No food served here, just amazing colonial style cocktails and spirits. Felt as if I had stepped back in time. If you are looking for something unique and historical, this is it!!! Take a trip back in time to the colonial days and discover how modern cocktail recipes came to be. From flaming drinks to simple mojitos, each drink has a historic story of invention and who consumed them. The service is friendly and they are happy to explain everything on the menu. Their genuine passion shines through and the pours are rather generous on the flights. So drivers be aware that you won't be able to finish them! Whiskey & Rum are the primary spirits served, though there was a gin on the menu as well as a few others. The atmosphere is equally period appropriate. Will not disappoint you if this is your vibe! read more

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8 Shires has such fun and welcoming atmosphere. Tucker was extremely knowledgeable giving background and detail on each spirit. He really took his time to make sure we had an amazing experience. Now the spirits, let's just say if I could buy one of each I would! So unique and flavorful!! The Paul Revere cocktail is definitely something special and fun. I highly recommend this distillery and we will definitely be ordering additional bottles once we get home! (They ship!!) read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Paul Reveres Lantern - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Went out here to get a full tour of the Distilleries in the area. This place stands out quite a bit on its own. They focus on doing their spirits the way they were done back in the day. Quite indicative of the area. With those traditional ways comes some of the plusses and minuses of that era. But that's the fun part imo. First off, you'd be silly to not come here as they gave us our first taste for free. When it comes to unique, this definitely takes the cake. It's hard to explain but the only way to understand the uniqueness of their spirits is to straight up go there and try them. Because they're so unique, many of the 'og' style spirits I had were so far off from the norm. But that's ok. One of them wasn't for me but that's fine. I was just appreciative of being able to try it. Overall, this place is a big win. If you're in the area and are a spirits fan, stop on by! Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 5 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Walking in you almost feel like you're transported back in time. Although I have no doubt that's the intent of decor and ambiance. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no read more

Stopped in with my daughter... tried the flight was good . Also bought a bottle of the bourbon it was so good and did the tour. The guys working were great and helpful in getting my adult daughter something for her tastes. Definitely a good spot to stop in and try if in VA read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Explaining the process... very interesting for the colonial way. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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We live close to the area and randomly saw this place. So we decided to stop by one day. Very quiet, small distillery. The staff was welcoming and very informative. The ambience is relaxing. We can't wait to visit again, when the weather isn't rainy so we can enjoy the outside area they have! read more

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8 Shires is a really cool distillery in Williamsburg specializing in colonial style drinks. They do flights, tastings, and cocktails, but due to VA law you are limited to three ounces of spirits per visit. The offerings are good...if a little different than modern namesakes due to the old fashioned recipes and processes. Try the usquebaugh! read more

Truly enjoyed this hidden gem. The folks there were so kind and gave us a history lesson about our drink. We tried Paul Revere's Lantern it was delicious! Definitely a great experience. We will be back. read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Paul Revere's lantern - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Such a cool and interesting local distillery that focuses on preserving American spirits techniques, specifically what was being made in the Jamestown/Williamsburg area during the colonial period. Check out the tour and then sample some drinks in the tap room! read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - cocktail flight to sample all three rums - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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This was our kinda place. It's not fancy, it's just good. We were recommended here by our mead tender at Silverhand Meadery and I am glad we went. The story behind them might seem a little cheesy to some, but it really is a neat beginning. Especially for you history buffs. Some of the research and work they have put is is really neat to see. Of their spirits, I was least impressed with the rum. It's not that it's bad, just...meh. Their gin is something you need to try if you are not a typical juniper berry loving gin fan. Theirs almost has more of a citrus note. Now the whiskey. The white liquor is exactly what you would expect, a sweet, corn-forward moonshine like liquor. I liked it. Their straight bourbon whiskey was easily my favorite. Very balanced and smooth for something that is fairly young by bourbon standards. I brought a bottle home. Their single malt was actually a little underwhelming to have after the bourbon, which surprised me. It was a tad harsh and just didn't have the flavor complexity I had hoped for. All good products, just my two pence worth! Kara, the bartender was great, good conversation and friendly. Stop and check them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Walking in, Cara made us feel right at home with her warm welcoming smile. Tucker, our tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. What a great time. The drinks were superb and we even left with a few bottles. read more

