What a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. It's in a rural countryside, nestled among some mountains. The tasting room is actually a house on a hill- with great views of the mountains and valley. There is indoor and outdoor seating available- but honestly weather permitting- the outside is the place to be! They have a nice selection of bourbon from which they offer flights. They also have some craft cocktails. We tried the bourbon margarita- what a unique combination and it was very good. The staff were pleasant and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our margaritas and a shared flight outside on Adirondack chairs enjoying the views. Our take home purchase was a bottle of their bottled in bond bourbon which has a very flavorful profile with hints of caramel. read more

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Spent a lovely afternoon sitting on their porch enjoying the view. Also an Old Fashion made with their wheat bourbon. It was smooth. I loved it. The bartender was very helpful directing you to a drink you would like. Great way to send an afternoon with friends. read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - View from Patio- beautiful - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Ragged Branch is one of those places we always enjoy coming back to. The bourbon flights are great and the views are absolutely spectacular. The bourbon margarita is a nice spin and don't forget to say hi to Cooper the dog, who just adds to the laid‑back, welcoming vibe. read more

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First I want to say cooper the dog who is always there is such a little bean. Absolutely love going there to say hi to him. I have had their version of a margarita twice and enjoyed it greatly both times. I love the cute little vibes inside. Definitely a decent stop if you're in the area read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Cooper - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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What a cool place! We met the one of the owners and had burgers from cows they raised. We had stopped in to purchase a barrel, first time going through this process. The staff was very helpful with walking us through and picking the perfect barrel. There are only 5 guys running this entire operation, the distillery, 3 barrel houses, the farm with horses and cows. My hats off to these gentleman for doing great work! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Tasting room - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Amazing distillery with fantastic liquor and staff. The distillery is inside their beautiful big house. You walk into their gorgeous farm kitchen and Cooper their dog comes to greet you! The margarita was amazing! I've never had a margarita with bourbon! Views were absolutely stunning read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Found a great distillery for hubby. Loved the setup. Great service and great beverages! Staff very helpful. Nice place to relax with a beverage read more

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We're from Alabama - The most beautiful view I have experienced in a while. Sit outside in a rocking chair on a fall afternoon at sunset and you will never want to leave. A homey atmosphere with very knowledgeable and friendly staff. On top of a hillside overlooking mountains, fall foliage, and pasture/cows. A precious black lab was running around. My friend and I enjoyed the caramel apple bourbon cocktail. My husband got a bourbon flight. Excellent - he bought two bottles to take home. Stocked with a good selection inside and fun merch. October is the time to come!! We can't wait to come back to VA and spend another afternoon. read more

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Great whiskeys, great cocktails and beautiful view. Great spot to grab a cocktail or two and sit in a rocking chair on the patio and take in the scenery. read more

Our new favorite distillery. Found it on the way to Williamsburg. Look at that view from the back porch. Sit and enjoy your drink in a chair or rocker and enjoy the country air. Be sure to say hello to the owners friendly dog who meanders around meeting all the people. Can't wait to come back. read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Rolling hills, friendly folks, amazing views and great whiskey. Definitely worth a visit!

Beautiful, super fun venue - a former Makers Mark chief distiller (who also helped Whistle Pig get off the ground) had a major hand in the development of this property's bourbons. They have malt and wheat in their mash bills which give their bourbons some sweetness and a lot of complexity. I think their baseline signature bottle will be amazing to use as a base spirit in my old fashioneds and boulevardiers. They're also a beef farm and several of the cattle lounge in the field adjoining the driveway as you drive up from the main road. They looked very fit and happy! This place is worth a visit if you're in Charlottesville... read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - View of their property from their tasting room - doesn't due Justice as Hurricane Ian had just arrived - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I have been here twice. Staff is very helpful and is very good making recommendations for your personal preferences. We shared two flights and each had a cocktail. After our tasting we had a Frank. You definitely want to try one of these. They are beef dogs and the meat comes from the cows they have on premise. They feed their cows the mash leftover from making the bourbon. Sit on the patio! The view is amazing!! I went home with some frozen hot dogs, hamburger, and ribeye steaks. Had the steaks the other day! Delicious!! read more

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Beautiful! I could have sat on that porch in the rockers all day long. All. Day. Long. Great cocktails. We tried the old fashioned and the bourbon margarita. Good service - very knowledgeable. The star of the show was the view which the pictures do no justice, and the two lab furry residents we made friends with. Gunner and Cooper I believe were their names. They also have a great merch room. Just lovely all around! read more

