Tips for making the most of a distillery visit

Nothing says fall like a drive around the country, a visit to stores, a look at pumpkin patches, and maybe even a visit to a distillery. Since there are now hundreds of bourbon and whiskey distilleries across the United States, there’s a good chance you’ll have the opportunity to visit at least one of them.

According to the Kentucky Distillers Association, 95 percent of all bourbon whiskey is made in Kentucky. However, it is important to remember that all 50 US states have at least one whiskey distillery.

A visit can be entertaining, informative and delicious. Here you will find tips on how to make the most of a visit to the distillery.

Photo by Flickr user Raphaël Chekroun

• Please investigate And Make a plan. Before you go, find out what distilleries are in the area, when they’re open, and what experiences they offer. Some distilleries in major tourist centers are open seven days a week, while distilleries on rural farms may only be open on weekends. Distillery websites are a good starting point, but social media accounts may provide more up-to-date information about special events or offers. These days, most distilleries can offer at least small samples of their products, but all states are different. If you’re craving a martini, you may be disappointed by local laws that prohibit distilleries from serving cocktails. Problems can also arise when eating. So check out the restaurants on your route or see if there might be a food truck parked outside during one of your visits.

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• Dress for successS. If you’re doing a behind-the-scenes or “hard hat” tour, skip the stillettos or flip-flops. Distilleries are factories with slippery or sticky surfaces, loud noises, and grated raised walkways that look like sets from a John Claude Van Damme film. Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing are a good idea.
• Manage transportation. Spirit samples add up quickly. If you’re in a city, plan on using public transportation, Lyft, or Uber. If you’re in the country, choose a driver or rent a car for the day—it’s a lot more fun than worrying about your samples or foregoing the single-barrel super pour at the end of your tasting .
• be on time, especially if you have made an appointment. Distilleries are busy and tasting room staff are often scheduled around existing schedules. Respect their time and stick to your schedule—or, if you know your plans will be fluid, choose distilleries with open tasting room hours and just show up.

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• introduce yourself. All kinds of people come through the doors of this tasting room, from teetotal neighbors simply curious about what’s going on inside to international whiskey collectors. If you already know a lot about the distillery and are a big fan of their products, tell them! Distillers love meeting their fans – and if you’re lucky, they’ll give them special samples. If this is your first time trying rye whiskey, tell them too. Knowing customers’ experience levels will help tasting room staff better tailor their conversations to you.
• ask questions. There’s no question too silly, too simple, or too nerdy to ask on a distillery tour. Tour guides usually know a surprising amount about their products. And when you manage to land a stumper, there’s something satisfying about that too.
• If you like something, to buy something, especially if it is a smaller company. Sometimes – although not always – distilleries make a better profit margin on the bottles they sell in the tasting room than on the bottles you buy retail through a distributor.
• Tip your tasting room staff. If you tip waiters who spend five minutes taking your order, delivering your food, and clearing your plates, you can tip the tour guide who just spent an hour taking you on a tour and then you served mini cocktails on a flight.
• Meet people. If you had a wonderful time, post pictures of your visit on social media. Distillers love seeing their business through the eyes of their customers, and inviting your friends and family to visit is a great way to say thank you.
• Hangovers are the worst. Drinking lots of water won’t reverse the overindulgence, but it’s still the best way to prevent mess the next day.

Have fun visiting the distillery!