsense” literally and refuses to compromise on taste. It pulls its grains from valley farms and uses limestone-filtered water, insisting the process is old-school and unpretentious.

The 1933-style stills churn out a silky corn whiskey that lingers, a bourbon whose nose could make a celebrity reconsider their branding, and rums that would make a cocktail-barist blush. Sweet Cinn and Strawberry Lemonade push boundaries without losing the spirit’s core.

Tours are guided by founder Brad Armel, who shows the whole process with a blend of candour and dry wit, leaving you wiser than a smartphone app — minus the buzzwords, and a few jokes about pretension, and no apologies.

If you crave a genuinely high-quality drink and a shot of reality about craft, BootLeg proves a local business can produce something memorable without the pretentious fluff today.

Why we love this distillery

Local distillery producing unique liquor.
Informative tour by knowledgeable owner provided.
Handcrafted products with high quality standards maintained.
Variety of flavors showcased in tasting experience.
Warm atmosphere for a personal encounter.

What visitors love

Reviewers praise BootLeg Distilling for its genuine atmosphere, local quality, and friendly owners. Great liquor, informative tours, and exceptional customer service are noted, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking great craft booze and a unique experience.

The Bullock Distillery

Charleston, West Virginia

Craft spirits rooted in centuries-old Appalachian tradition

At Bullock Distillery, the idea that you can walk into a place and discover genuine craftsmanship without the slick gloss of corporate branding is a revelation. Situated in Charleston, West Virginia, the family-run operation traces its roots back to Appalachia’s age-old distilling heritage, and it refuses to dilute itself with unnecessary filtration or gimmicks. The secret sauce? A pure limestone aquifer from Falling Spring Mountain that flavours the bourbon, rye, and the occasional moonshine with mineral clarity you’d only expect from a mountain stream. Tour the walls, and you’re offered a personalised walk-through by staff that can actually explain what the stills are doing, rather than a snazzy brochure. The tasting room serves small-batch whiskey that has already won awards for its bold character, and the shop doubles as an educational hub. The result? A place where history meets hard work and every pint is worth the hype for connoisseurs.

Why we love this distillery

Offers personalized tour experience for groups.
Unique processes explained by knowledgeable staff.
Small-batch whiskey available in the tasting room.
Award-winning flagship offering with bold flavor.
High-quality store and educational experience.

What visitors love

The Bullock Distillery offers a warm and welcoming experience, featuring exceptional tours and tastings. Guests rave about the unique products, knowledgeable guides, and warm atmosphere, making it a standout among distilleries in the area.

New Heritage Distilling

Davis, West Virginia

Handcrafted spirits blending Appalachian tradition

New Heritage Distilling sits on the banks of the Blackwater River in Davis, West Virginia, with no pretence. What you get is a small-batch, no-nonsense showcase of spirit-making from true Appalachian roots. Bold apple brandy is coaxed from Winchester Ciderworks’ cider, while maple-syrup moonshine delivers the taste of the mountains in a bottle. And because the industry loves a splash of novelty, there’s a Holl’r Girl amaretto liqueur that will make a sophisticated palate blush. And a bold wild character in each bottle.

Tours are led by VicBob, who won’t let you skip a step of the distilling process, and the former 1970s gas station turned distillery offers a no-frills environment that’s genuinely entertaining. Free tastings, custom cocktails, and raw scenery are all on offer.

In short: free tastings, authentic local flavours, a cheeky former gas station, and VicBob who can explain how to make your own whiskey if you’re brave enough.

Why we love this distillery

Unique distillery location in a former convenience store
Brandies with distinctive flavors, such as Amaretto and Maple Syrup
Friendly and knowledgeable staff offering product recommendations
Availability of locally produced maple syrup products
Free tastings and no-frills outlet for VicBob's apple brandy

What visitors love

New Heritage Distilling offers a welcoming atmosphere and expertly crafted products, including fantastic brandy and unique maple syrup flavors, which have become staples in many users' recipes. Staff is friendly and helpful with recommendations.

Distilleries in West Virginia

Black Draft Farm & Distillery

Appalachian Distillery

Hatfield Family Distillery

Smooth Ambler Spirits

Kirkwood Winery & Isaiah Morgan Distillery

Devil's Due Distillery

Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine Distillery + Bar & Grill

Still Hollow Spirits

BootLeg Distilling

Boots Spirits & Feed

The Bullock Distillery

MannCave Distilling Inc.

New Heritage Distilling

Dry Run Spirits Distillery

Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm and RADA Brand Appalachian Spirits