Five stars for Liberty & Plenty, a true gem that we didn't even plan on visiting. We were headed down the street to somewhere else, saw the sign, looked at each other and said, "Let's check this out" and I am so glad we followed that impulse because it turned into one of those stops that completely makes your afternoon. What was supposed to be a quick pop in turned into two full hours of socializing, tasting, talking and working our way through a lineup of spirits that dhows just how much care and craft is happening inside this place. I need to say, Stephanie is a darling. She's not a bartender. She's a proper mixologist, the kind of professional who knows her spirits, knows her history, knows how to read a customer, and somehow manages to be both entertaining and deeply knowledgeable at the same time. She walked us through their menu with the kind of confidence that makes you trust every recommendation, and every drink she made had that extra flourish that tells you she actually loves the work. It's rare to find someone who can make you laugh, teach you something, and hand you a drink that's better than what you expected all in the same moment, but she does it effortlessly. Somewhere between the rum and the vodka, we learned that they're gearing up for a big move to Wilson, expanding from two stills to a dozen, which is wild and honestly well deserved because the quality here is already top-tier and the idea of them scaling up that much is exciting. You can feel the ambition from the crew here, the sense that they're on the cusp of something bigger, and it made every sip feel like you're getting in on a story that's about to blow up. That said, I'm begging. Please, please, please, find a way to keep a tasting room in Durham. You're awesome, the vibe is awesome, the people are awesome, and this city needs places like this where you can wander in on a whim and end up staying for two hours because everything feels and tastes just right. Expansion is great, growth is great, Wilson is lucky to have you, but Durham will really miss you if you disappeared completely. Liberty & Plenty is the kind of spot you stumble into once and then start recommending to everyone you know. If you're anywhere nearby, go. And if Stephanie is behind the bar, settle in, because you're in very good hands. [Review 1073 of 2026 - 4782 in North Carolina - 26252 overall] read more

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Yummmmmm! The cocktails were delicious! You can just taste the fresh ingredients. I didn't think I would like the Tomatini but I loved it. It was like a lighter more refreshing take of a Bloody Mary. If you like Bloody Mary drinks, pretty sure you'll like the Tomatoni. Plus, service was friendly and attentive. Such a cute little cocktail nook. read more

What a lovely surprise to find this gem tucked away in downtown Durham! I had heard great things about their espresso martini, so when we finally visited, we had to try it. And, it truly lived up to the hype. One of the best we've ever had! I also tried two other cocktails made with their house-distilled rum and gin, and both were delicious and perfectly balanced. The seasonal menu is creative and reasonably priced, we were genuinely impressed. The ambiance is charming and cozy despite a bit warm inside (the AC was pretty weak), but quiet and tastefully decorated with velvet couches, exposed walls, vintage touches, and fresh flowers on each table. We had fun flipping through their amazing cocktail book collection on the shelf too. The bartenders were very friendly and offered us focaccia from Ninth Street Bakery to pair with our drinks for free, which was such a thoughtful and tasty addition. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and are so happy to see a micro-distillery thriving in the heart of Durham. Can't wait to return for an official tour and to sample more of their spirits! read more

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Really fun cocktail bar- that specializes in rums! First impression- I called ahead to see if our dog was allowed to sit on the outside patio, and they told me not only is she allowed, but we aren't allowed to come without her. That response will get a smile every time. Super dog-friendly, to say the least, both outside and inside. Outside has several tables under a covered area, and inside has a few couches (with tiny tables) and a long bar you can sit at. We've been a few times now, and the service is super friendly and helpful, every time. It's small and intimate inside, but we never have a problem finding a seat! I love that they have snacks you can help yourself to, in airtight jars at the bar (peanut butter filled pretzels, sour worms, etc). Also important to note- the inside is NOT air conditioned. We stopped in on a HOT day, and it's brutal inside, with cloth couches and just one small fan. Love this bar, all of their cocktails (wine available too), and all of the staff! Will be back (a lot)!! read more