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Had a good experience here.Really like the single barrel whiskey and appreciated the attention of the staff. Definitely a place to try went in the Williamsburg area. Would say it is on par with visits to distilleries in Kentucky. read more

Wonderful atmosphere and excellent services! I would recommend the Warrosquyoake Bourbon. It's great place to enjoy a hand crafted drink and learn about the history and techniques of distillation in the Colonial American Period. read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Heard about this place from a fellow distillery that said nice things about 8 shires. We came in at 2:10pm and asked about the tour. They said the tour starts on the hour. We then asked if we could just quickly catch up to the previous tour because we didn't want to wait 50 minutes for the next one. There isn't much to do or see in the lobby/sales area. The lady said that there isn't a previous tour. We then asked then can she start a tour and just skip the first 10 minutes so she can restart on time? She said no. She did offer free tastings. We declined the tastings as we wanted to do the tour so we can learn and respect how everything tastes. Oh well, not busy at all on a friday afternoon. I can see why. read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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There are some things to like, but a lot more to dislike. Pros: atmosphere is fantastic. They really give it the "Coloniale" feel. They give you a free tasting of ONE of their spirits (white dog, gin, or rum). It's a tiny thimble full but given that there stuff is quite strong it's a gracious touch. You can order a bowl of Brunswick stew for $3.50 (if you buy a full cocktail) which is good value and a nice touch. Cons: I was floored when I ordered the cocktail flight FOR $18 and was presented with 3 shot glasses. These glasses were 3/4 of the way filled, weren't garnished, and I'm barely convinced they had alcohol in them much less "an ounce" per glass. Let's do some quick math here. Your average American shot glass is 1.5 oz. If a shot is filled 3/4 and (guaranteed) half of it is the fruit juice they used to "cocktail" then we're getting about .5 an oz per pouring. Oh, and you can't get anything else after this "flight" because you've reached your 3oz ABC rule limit. Generally a flight is designed to showcase an establishments product, but this did anything but. It was disappointing, I could barely taste their product because the serving was so small. And the price was a joke. Service was fine. My other companions got a flight, and the other a full size cocktail. I was told the cocktail was pretty weak too, and at Vegas prices of $13 it's disappointing. I wouldn't recommend this place. There is nothing special about it. You can get a better crafted cocktail down the road at Copperfox, and for that matter better drinks at other places in town. ***UPDATE In response to the owners response, yes, we were told the flight was the max we could order because it exceeded the 3 oz ABC limit. If we were informed incorrectly that's on your staff, but three of us heard it. And yes, your prices are CLEARLY listed on your menu, no qualms there. What isn't stated is that the cocktails are served in SHOT GLASSES. $18 for 3 "cocktail shots" is bad value and let's forget about the monetary side of things, it doesn't offer a comprehensive taste of your product (which I'd argue does yourself a disservice). read more

Very amiable and welcoming, this small distillery has a great atmosphere and good, honest products for adult imbibing. read more

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery - Very quaint, professional, and enjoyable place to visit and partake. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

The staff was awesome. They were helpful and knowledgeable. It was cool that they stay true to the original distilling methods from long ago. read more

Spirits true to colonial times. Excellent rum and whiskey. Very informative staff. Must stop if you are interested in colonial distilling methods. read more

We came in here on a whim as a first stop to an exploratory brewery day. They offer free tastings of their clear spirits (gin, white rum, white whiskey) and flights of their dark ones you can purchase. I ordered a mule and an old fashioned, both with bourbon which I enjoyed, although not enough to get a bottle. I also tried their spiced rum with iced cider - this did not stand out to me at all. We got a quick overview of 8 Shires operations and how they make their spirits while we waited for the girl at the bar to finish helping her customers. They offer tours but I've never been one to partake. The bartender was friendly but I don't think I'd return here. read more