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Came in after driving what seemed to be the "middle of nowhere." You will see a big house on the hill: that is the tasting room. Once we walked in the visit changed dramatically: very good bourbon and Dave, who works the bar, was friendly as well as knowledgeable about their product. I got two flights (a bit pricey at $15 each) but it was good quality. Their Master Distiller used to work at Makers as their Master Distiller and they have a good Wheated Bourbon, we also enjoyed their Rye (some spice notes but sweeter than many). The toast of the visit was their Cowboy (122 proof and fantastic). The room was pleasant to sit but they also have a lovely deck where you can sit and enjoy your bourbon. It was colder that day so we stayed indoors. Overall, a great stop, it reminded me of Three Boys Farm Distillery in Frankfort as they grow their crops used for the mash and they feed it to their cows and sell beef. read more

An absolutely beautiful setting!! The old fashioned was tasty. We were told the bourbon margarita is their most popular drink. Will definitely try it next time. We loved sitting in the rocking chairs enjoying this gorgeous view on this beautiful day!! The workers were very helpful. read more

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It's my all-time favorite whiskey/bourbon! I visited Ragged Branch two years ago and fell in love with their whiskey selections the moment I tried a flight. It was an unplanned stop on a day full of wineries but this one turned out to be the greatest stop of that trip. Why? Because I was introduced their signature wheated bourbon. I'm still learning and growing as a whiskey connoisseur, but one thing I can say is that all of my fellow whiskey loving friends have really enjoyed the taste, smoothness, and finish of this bourbon whenever I bring it out. I was happy to be back two years later to replace the bottle that I had been dreaming about since it ran out. About the property: The Distillery itself is very nice and is located on a hillside that includes a nice "home" (the tasting room). As soon as you walk in it kind of feels like you're visiting a luxurious farm house--they have a really nice bar, decent indoor seating area, and a very nice kitchen which is right near the entrance. The outdoor area is likely the real winner though--they have a nice long porch area with traditional rocking chairs and tables for you to enjoy a drink, all while gazing over the Charlottesville mountainsides. I'm already counting down the next time we take a road trip to Charlottesville. Ragged Branch will forever be a permanent stop to each time I'm in town. read more

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How have I not reviewed Ragged Branch yet?! I absolutely love it here, and this is one of our favorite places to start a nice day off. They have some signature cocktails, but also have a rotating menu as well. I've yet to have a bad drink here, and I'm sure they'll make a recommendation if you're unsure of where to start. Their porch/covered patio are the perfect place to enjoy a drink or two - but they are not dog friendly (other than service animals) so make sure to leave your pup behind. They do have two dogs on premises if you're lucky enough to have them say hello! Also - they sell their farm-raised meat. If you plan ahead properly - bring a cooler, or make this your last stop before heading home. Easily one of the best steaks I've ever had! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Super sad they're not servIng food at Ragged Branch anymore. Those burgers were some of the best! They apparently still sell packaged meats if you want to buy and make @ home. The atmosphere here is great--it's basically like being home except with a much better view with their porch and outside patio overlooking the mountains. You have the option of doing a tasting as well as trying some of their cocktails. However there is a two drink limit so you can either try two cocktails, or do the tasing and cocktail combo to hit your limit. The staff here is very friendly. I've come in with larger groups (10 people) and they've never had an issue getting to everyone or delay in orders. I would give Ragged Branch 4 stars, but with the food option no longer there, it makes it harder to justify trips here because the food was better than the whiskey. read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This place is amazing. The views are absolutely beautiful. I'm not a whiskey/bourbon kinda person but thought I'd give it a try. They have mixed cocktails which i absolutely loved. The margaritas is AMAZING. I can dip those bad boys all day long. Sadly it's a two drink max thanks to Va laws. The staff here are amazing, Alex the owner comes and chats with people. They sell amazing steaks too. And added bonus.... The labs running around the property that come up with toys for you to play with them. 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

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Such a cool spot! As with all the distilleries, there's a 3 oz max while you're here. But, that can get you a flight and one of their delish cocktails, so you definitely can try a lot for those 3 oz. This is THE spot to watch the sunset. The patio overlooks the mountains, and has a spectacular view. They have fire pits out as the weather gets chilly. We love picking up some of their locally-raised beef when we come here. It's very reasonably priced, and the steaks we have grilled up have all been excellent! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Wow and Wow. Absolutely beautiful location and what has quickly become my top three bourbon. The Double Oaked wheater is better than nearly every sub-$200 I have ever had. It rivals EHTaylor and Woodford Double Oak for primacy in my book. Great bar and facility at the RR with some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Be sure to stay to the left when you pull in as the fellahs down at the barns to the right are less happy to see visitors. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous grounds and view. Delicious bourbon. A lovely building housing the tasting room, shop, and restrooms. An entirely lovely experience. We tasted several bourbons, sat on the verandah for a while, and then bought two different bourbons before leaving. Highly recommended stop on your Charlottesville trip! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Lovely grounds - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Second stop here, and both were delightful. Think distillery with a destination winery view. The weather today was less than delightful, not living up to sunny and 50, but staying overcast and mid forties. In spite of that, warm hospitality, a clear tent blocking the wind, delicious bourbon, and Scout-the distillery dog made for a delightful afternoon. A standard flight was great and topping that off with a Shotgun shell cocktail made me glad my wife is not a fan of whiskey and able to drive us. By far the show stopper at Ragged Branch is the unbeatable vista of ridge after ridge of our gorgeous Appalachian. read more

