Celebrating Virginia Spirits Month: My Epic Distillery Tour 🥃✨

Virginia Spirits Month is the perfect excuse to explore some of the Commonwealth’s finest distilleries, and Lukas and I’s trip was nothing short of amazing. I spent a few days crisscrossing the state, sipping, learning, and meeting the passionate people behind the spirits that put Virginia on the map. From Richmond to Lovingston, here’s how my itinerary unfolded:

Stop 1: Virago Spirits – Richmond, VA

📍 1727 Rhoadmiller St, Richmond, VA 23220

I kicked things off close to home at Virago Spirits on Thursday, a gem tucked away in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition. I had the chance to chat with Barry Haneberg, Founder and Distiller, who shared the story behind Virago’s bold, character-driven rums and experimental spirits.

The tasting room is stylish yet cozy, and the cocktails and mocktails? Incredible. Lukas tried the rum flight and tried the gin and liqueurs. His favorite was the port rum.

🥇 Virago's Gold Medal Winner at First Landing Cup: Modern Gin with Oolong Tea

Stop 2: MurLarkey Distilled Spirits – Manassas, VA

📍 9861 Discovery Blvd., Manassas, VA 20109

Fast forward to Sunday, I hit the road for Northern Virginia to visit MurLarkey Distilled Spirits. There, I met with Kevin Szady, Head Distiller, who is super talented, as he creates so many different types of spirits!

MurLarkey is known for their creativity (smoked whiskeys and salsa flavored vodkas). Every spirit has a story, and the distillery has such a welcoming, family feel. It’s the kind of place where you could hang out all afternoon, sampling and laughing with friends. They also have a restaurant called Proof, which offers delicious food for lunch and dinner.

Lukas did a tasting with: vodka, salsa borracha vodka, heritage whiskey and orange whiskey. Here their tastings are incredibly unique, as you taste - you build a cocktail - so at the end you're sort of a bartender! His favorite was the heritage whiskey because of it's smoky flavor.

🥇 Murlarkey's Gold Medal Winner at First Landing Cup: Papi's Salsa Borracha Vodka

Stop 3: Mt. Defiance Distillery – Middleburg, VA

📍 495 E. Washington St., Middleburg, VA 20117

After a quick 40-minute drive, I landed in charming Middleburg at Mt. Defiance Distillery. Here, I met Head Distiller Peter Ahlf, who walked me through their lineup of absinthe, apple brandy, and more. Lukas and Peter tried their biggest sellers, sweet vermouth and absinthe together.

The distillery blends historic techniques with adventurous recipes. Middleburg itself is such a picturesque town, so pairing it with Mt. Defiance’s rustic cabin-feel and ciders made for a dreamy afternoon. Lukas also tried a lineup of their ciders, his favorite was the rum-barrel aged cider.

🥇 Mt Defiance's Gold Medal Winner at First Landing Cup: Absinthe Supérieure

Stop 4: Virginia Distillery Company – Lovingston, VA

📍 299 Eades Ln, Lovingston, VA 22949

I wrapped up the adventure at the legendary Virginia Distillery Company, where I sat down with Amanda Beckwith, Liquid Development Director. Their specialty? American Single Malt Whiskey, and it’s as smooth and complex as you’d hope.

Lukas did a tasting of their Courage & Conviction line: Single Malt, Bourbon Cask, Cuvee and Sherry. He also did a tasting of their VDC line: Cider Cask, Toasted, Cabarnet Cask, and Port Cask. His two ultimate favorites (and what we got bottles of) were the Cuvee and the Cider Cask. He said the flavors were complex and complimentary - and just the right amount of holiday feel to them!

The setting is stunning with rolling hills and mountain views that make every sip feel extra special. It was the perfect finale to my Virginia Spirits Month tour.

🥇 Virginia Distillery Co's Gold Medal Winner at First Landing Cup: Courage & Conviction Signature Malt

From the creative cocktails at Virago to the historic charm of Mt. Defiance and the sweeping beauty of Virginia Distillery Company, this trip proved that Virginia’s spirit scene is as diverse as it is delicious.

If you’re celebrating Virginia Spirits Month (and honestly, you should be), I can’t recommend a distillery road trip enough. Plan your route, bring a few friends, and discover the artistry behind every pour OR just ask the bartender at your local bar for Virginia-made spirits to celebrate!

Virginia is also celebrating with a ‘Sale-a-Bration': Save 20% on select VA-made spirits at ABC stores and in distilleries.

✨Check out VirginiaSpirits.org for more:👇

Virginia Spirits Trail - Your interactive map featuring distillery profiles and an itinerary builder.

Virginia Spirits Passport - Get your free mobile pass that leads you to over 40 exceptional Virginia distilleries.

Cheers to Virginia Spirits Month! 🥂

I hope you found this itinerary helpful! There are more blogs on my website about Richmond travel tips.

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💚 Lauren Z Ray