We visited this distillery during our Drink Williamsburg tour. Very cute place, I appreciate that they incorporate the historical component of the gin and rum they sale. Yvonne was very nice as well. She is sweet and goes out of her way to ensure a good experience. Unfortunately I wasn't too happy with some of the comments made by the owner (male). I thought they were inappropriate and it made me uncomfortable. Especially the comments regarding equal rights. The information he provided regarding the history surrounding their drinks and gin was wonderful. read more

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It's become a new thing for my husband and I to try and visit a distillery anywhere we travel. This place was open while we were visiting, so another couple joined us on a tour. At first, you're not sure that you're in the right parking lot. The distillery is connected to a church. It's funny, because the main area where you hang out and enjoy drinks has church pews for sitting down. The tour is much less formal than others I've been to. This is probably because they're new; their bourbon is still in the barrels. When you enter, you're greeting by some friendly ladies who offer you some samples and encourage you to play checkers or whatnot while waiting for the tour. For $12 you can buy a flight with some suggested cocktails they mix up. Their rum and gin are both great. I'm not a gin drinker by default, but my husband loves his gin and tonics. It's a great experience, and you feel very cozy and welcomed when you visit. Buy some of their rum or gin bottles to take home for yourself, or as a great Williamsburg souvenir for friends. read more

Had a great time here. The staff was really friendly and knowledgeable. Also did the tour with the owner. He is a wealth of information about distilling in the colonies. Highly recommend. read more

Great experience! Visited 8 Shires twice during a week in Williamsburg, it is a delightful craft distillery making spirits as close to how it was done in colonial times as possible. Kara is the gal behind the bar and she is pretty amazing. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for her job are a big part of the reason we went back for a second visit. Oh and did I mention she makes some really good drinks as well as flights of their various offerings? With 3 rums, bourbon, whiskey and gin to choose from there is something for everyone. She is a wealth of knowledge about the spirits and drinks served. Tucker provided a very detailed tour of the distillery and explained step be step how the magic is done. It is definitely worth a visit. read more

Whiskey meets history. Don't judge this book by it's cover or it's more tourist friendly cousin at Mount Vernon. If you want to step back in time to what even some of the first 17th century settlers drank to get funky, this place is a must, especially after your Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown visit. Owner and staff make painstaking efforts to replicate these old European/New World wilderness hybrids - perhaps accidentally revealing something lost to modem distilling processes. Just to prove I'm not affiliated in anyway, they do push their prize, ancient well-water whiskey (and it's near Pappy level price tag) a little too hard, but this hidden-pearl in the making could easily be forgiven that if not much more. Drink here! read more

This was our second stop along the distillery trail, and we loved it. We walked in to a bar with a free quick taste of either rum or bourbon. I chose bourbon and it was quite good. I Then tasted their golden rum in a rum and coke and it was also very good. The bar was quaint with almost a speakeasy type feel to it which was nice, even with the tv in the corner. The tour was quick and mainly consisted of information on what they are doing there, but it was very informative and interesting. We were given the tour by the owner and we could tell he loves what he does. The distillery area itself was smaller than expected but also quite amazing. Beautiful equipment and many many barrels as they are quickly outgrowing this space. However the owner said they will be getting more storage very soon. They are one of a kind because they are using methods that the colonials used in distilling and using some secret methods to try and create the whiskey and gin that were distilled in the past. Make sure you stop in and enjoy the tour with the owner as he is full of great info! We will definitely be back! And make sure to grab a drink! read more

Went to 4-5 places in Williamsburg for drinks this weekend with some college pals and this was by far my favorite! Not only do the have some of the best handcrafted rum and gin in the country, they also have an outstanding team working behind the bar. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable, and a real pleasure to talk to. You can tell the people working want to be there and can feel their passion. They offer some killer drink options, a tour of their distillery, and a lot of insight and history along with it. Check them out, you won't regret going! Thanks for the great time Dr. & Mrs. Dodson! read more

If you like rum or bourbon then you will lovw this place. Everything is made the same way they did in colonial times. I would have to say the spiced rum. read more

Don't miss it. Great people who are really smart. They know their alcohol. Love these guys read more

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8 Shires was one of the highlights of our trip to Williamsburg. The drinks were good, people were fun, and the story keep us engaged. We loved hearing about the history of the drinks. We will absolutely be back, especially to get a bottle of the bourbon once they restock! Can't wait to see what is next from this fun spot. A must stop when in Williamsburg. read more

Small semi-difficult to find distillery. From a whiskey guy the rum was better. I feel like they could do more with it.