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Beautiful place! Came here with 20+ business school classmates after a hike and they handled it really well. All of us ordered food and a handful did the whiskey tasting. Whiskey tasting is super affordable, if I remember correctly it was 4 generous tasting for $13. There is a limit to how much alcohol they can serve you. Food wise they have two different types or burgers which I recommend and they also sell ground beef meat, which several of us bought. Gorgeous view and definitely a nice place to come and relax with a larger group of friends. They have a fireplace outside and inside. Bathroom and the entire place is super clean. I believe it used to be a really nice house that has been turned into a whiskey tasting room/restaurant. Definitely worth the drive! read more

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Correction- hubby enjoyed everything! Lovely bourbon distillery not far from wineries and keswick hotel.

My wife and I have been wanting to visit here for quite a while. It is very easy to get to and find. It is just 3.5 miles or so right off of I64 on the out skirts of Charlottesville. The drive up to the tasting room area is pretty and gives a good view of the house and farm. The tasting room is really a house and is very nice. There is an inside bar with bar stools and seats near a fire place with a tv on the wall. The staff at the bar were very nice and friendly and explained how things worked with the tastings. We also decided to have a burger from their meat Pros The place is beautiful with great views. There is indoor and outdoor seating with umbrellas and rocking chairs. Very relaxed atmosphere. The house dog is very friendly. Easy to find and good parking Cons I am sure it is an ABC thing but only 3 ounces per person can be served and it is $9. That is steep for 3 ounces, IMO No other options for alcoholic drinks. This place would be a lot better place to hang out for a while if they served craft beer or something on the patio. We ordered the house burger for lunch and asked for it to be close to well. It was medium at best. The rye bourbon is about 2.5 years old. It has potential but is still a little young for me. The wheat bourbon was pretty good and is about 4 years old but is $50 a bottle. I know craft bourbon has to charge more than large distilleries but it wasn't worth that to me. Beautiful place and very well done overall. read more

I loved the setting of this distillery, and only 20 minutes from my house means I'll definitely be back. Ragged Branch sits on top of a hill with truly one of the best views in the area; it's essentially on the edge of a mountain bowl. You have the distillery and barn at the bottom of the hill and the mountains and sunset in the distance. The Tasting room is really just a beautiful house, with a patio with plenty of tables with umbrellas for enjoying your bourbon outside. They make wheated and rye bourbon whiskey and they're both so delicious and smooth. I preferred the Rye because it seemed a bit less sweet, but still extremely smooth, with plenty of flavor. The Wheated was also delicious, but somehow even being a strong liquor it held a sweetness like honey that was a bit too much for me. They have an amazing cocktail list, I got the Ragged Old Fashioned which was very tasty. Sweet, but balanced by the bitters, and the bourbon flavor came through well, enhancing the cocktail rather than overpowering it, though it did seem to be a nice, strong measure. I want to try all the other cocktails, too, so like I said, I'll be back. They only allow each guest to have two drinks, which equals either two cocktails or one tasting (of both the whiskeys) and one cocktail. They also don't allow children under 12 in the tasting room, but they're free to hang out outside on the patio/in the yard, so if it's rainy, don't plan to head there with your whole family. read more

Beautiful location and delicious drinks. Enjoyed a quick drink with their farm dog. Will definitely visit whenever we're camping! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

