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Industry opportunities for bootleggers soared when North Carolina became the first Southern state to enact prohibition. Bootlegging – selling spirits without taxation or government permits – immediately became a means for financial stability. While national prohibition ended in 1933, North Carolina remained a dry state until 1935, the heyday of hooch, eventually giving birth to the firewater-fueled sport of NASCAR.
While moonshine once lost its luster with cheaper and more accessible liquor, it truly never died. As the farm-to-fork movement continues to grow in North Carolina, the grain-to-glass movement is not far behind. New microdistilleries are opening every year here, crafting small-batch gin, rum, whiskey, vodka – and, of course, moonshine. And this time, it’s legal. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find:
1 Walton's Distillery
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1 Walton's Distillery
JacksonvilleSee on map
Learn how spirits are made during free tours and indulge in complimentary tastings of Walton Distillery's award-winning booze. Their menu of barrel-aged and traditional spirits includes whiskey, bourbon, vodka, rum and moonshine bottled in Mason jars.
Pair it with: The International Food Trail in this patriotic city was curated with service, taste and authenticity in mind.
2 Weldon Mills Distillery
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2 Weldon Mills Distillery
WeldonSee on mapExtensive renovations to a factory and historic grist mill became Weldon Mills Distillery in 2019. Learn more about local history and distillation on a tour – it includes tastings of award-winning spirits such as Weldon Mills Reserve, which took home four awards at the 2021 International Whisky Competition. Soldier’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey also raises money for families of fallen soldiers, a cause close to the Army veteran co-owner’s heart.
Pair it with: Longtime favorite Ralph's Barbecue in Weldon. The Woodruff family knows a thing or two about Eastern North Carolina barbecue – they've been serving it up for more than 70 years.
3 Great Wagon Road Distilling
3 Great Wagon Road Distilling
CharlotteSee on mapMore than 60 years after his grandfather was arrested in Ireland for making poteen, Ollie Mulligan is doing the same in North Carolina – on the right side of the law. The County Kildare native uses the same poteen (Irish moonshine) recipe that’s been in his family for generations, and Great Wagon also offers Rua (Irish for red) single malt whisky, vodka and a barrel-aged whiskey.
Pair it with: Great Wagon Road is steps away from Divine Barrel Brewing, where its team has a soft spot for sours but you'll always find a bit of everything.
4 Blue Ridge Distilling Company
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4 Blue Ridge Distilling Company
BosticSee on mapThe distillery’s bellwether brew – boldly branded Defiant – is an award-winning barley-based whisky made from pure mountain water and softened and seasoned via white oak spirals rather than barrels. It offers tours Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and weekends by appointment.
Pair it with: Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln wasn’t born in Kentucky, but rather the small Blue Ridge Mountain town of Bostic. Plays and books have been written regarding the controversy, and The Bostic Lincoln Center (free admission) features permanent and rotating exhibits regarding our 16th President.
5 Broadslab Distillery
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5 Broadslab Distillery
BensonSee on mapOwner and master distiller Jeremy Norris uses his grandfather’s moonshine recipe, passed down from five generations and prepared in a 500-gallon solid copper pot still. But Broadslab offers much more than just its Legacy Shine, including Reserve Whiskey and Carolina Coast rums. The distillery offers tastings and tours Thursday to Saturday, plus tours Friday to Saturday at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Pair it with: Starting in May, pack your swimsuit and head to Tucker Lake, which boasts clear spring water and white sand beaches. There are several waterslides and floating playstations, along with beach volleyball, picnic areas and a campground.
6 Outer Banks Craft Distillery
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6 Outer Banks Craft Distillery
ManteoSee on map“From molasses to glasses” is the tagline for the Outer Banks’ only distillery, located in the former Board of Education building in downtown Manteo. Rum is the primary spirit here, as Outer Banks offers several types of its Kill Devil series, including gold, silver, and a unique pecan and honey combination.
Pair it with: Manteo is home to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, which boasts several exhibits about the inhabitants around the Outer Banks. Just make sure to secure your ticket upon arrival. You can also visit Lost Colony Brewery on the waterfront before taking in the historic Lost Colony outdoor drama.
7 Southern Grace Distilleries
7 Southern Grace Distilleries
Mount PleasantSee on mapA visit to this distillery is like no other, as it’s the only one in the United States housed in a former prison. Whereas the correctional facility once housed captured bootleggers, Southern Grace honors them with its whiskey collection, including the award-winning Conviction. Tours are offered (and encouraged, given the site’s history) with online reservations.
Pair it with: Mount Pleasant boasts one of the largest antique malls in the South with White Owl, which is housed in a former textile mill. Vendors range from collectibles to fine china in this 100,000 square-foot facility.
8 Copper Barrel Distillery
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8 Copper Barrel Distillery
North WilkesboroSee on mapLocated in Wilkes County – or what some call the “Moonshine Capital of America” – is an award-winning distillery that crafts smooth, full-flavored spirits. Copper Barrel is Wilkes County’s first legal moonshine distillery and the world’s first to produce a legal beverage using a direct steam-injection distillation process. Instead of neutral grain spirits, Copper Barrel uses grains from North Carolina farms and mills along with well water from a crystalline-rock aquifer. Its flagship spirit, White Lightning, has an aroma of ripe green apples and a slightly sweet flavor.
Pair it with: Award-winning craft wine and mead is just a short drive away. Stardust Cellars & Taproom is the first biodynamic vineyard in the state, practicing sustainability from seeding to bottling. Wrap up your Wilkesboro visit with a foot-stomped, basket-pressed craft wine in the cozy taproom in the heart of the Yadkin Valley.
9 Holman Distillery
9 Holman Distillery
Moravian FallsSee on mapUndisturbed North Carolina water is the backbone of these spirits, and applejack is Holman Distillery's specialty. Each bottle contains about 60 apples and comes in traditional, white or black varieties. Schedule a free tour and tasting on a Sunday and learn all about the distilling and jacking processes that make these products so special.
Pair it with: If you can't get enough apples, head to one of the many nearby orchards – like Parker's or Tevepaugh – to pick up some more local goodies.
10 Durham Distillery
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10 Durham Distillery
DurhamSee on mapMelissa Katrincic – president, CEO and co-founder of Durham Distillery – is the first US female distiller inducted into The Gin Guild. Appropriately, see how the award-winning Conniption Gin (which comes in three variations, including one with a beautiful indigo color) is made with a behind-the-scenes tour, then pull up a seat at the on-site bar for a seasonal cocktail.
Pair it with: Cocoa Cinnamon – another woman-forward, award-winning company – for coffee and box sets just a couple blocks away.
11 Oxford Oaks Distillery
11 Oxford Oaks Distillery
OxfordSee on mapMake a reservation to enjoy light bites or upscale dining and craft cocktails in this former 1920 hardware store. The downtown microdistillery partners with local farmers to source grains and botanicals for its artisan whiskey, gin, vodka and rum.
Pair it with: When Mara Shelton founded Tobacco Wood Brewing in 2018 with her husband, it was NC’s first female and veteran-owned brewery. And it’s just a couple of blocks away from the distillery.
Please drink responsibly. Designate a driver.
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