In an attempt to go on more solo dates, I decided to book a last-minute ticket to a quote unplugged…read morequote experience at this distillery. Arrive promptly at 2 PM only to learn that the show didn't start until 2:45 PM - absolutely cool because it gave me the opportunity to engage with the bar staff and just sit back and people watch a bit. This little spot is busy because for a Sunday, they have lots of customers coming in to buy bottles of their whiskey. Now I'm no whiskey connoisseur but I will say that stuff is smooth as all get out. I ended up ordering a whiskey drink that had sorrow, but it was a bit too strong for my liking. Second drink, I ordered before we actually walked into the spot was a whiskey, sour, a little bit more on my speed. Upon entering the main area where the performances were being held, what I didn't know if they had a cigar room upstairs. As a asthmatic, that can be a little dangerous for me, but they do have a good ventilation system, so it wasn't so bad. The opening act, which I unfortunately forgot her name, was absolutely excellent. Lovely singing voice, but a main attraction, J.Aria, she literally has the voice of an angel. And lets not forget Daz (come on Dazzzzz!!!) I could have stayed there and listened to them All. Day. Long! This is a spot. I definitely plan to return to as I learned. They have different events throughout the year, but I will for surely and without question be back for another unplugged experience just so I can hear that you have ladies sing again.

If you want a quieter experience, drop by on a Wednesday evening. I don't know about the weekends,…read morebut Thursday and Friday are usually busy. I'm pretty sure the weekends are too. It is not a huge place, but it has such a charm to it and is literally the definition of a hidden gem. There's a bunch of industrial buildings and offices on the street past the police station on 301, and you will find this. The parking lot is a lengthy one, but it doesn't take much for it to fill up if the place is popping. Every staff member I have interacted with has been super awesome... I find myself seeing Cyrus the most, cool guy! They make and sell their own spirits, and I would say they have something for everybody. I tend to go for their margarita and Maryland Five Star for cocktails, which use their tequila and whiskey respectively. Sometimes the back room is used for special events, but you will see a lot of barrels and other storage stuff back there. There is a secret cigar lounge upstairs, which I haven't really gotten to hang out in since I don't smoke. But I did take a peek inside and it looks really nice. They sell some random other things, like snacks, board games about bourbon, and more. Do yourself a favor and go, you won't regret it. They aren't the bourbon of the Commanders for no reason!

Thank you, Dan, for the wonderful experience! Amazing presentation, education, and tasting. We…read morethoroughly enjoyed spending the afternoon at TBD.

Great experience! my family and was so glad that we decided to spend our Saturday afternoon at…read moreTobacco Barn Distillery. I'm a bourbon enthusiast and often travel to Kentucky and Indiana etc. for bottles, new releases, but this nectar TBD provided is unraveled. I purchased three bottles this time, but since being introduce to some of my friends and associate, i'll be securing more!

Attended last year's Halloween Drag Brunch with my gal pals and we had an absolute blast! The event…read moreconsisted of delicious craft cocktails, yummy bottomless brunch options, good music, and high-energy entertainment. They host events (e.g., distillery tasting tours, comedy shows, fitness classes, fish fry, watch parties, etc.) here often, so I'll be keeping an eye on the calendar for more fun. __ I eat. @f.hux I thrift. @DCthriftish

Copper Compass is a little hidden gem. I recommend doing a sampling of their bottles first, then…read moreask the wonderful TK for her recommendation on cocktails - she never steers you wrong! TK is very friendly and always has some good suggestions and may even be working on a new cocktail, so it's worth asking! This place is a must visit in the area. Grab a few bottles on the way out. They're worthwhile!

My 3rd time on their tour, and with the $2.50 special, I couldn't miss out. The tour is very…read moreinformative, begins with a cocktail and ends with a tasting as shown in the pics. You get to see it all as you walk through the facilities from cooking the mash to bottling. Tours differ slightly with each tour guide, but show up curious and ready to enjoy. Outside of the tour, check out the shop for some neat gifts or additions to your bar. Also, check out the bar area for some well mixed whiskey cocktails and more. I got to enjoy the Blue Angels show from outside on the lawn. Look out for their summer and fall Whiskey on the Water event too! Think blanket, lawn chairs, food trucks, live music and whiskey styled a couple ways.

We like coming here for the flights and the ambiance. They have a gift shop inside so you can buy a…read morebottle of the one you like to take home if available. There is a small indoor bar and a large outdoor lawn space on the water, with a seasonal outdoor bar too. They frequently have a musician out on the patio playing live music on weekends, which is nice. Parking can be a bit difficult at peak times. They have a lot next to the restaurant that is free for the first couple hours, but it is not big enough for the demand.