Recommend for sure! Leslie has a wealth of knowledge and the spirits were incredible. I recommend the gin if your looking to be a purist. If you're looking to enjoy a colonial cocktail, I recommend the Wicked Maiden - OG piña colada with a twist. Go for the spiced rum to mix in. Left with a bottle of gin - wish I could have purchased everything. read more

My friend and I visited Copper Fox Distillery, microbreweries, and meadery on our recent vacation to Williamsburg; yet, this was by far my favorite stop. The distiller is attempting to recreate rum and gin recipes from the colonial era, while using modern techniques. The option for a flight of mixed drinks with your choice of their distilled spirits is a unique take on the flights offered at most breweries. As a fellow homebrewer with an interest in recreating recipes from a simliar era in time, the tour was informational and they could answer some very specific questions about their redacting process. The Jamestown Gin uses whiskey and Juniper Berries instead of the typical flavored vodka. You will instantly notice the difference in taste and it makes a much better mixed drink. As a bit of a rum snob, the Yorktown Rum was AMAZING!!! I enjoyed it almost as much as Mount Gay Extra Old from Aruba. I am on their waiting list for their reserve rum based on the recipe from Washington's Inaugural to be released in July. On a cold April day in the pouring rain, the spirits at Williamsburg Distillery certainly took off the chill. read more

Loved the tour and the people at the bar. Everyone knows their stuff and help to understand how it all works. Very helpful and friendly! Great fun! read more

We have stopped in there twice, now it is on our must stop for every trip to Williamsburg. Lovely little place, clean, quiet and the people are the best. I have drank a lot of rum but theirs is by far the best I have ever had. You have got to stop in and try the Creamery, amazing just doesn't say enough read more

New place, attempting to make spirits using methods and according to recipes from 1776 and prior. We took the tour, which was very informative but a bit above my head. The free taste you get is just that, roughly a small mouthful and you only get one. Drinks are standard price and pour, $9 to $10 for an ounce in your beverage. I will say the spirits have a strong and different flavor than many I've tasted. read more

Doesn't look like much from the outside but when you go inside it is very well put-together, nice staff , clean and very friendly. They offer shots of rum and and gin at a cost they will also mix them with your favorite beverage so you can try them. If you just want to wet your lips to see the flavor that is free. I believe the price of each bottle was around $30. read more

We stopped by to experience a Colonial distillery. The bartender was very friendly attempting to explain the distilling process while the general manager ( a woman-wish I would have gotten her name) badgering, harassing and interrupting constantly. It became a very uncomfortable/unfriendly experience we left to get away from it! I feel bad for the bartender having to work in such a hostile place. read more

Just went by to check it out and it was awful. Bartender and GM would argue and bicker. The place was dingy and was a terrible experience.

I am very glad to see Williamsburg has gotten into the world of craft spirits - and Williamsburg distillery does not disappoint, either! I had a great time visiting, chatting with the owner, and tasting. Both the rum and gin are quite good and there was a lot of excellent history to go along with them! read more

A startup in an old warehouse, trying to recreate colonial spirits. Worth the visit to meet the owner and get a tour. Very knowledgeable guy. Frigging excellent rum and gin, some of the best. read more

Went in to buy a bottle of the much liked Thorpe whiskey. Customer service only deserves a star. Bartender was slow slow slow. We waited to be served for about 15minutes, & after the people that came in behind us. She was overwhelmed and perhaps should have stayed retired. She is not the bartender that will bring in repeat customers.The atmosphere was not pleasing. From now on we will just buy their liquor in liquor store(unless they get new staff). read more