If you enjoy bourbon & a view this is a must stop. The bourbon was tasty. There are two choices for tastings & several drink options. The tasting room is located in the house on the hill. There are beautiful views out back. Great way to spend your afternoon. read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Drink options - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Amazing views and excellent drinks. I'll be drinking about the bourbon margarita. Such a hidden gem! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Old fashioned. Great drink but the bourbon margarita is the real winner. My husband enjoyed the whiskey flight too! - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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If your company ends up spontaneously buying 2 bottles of whiskey.... I think that's always a good sign! The venue is basically a house renovated as a distillery. I don't think I saw the actual machinery for distilling process, which would be cool, if they offer a tour! It couldn't get any cozier. Just felt like we were visiting a good friend's house (very rich friend apparently LOL) and casually catching up by the fireplace. My friend and I basically tried all four cocktails on the menu and oh boy, they were generous with their whiskey pours! But the subtle sweetness really made the entire experience enjoyable as we didn't leave with bad, sweet lingering taste in our mouth. My boyfriend tried the whiskey flight ($9), such a bang for the buck! He ended up buying a bottle. We also bought another bottle as a gift. What makes RB superb is their view. The property overlooks a vast hill and the view is breathtaking, especially during sunset. Grab yourself a cocktail and enjoy it outside to make your experience the fullest. They have ample tables and chairs to accommodate everyone. Also, they have a family dog that just wanders around from table to table. THE BEST. read more

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Michelle is amazing..she has tons of energy and pizazz and gives unbelievable recommendations! This place is on the way to Lynchburg and a great place to stop. The owner makes an appearance since the tasting room is in his dining room. His dog Bootlegger is also in and out of the tasting room...great black lab. Now let's talk rye and wheated bourbon...I am not usually a fan but they are tasty. I had a strawberry fizz, the drink of the week and it was delicious. Glad we stopped before they closed. They're open until 6:00 pm Thursday through Sunday! read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Their menu...you get 3 oz each so that's either 2 drinks or 2 tastings or one of each... - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Really neat place with free-range cows to greet you. My party all tried the premium flight to start, but we also tried the margarita and warm seasonal mulled cider with bourbon as an add on cocktail. It was snowing outside, but the heaters under the tent made for a great experience. Overall, great double bourbons and mixed drinks. Pleasant ambiance with dogs and cows and friendly service. Highly recommended! read more

This place is amazing. Cocktail program is over the top and only $12. Flights are $9. They make all the mixers and colas from scratch! Josh the bartender is amazing. The view is out of this world and they also have grilled hamburgers from there cattle farm. I am pretty sure Uber will Drive you here from Cville! My wife and I will be headed back soon for a date day! read more

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No food, service and knowledge was fantastic. Cocktails were delicious. Flight was a good option. Ambiance was warm and welcoming

Very unique experience! The house is awesome and the tasting room is very cool. I loved that you drive through the cows as you approach the house. We weren't able to see the distillery at the time, but I'd go back to check it out. The bourbon is ok. It's not fantastic, but it's unique. It's a little more earthy than I like. I typically drink Bullet Bourbon, and honestly prefer that to this. Their cocktails are cool, but they are only allowed to serve you more than two or a tasting and a cocktail. I'd have liked to have tried a second drink after I had the tasting and cocktail. They would also use more snacks, and maybe then they'd be able to serve you more. We did get a couple of steaks from their fridge. The meat was packed two days prior, and it seems like it'll be good. We're cooking it tomorrow, so I'm hit side how they are yet. The bourbon is super expensive though! It's like $48 a bottle and not worth the money in my opinion. Overall a cool experience to have a drink or two there and I might revisit it if I'm up that way again. read more

Ragged Branch Distillery - Cocktails menu and a tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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After touring the state of KY bourbon trail recently Ragged Branch has hit the nail on the head with some fantastic Bourbon. I Love everything about this distillery the workers are down to earth friendly and helpful. Not only do you get a great bourbon tasting or cocktails but they also offer hamburgers that looked delish. Made with Beef raised by the farm. Ragged Branch is definitely a place to add to our visit and hopefully yours as well. I Look forward to bringing some friends back up in October. read more

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Beautiful scenery in Albemarle County for a distillery! Josh was helpful even though the tasting room wasn't open, we will return to buy angus beef and sample the bourbon. In the meantime, we have a bottle to try at home read more

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A homey space with excellent bourbon, Ragged Branch Distillery is a heaven for bourbon lovers and liquor drinkers alike. I'm no expert in bourbon, but I might become one after my visit to Ragged Branch Distillery. They only make bourbon here, but what I tasted was excellent. The tasting room sits in the middle of a large house with some impressive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There's also ample outdoor seating on an luxuries patio along with grills for the steak they also sell here. They offer a straight up bourbon tasting and along with various cocktails. I've already mentioned the bourbon being excellent, and the mixed drinks also help convey the quality of the bourbon. I really enjoyed the The Marksman (bourbon, cherry, bitters) and the Ragged Mule (bourbon, ginger beer, lime, and mint). It's places like Ragged Branch that makes me resent the ABC laws limiting spirit consumption. Quality ingredients and quality bourbon - you'll find both at Ragged Branch. read more