They're long overdue for an update! There are subtle signs in the main parking lot (LAX, Atomic…read moreMusic, etc.) that indicate that it's on the backside of everything. There's a road that takes you to all the industrial buildings, the gas station entrance to Costco, and more. Depending on where you're coming from, GPS may navigate you to pass all of that. There's a long row of parking spaces that expand the length of the long building. A short walk can easily become extensive if it's really busy. Otherwise, there have been some general updates --- the hibisco is in regular rotation, and they are open most Friday evenings now! Tours and tastings are still going strong, and yes, the gin is still my favorite. But one of my favorites -- RORY! The distillery cat that I had the pleasure of being present for when he was first found on the property. I'm looking forward to continuing to support them, and I'm due to take some friends there.

This is the CUTEST distillery that we just happened to stumble upon. The location is behind the…read moreplaza with the LAX in Beltsville. You have to drive like you're going to the back entrance of the stores and it's back there. Definitely in the cut, but they are mixing up some nice craft cocktails here including smoked cocktails. Prices are great for the high quality mixology and they even offer free tastings of all their spirits. The bartender was so great and patient explaining everything even though we really weren't intending to drink (it was barely noon and we had the baby with us). This would be a really nice spot to stop by for pre-dinner drinks or after dinner drinks or just a casual Saturday to do the tasting and have some drinks. We will be back again once we have a sitter and can make a night of it. I would highly recommend hosting a Yelp event here. They deserve the traffic there.

Ah Lost Ark, so sad to see you go. It may seem strange to write a review for a business ready to…read moreclose its doors, but if not to pay it respects, I would recommend that anyone reading this consider purchasing any of their remaining stock from your local store; it's all pretty good! The inside is simple, with the occasional nod to ships at sea, which is easy to do if you have lots of barrels for aging spirits. There is a little bar where they make great cocktails rather quickly. They have spirit-forward as well as citrusy. Never had one I didn't like. The spirits (as of this writing, still available at some local liquor shops) are fantastic. My absolute favorite is the Lady Anne white rum. Some white rums are barely better than rbbing alcohol, but this has character and depth and makes a fantastic mojito. RIP Lost Ark!

Such a terrific place with not just a distillery, but also a bar, sit down area, and entertainment…read morespace. It's in an industrial area, but the decor is spot on for rum drinking. There is a retail area as well. They sell different varieties of their delicious concoctions. The menu is on a TV and there are so many options to pick from. A flight of 4 tastings is $8 and gives you the opportunity to try out the different types of alcohol. The Carmel cream was very good. The South of Manhattan and Muddy Waters were fantastic cocktails. We were greeted upon entering and Erik was very friendly. We sat at the bar. He was filling lots of orders (people come to the bar and order, then sit in the rum lounge area) and was still very attentive and welcoming. They do tours and sampling. Check their socials for more information. They also have an extensive list of entertainment.

Came here last night and got to try their spirits. My fiancé had their gin and I tried their vodka…read more They have some unique flavors that are made between their gin and their vodka. Reservations are required as they are currently in a small facility. We ended up also buying three different bottles from them as well. Will be back and happy to have a local distillery near by!

A really cool date night option! You need to make a reservation online ahead of time. You show up…read moreat a shipping loading dock (so it can seem intimidating but their instruction email lays it all out) and call the number they provide in your confirmation email to be brought in. It is $25 total to reserve the spot, you just tell them how many people are in your group, and that gets taken off your bill at the end. Our host was David--he was awesome! It's an intimate setting and comfortable. David walked us through the origins of Orkney and what they have to offer. The men on our date night ordered the gin flight and the ladies all decided on the vodka flight. We enjoyed the flights and each ordered a cocktail after. Price wise this is a great date night! The vodkas and gins were all very impressive. We all kept talking about cocktails we could envision each in. Completely recommend taking the dive and trying it out!

Cotton & Reed is definitely a hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, we had a great experience…read more The bartender was very knowledgeable and clearly knew his craft, which made the experience even better. The drinks are definitely on the pricier side, but honestly, they are worth it. My friends ordered the Coco Motion, which had such a beautiful color and looked almost too pretty to drink. I ordered the Jungle Bird, and it was exactly what I like--just the right amount of sweetness with a great flavor. I really enjoyed every sip! If you're looking for a unique cocktail experience with well-crafted drinks and a knowledgeable bartender, I definitely recommend checking out Cotton & Reed. I'll definitely be back!

Located in Union Market, this is a great place to grab a drink after a nearby dinner or snack. It's…read morea little hidden from the other restaurants, but I promise the drink I tried was worth it. The cocomotion was genuinely one of my favorite rum drinks I have tried in dc and is perfectly worth the hype it has gotten. I would be interested to go back and try some of their other drinks as well. It seems like they also have nice happy hour specials, so I will be back to test that out too. There seemed to be a birthday party or something happening in the back room when I went, so it was pretty crowded. I think the front room has some great spaces to sit, as well as a bar along one of the other walls to rest a drink on while talking to people. My main feedback is that it could use a little more seating, but overall is very fun and easy to mingle.