Came to this distillery recently and had an OK experience. After we walked in, I was immediately impressed by the super friendly and helpful staff member who introduced us to the menu and pointed out the free bar snacks if we got hungry :) It would have been nice to have a more comprehensive food menu available (we were happy to pay!) but no big deal. We were initially sitting at one of the small tables inside, but we ventured to an outside table after a few minutes because it felt a little cramped and stuffy. So I mentioned that the staff member was super friendly, but unfortunately I think he was also super busy, as the service was extremely slow. It took a long time to even get our order in, and then another long while for our drinks to come out. Maybe about ~20 minutes total? Anyway, the cocktails were pretty good but probably not worth the wait. Prices were a bit high but I kind of expected that. Overall, I'd say we're unlikely to come back here with so many other bars in the area. read more

Very intimate and beautiful cocktail bar. There isn't a huge amount of seating inside, but there's also a nice heated patio which is nice! Each bartender we've had has been very sweet and knowledgeable - I highly recommend this place for a nice evening. They also post weekly events on their instagram. read more

Liberty & Plenty Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great place with wonderful spirits. Tiny but cozy, Sarah behind the bar is fabulous . Ask for a taste, get a "communion cup", bigger than a thimble but enough to taste the spirit. The overproof rum is award winning and outstanding as are the bourbons. The world needs more Liberty and Plenty! read more

The drink are always on point. Spirits are outstanding. There is option of doing a Distillery tour and there are often special events and live Music on the weekend. This is a hidden gem in Durham not to be missed. read more

Nice distillery and staff! There are dozen or so cocktails on the menu and it's part of the Social District so open containers are allowed. The Honeybee Revised cocktail is refreshing and delicious! I also bought a Bottle of the Bronze Bull Spirit Bourbon aged in a Honey and Fig Barrel for $70 and looking forward to trying it! read more

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We had walked by here before and even peeked inside but finally decided to stop in on a quiet Friday before Christmas (we joked that the locals were out because everyone else was traveling for the holidays). When we first entered, we were the only ones there, but after a while a few other parties filled up. This is a woman-owned distillery and bar, which we support. My wife enjoyed her grasshopper cocktail and I had a flight of rum -- the coffee rum is amazing! The bartenders were friendly and the decor was festive (for the holidays). We had a nice talk with the staff about Durham, real estate, political opinions, etc. The interior is a little small but in warmer months, you can drink on the patio. We will be back. read more

Joey was our bartender today and he was really cool. We talked about rums and we enjoyed it a lot. He served us a damn good Espresso Martini and it helps us to choose a bottle of white rum of the distillery. As a French person who lived on a French island in the Caribbean we have an incredible collection of rums at home so now we have one more bottle from Liberty & Plenty Distillery. Joey made us feel welcome. I like the Idea to have live music on the weekend to make the ambiance more cosy. read more

Liberty & Plenty Distillery - Damn good Espresso Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The black manhattan is a reason to come here, as are there various spirits they make in-house. Service is attentive and friendly.

New distillery short distance down the street from the Durham Food Hall. Very cute small space with live music on Saturday. Bartender made some tasty cocktails. The specialty cocktails are wonderful and the classic bourbon drinks were on point. We were here on a rainy day, look forward to trying on a nice day with their outdoor seating open. read more

Liberty & Plenty Distillery - a table and chairs outside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great selection and service! Such a small and easy to miss spot. We've been multiple times and will be back. There is a great selection of spirits, both in-house and other, and the staff is kind and welcoming. The space is small but there are plenty of niche spaces for small groups to gather and enjoy. Definitely worth stopping in for a drink! read more

This is a GREAT place, yet to be discovered by most. Its not a get loud and drunk place, which I like. Its a good place to rock your blazer and enjoy the great selection of drinks. The young bartender here is very crafty and is also very helpful at finding the right drink for you. P.S. .. I forgot to take pictures but it's very nice inside and outside. read more

Creative and fun cocktails and smooth liquors set this cool place apart. I look forward to returning for live music. Rhonda Robichaux was fantastic, hope to hear her on the patio again. The brick and wrought iron give it a NOLA vibe, and the bartenders were very talented and spirited mixologists. read more

10 out of 10 experience! Joy is the best and made this distillery experience amazing! The cocktails were outstanding. If you like well crafted cocktails with awesome service and a beautiful atmosphere you should go here. read more

We enjoyed the bourbon derby and the cosmo. We'll be back to try more. The space is great.