Best Winston-Salem Area Distilleries: Whiskey, Rye, Gin & More!

Distilling is the process of separating alcohol from water using evaporation and condensation. Varied ingredients, including grains, yeasts, and water, are fermented and used to create different types of liquor. The fermented liquid is put in a still to separate and collect the alcohol. A distiller monitors the distillate coming off the still, collecting the most flavorful part of the liquid, called the “heart.” This is where your rye, bourbon, scotch, vodka, gin, rum, and other spirits come from.

Distilleries are a great place to see and learn about this interesting process and taste some of the fine spirits that are a product of the distilling. Take a tour, sample the liquors at a tasting, relax, and enjoy a handcrafted cocktail made with those spirits. You can include a stop for lunch, and the experience makes for an enjoyable day trip. Below, we list the best distilleries in the Winston-Salem area.

Broad Branch Distillery

Broad Branch Distillery keeps the Old World Blue Ridge Mountain distilling traditions and heritage alive, using only the highest quality local ingredients and tempering and aging their spirits to preserve and enhance the aroma and flavors. Their products include Rye Fidelity, NC’s only 6yr+ five barrel 100% straight whiskey; Big Winston, their 6yr single barrel straight bourbon, Winston-Salem’s first legally distilled bourbon since prohibition; Nightlab, a 100-year-old NC recipe reminiscent of agave-based spirits. Sub it for tequila in cocktails and Sungazer, triple distilled, 100% Caribbean molasses rum that rests in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for three months before touching glass. They put great care and pride in the creation of their spirits and in providing an enjoyable, informative experience to all who visit their distillery.

Located in historic downtown Winston-Salem, they feature a comfortable, friendly tasting room where you can sample the spirits distilled there and ask the knowledgeable staff questions about the process. Bottles are available for purchase. Tours of the distillery are $15 and include a tasting. They are available on the first Saturday of each month at 2pm. To schedule a tour call or fill out the form on the website. You can also arrange private tours. Broad Branch also has a cocktail bar where you can enjoy handcrafted drinks made with their spirits and other premium North Carolina products. Enjoy a cool cocktail and live music there on Saturday nights. Reviews for Broad Branch Distillery are excellent, with many commenting on the exceptional quality of the product and staff. This is a place not to be missed.

• Broad Branch Distillery Website | Broad Branch Distillery Facebook Page
• 756 N Trade Street, Winston-Salem, NC
• 336-602-2824
• Hours Tasting Room
  • Mon & Tues, 10am – 4pm
  • Wed-Fri, 10am – 9pm
  • Sat, 1pm – 9pm
  • Sun, 12pm – 6pm
• Hours Cocktail Bar
  • Wed & Thurs, 4pm – 9pm
  • Fri, 4pm – 10pm
  • Sat, 1pm – 10pm
  • Sun, 12pm – 6pm

Sutler’s Spirit Co

Sutler’s Spirit Co. was the first legal distillery in Winston-Salem in over 200 years. Sutler’s Gin is hand-made by North Carolina natives using time-tested, heritage recipes. Their gin, with a base of lavender and coriander, the warmth of juniper, and notes of lemon and bitter orange, has won them awards, including the Gold Medal in 2017 at one of the largest and most notable spirit competitions in the world, San Francisco World Spirits Competition. They also produce a rum that is not on the market yet but will hopefully be available this fall or winter.

Sutler’s has a lovely tasting room with comfy couches, chairs, and candlelight. Unfortunately, they do not have air conditioning, so they do not have hours and cannot schedule tours or tastings until the winter months. They hope to have that remedied soon to offer more days and hours. For now, bookings are only available in the cooler months and fill up quickly. Tours are an hour and a quarter, cost $15, and include a tasting and a complimentary glass. Reservations can be made on their website. Start looking for dates beginning in November. We will update you if their hours are extended.

Sutler’s Spirit Co. is promoting local artists with their Art Bottle Series, featuring a different artist’s work each month on the bottoms of their bottles. Only 6 added to a case, so it is a real prize if you get one. Along the same lines, they are working on a “paint your own bottle” promotion to take place in the future, where your artwork could be on one of their bottles. Be sure to follow them on Facebook.

• Sutler’s Spirit Co. Website | Sutler’s Spirit Co. Facebook Page
• 840 Mill Works Street, Winston-Salem, NC
• 336-565-6006
• Tours and tastings available beginning November

Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery

Old Nick Williams Co. was founded in 1768, became world-famous, and was then destroyed during prohibition. But, the strong and determined Williams family brought it back and is growing it stronger than ever. Making small batch craft Whiskey and Bourbon from locally sourced grains, Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery also features Jamerican® Rum, including 126 proof, and vodka, including Hempahol® Vodka infused with hemp seeds. They offer tours, tastings, and bottles for purchase. Tours are $10 and can be booked on their website.

Their venue is spacious outside, with covered decks and farm animals to see. The goats are especially fun to watch. Inside is cozy with some tables and a pleasant atmosphere. Staff are friendly and usually include family members who enjoy telling you the history of Old Nick Williams. They also have a cocktail bar, Busted Barrel, named for when the government smashed all the liquor barrels during prohibition. They serve amazing hand-crafted cocktails at affordable prices and have music and food trucks many nights. See the schedules on their Facebook page. There are many excellent reviews of Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery. This is a fantastic destination to visit just outside of Winston-Salem for tours, tastings, and a good time with great drinks any afternoon or evening.

• Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery Website | Old Nick Williams Farm & Distillery Facebook Page
• 2675 Williams Road, Lewisville, NC
• 336-946-1165
• Hours for Tours (on the hour)
  • Mon, 1pm – 4pm
  • Tues-Thurs, 11am – 4pm
  • Fri & Sat, 11am – 5pm
  • No Tours Sunday
• Hours for Bar
  • Mon, 1pm – 6pm
  • Tues & Wed, 11am – 6pm
  • Thurs, 11am – 9pm
  • Fri & Sat, 11am – 11pm
  • Sun, 1pm – 7pm

Fainting Goat Spirits

Fainting Goat Spirits is a cool family-owned distillery in downtown Greensboro that is grain to glass, meaning they grind, mash, distill, and bottle their spirits using North Carolina-sourced grain. They are makers of Tiny Cat Vodka, Emulsion Gin, and a series of Whiskeys and Bourbons made under the name C.B. Fisher. Fainting Goat Spirits offers tastings and monthly(ish) pop-up cocktail events. The tastings are $12 and include a sampling of 5 or more standard products and a Fainting Goat Spirits souvenir glass. Guests are welcome to walk through the production facility and ask questions about the process during the tastings. Tastings are Fridays, 3pm – 7pm, and Saturdays, 1pm – 6pm. Private tours outside those times are available at $20 per person, with a 6-person minimum. You can purchase bottles as well.

A pop-up event typically lasts 4-5 hours and can be found on their Facebook page. They will feature a menu of 4 or 5 specialty cocktails made from their spirits. A summer special event – their “Lemonade Stand” with lemonade cocktails will open every Saturday from 1pm – 6pm until Labor Day. They also offer Garage Door cocktails-to-go during special events or summer weekends since Greensboro allows you to walk around with a drink in the designated Social District, Elm and Smith to Elm and Gate City. Great reviews for Fainting Goat with mention of fun, friendly staff, excellent tastings, and delicious drinks.

• Fainting Goat Spirits Website | Fainting Goat Spirits Facebook Page
• 115 W Lewis Street, Greensboro, NC
• 336-273-6221
• Hours – Tastings
  • Fri, 3pm – 7pm
  • Sat, 1pm – 6pm
• Hours – Bottle Sales
  • Tues-Fri, 10am – 7pm
  • Sat, 12pm – 6pm

Founding Fathers Distillery

Founding Fathers Distillery is a small, charming, family-run distillery in the middle of a 100-acre farm in High Point. The farm grows tobacco, sometimes wheat, and often other crops. It offers beautiful views and serene surroundings. The distillery produces single barrel, small batch runs, using only the finest ingredients and yeasts. For aging, they primarily use White Oak barrels with exposure to French Oak, which is charred and roasted to give a complex flavor profile. Their products include two rums and three whiskies, including Cooper’s Cut, American barley single-malt whiskey, and Flat Brook Ranch, malted wheat and barley, named in honor of the owner’s dad and the cattle ranch he owned in Louisiana.

Founding Fathers is not open to the public with regular hours but is available for private tours and tastings. They have an inviting, comfortable tasting room and a porch with plush furniture where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the views. The owner, Jeff, and his wife will entertain you with stories about the spirits, the production process, and the farm’s history. The most incredible part of this is the private tour and tasting is free. Can you think of a nicer way to spend an afternoon? They sell their spirits by the bottle only at the distillery; they are not available anywhere else. So, if you enjoy the tasting, you will want to purchase one while you are there. Reminder – It is not open to the public without a scheduled tour and tasting.

• Founding Fathers Distillery Website | Founding Fathers Distillery Facebook Page
• 6116 Hickory Creek Road, High Point, NC
• 336-434-0149
• Tours and Tastings by appointment only

Mayberry Spirits

Mayberry Spirits is the first legal distillery in Mt Airy since prohibition. It is a small-batch distillery that produces handcrafted sorghum whiskey, including their Mayberry RFD (Really Fine Drink). They also sell gourmet coffee and flavorings, barware, hand-rolled cigars, unique gifts, furniture, and local art. The business is in the process of expanding and transforming its space into Cinder Speakeasy, adding a cocktail bar and kitchen. However, they are still open for tastings every Friday and Saturday. Sample their latest creations, get a sneak peek at what’s coming, and peruse their selection of treasures. The tastings cost $10 per person and can be booked online at their website. Their website also shows items for sale in their shop. Follow their Facebook page for current information.

• Mayberry Spirits Website | Mayberry Spirits Facebook Page
• 461 N South Street, Mt Airy, NC
• 336-719-6860
• Hours
  • Fri & Sat, 12pm – 4pm

More Places To Raise A Glass

While hard spirits make excellent cocktails, sometimes nothing beats an ice-cold beer! Winston-Salem is home to a number of fine breweries you can visit and sample some great-tasting hand-crafted brews. They offer many different unique flavors on tap that are constantly changing and seasonal favorites, too. Some host food trucks, live music, and other events. Be sure to check out our article about the best breweries in the area.

What is your favorite cocktail? Tell us in the comments.