When it's over 100 degrees outside and you're exploring St. Michaels on foot, air conditioning…read morebecomes an attraction. While wandering around town during my Fourth of July weekend solo adventure, I decided to duck into the LYON RUM Distillery & Golden Hour Rum Room to escape the heat for a bit. I'd heard good things, figured a little rum tasting sounded like a perfectly reasonable vacation activity and, let's be honest, rum and vacation seem to go together. I stopped in on a Friday afternoon and found a handful of people already inside chatting, tasting rum and enjoying the space. One of the first things I noticed had nothing to do with the rum itself. It was the tasting room. I've visited a few tasting rooms over the years, but this one had so much personality. The décor was warm, colorful and thoughtfully put together. It felt inviting without trying too hard, and I immediately found myself looking around almost as much as I was looking at the bottles. It wasn't just a place to sample rum. It felt like a place you'd genuinely want to spend some time. The woman behind the tasting counter couldn't have been friendlier. She explained that I was welcome to sample any of the complimentary tasting offerings. Since I'm definitely not a liquor expert, I decided to keep things simple and chose the coconut and pineapple rums. The coconut was an immediate winner for me. It was incredibly smooth with just the right tropical flavor. Honestly, I could picture myself putting a bottle in the refrigerator on a hot summer day and pouring a little into a glass while sitting outside watching the sunset. As I said...dangerous. The pineapple rum was good too, but the pineapple means business! It lets you know immediately that you're drinking rum. As someone who doesn't drink much liquor, it packed a little more punch than I personally enjoy. I can absolutely see why someone who loves both rum and pineapple would gravitate toward it, but for me the coconut was the clear favorite. There were plenty of other varieties available to sample, but I knew my limits and decided two tastings were the perfect amount for me. Instead, I spent a few more minutes browsing the shop and taking everything in. I was pleasantly surprised by the prices, especially considering the rum is handcrafted in small batches right there in St. Michaels. I also love supporting businesses that are proud of where they are, and LYON RUM clearly embraces its Eastern Shore roots. You can feel that throughout the entire experience. PRO TIP: Even if you aren't a big liquor drinker, stop in anyway. The complimentary tastings are a fun way to try something new, the tasting room is beautiful and if you're visiting during one of Maryland's summer heat waves...the air conditioning alone is worth the stop! If you're spending time in St. Michaels, I'd absolutely recommend adding LYON RUM to your itinerary. Come for the rum, stay for the atmosphere and don't be surprised if you leave wishing you'd bought a bottle of the coconut rum!

I have been a longtime fan of Lyon Rum, but unfortunately, that's no longer the case…read more I recently visited the Golden Hour Rum Room and was extremely disappointed by the lack of hospitality. It was over 100 degrees outside, and there was an extreme heat warning in effect. When I walked in, I realized the Rum Room was operating by reservation only that day, which I completely understood. However, because of the dangerous heat, I simply asked for a glass of water. The hostess refused to provide one. I would have happily paid for bottled water or any available option, but the complete unwillingness to offer even a glass of water during extreme heat was disappointing and showed a lack of basic customer care. Based on this experience alone, I would give zero stars if I could. It's unfortunate because I had been a loyal supporter of Lyon Rum for years, but this experience has completely changed my opinion.

I have been coming here like forever.. They were a small…read moretasting place to now a huge building with tours, tastings and amazing restaurant next door and an excellent store that go with it. 1. Reservation: Necessary! 2. Tasting is fun and doesn't come with food obviously, so eat before! 3. Store: great choices to get gifts. 4. Distillery tour: if you are into it.. sure. 5. Service: excellent! All in all, my favorite place.

After many trips to the DMV, we decided to do a little exploring during our latest visit. After a…read morehalf an hour Lyft ride, we found our way to the Murlarkey Distillery in Manassas. Once on the compound, it was difficult to miss; large glass doors and walls with the humongous crest on the front of the building. We decided to do a walk in tasting and were lucky enough to have Jonathon be our guide to all the outstanding spirits made at the distillery. Jonathon was extremely knowledgeable about the distillery's history, products, and merch. Jonathon's passion for the distillery was continually on display, and he kept the spirits light with his unique brand of humor. Be mindful that the tasting room was packed, so I also recommend making a reservation to ensure you can enjoy the experience. The options for the tasting were the clear or amber flight options. The clear choices being some of the steeped fruit and tea liquors, served with mixers for their signature cocktails. These drinks were what the distillery was most known for. The ambers were their more recent whiskey offerings, consisting of differing ageing and steeping techniques, to create their very different spirit flavors and textures. Jonathon was able to give us the history of each spirit, as well as provide mixing options, if they were a little strong for the palette. The ambers were all unique and each provided a little something for you to think over and you tasted your way through the Murlarkey display. We really enjoyed the tasting, the whiskey, the ambience, and especially Jonathon, who made the experience totally worthwhile. We grabbed a couple bottles, some of their great Bootlegger Boys merch, and made our way to their cocktail bar, Proof to taste some more of their signature cocktails. If you're in the area and looking for a fun way to spend a couple hours, look no further than the Murlarkey Distillery. Hope to see you soon.