Very informative and thorough tour with great tasting bourbons and products to choose from

Had a really nice time touring Cavalier Distillery! The history alone is worth the visit, but the tasting really sealed the deal. We did the extra tasting of the Old Cavalier (highly recommend!) and couldn't leave without the Hye Rye, the Old Cavalier, and that incredible Bourbon Cream. Love seeing the dedication that goes into hand-bottling every single bottle. These will be staying well-stocked in my bar from now on! We'll be back for sure. Here's to the Cavalier Distillery! read more

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We did the advanced tasting with the addition of the Old Cavalier. The tasing was delightful. The products are well crafted, and the ambiance of the tasting room was very enjoyable. I would recommend this tasting to anyone in the Virginia Beach area, and I would recommend the additional pour of the Old Cavalier. My only critique would be that we seemed pressed for time and a bit rushed. Maybe allow a little more time for the tour/tasting so the customers have more time to savor. read more

Fun way to spend a bit of time on vacation. Interesting stories and great way to learn a bit about Tarnished Truth read more

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I Love the Tarnished Truth Bourbon Cream.... I order it regularly.... but probably won't in the future because there is ALWAYS an issue with shipping....either bottles get damages or the order is significantly delayed....it is too bad because if they could figure out their shipping issues, they would do amazing. Love their product but shipping sucks!! read more

We went here for a tour. The distillery is located inside of the hotel Cavalier. There were about 10 of us and it took about 45 minutes. This is definitely a small batch type of set up. They do everything except age the barrels in a small area. The tour is similar to other distillery type tours. We then went into a tasting room area which was very nice. We tried 4-5 samples of their various batches. They have a bourbon, a rye whiskey, and others. The bourbon and rye were both good. You can buy a bottle there or at the local ABC store in Va Beach. It was a good time overall read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Phenomenal product with an amazing and impressively historical facility. The tour and tasting were incredible, and the tour guide absolutely ruled. HIGHLY recommended! read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Tasting room - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Stopped by Tarnished Truth after having beverages at our hotel bar and realizing that the distillery was just down the block. The distillery is in the lower level of the Carlisle Hotel - simply magnificent building from the early 1900s. The Hunt Room is an old dark, handsome bar with great service and kind staff. We would have loved to have spent hours here and around the property. We will return and perhaps have a bite to eat next time, as well. read more

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Did a tasting with the guys. Wonderful tasting. Priced super well and the hosts were amazing. They have two type of tours which is facility and tasting tour or extended tasting tour but we ve been to so many the extended made sense to us. Hosts were so knowledgeable and awesome to hang out with. All selections were great and sequentially properly placed. Would definitley come here again. We wanted to try the attached bar but it wasnt open at the time. read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

If you ever have the opportunity to take the Distillery Tour & Tasting at the Tarnished Truth Distillery, please do so. You will not be disappointed at all!!! The Distillery was located in the lower level of The Cavalier and opened promptly at 2pm on Sunday. I arrived at the Distillery around 1:30pm and was a little nervous when I saw the 'Closed' sign in front of the entrance but once I asked around, the staff told me that it should be open at 2pm and they were right. Once all parties were present, we were guided through the Distillery and learned an abundance of knowledge about bourbon, how it originated and the process of how the machines and barrels turn it into drinkable spirits. My favorite part was actually being able to taste the fermented grains in the Fermenter machine located in the Distillery; it wasn't as bad as I thought lol. Once the tour was over, we headed to the Tasting Room and sampled four of their bourbons. Each bourbon had a different flavor profile but my favorite was the Bourbon Cream Liqueur. The Tour & Tasting was about an hour long and at the end, we perused through the gift shop before heading out. You definitely don't have to be a bourbon fan to enjoy this experience. Our tour guide was absolutely amazing and shared with us that the Distillery was created by two Virginia Beach natives which I absolutely loved! If you are looking for something fun and unique to do in the area, definitely check out the Tarnished Truth! read more

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Booked the Distillery Tour & Tasting in advance for our stay at The Cavalier. Took us longer to get to Virginia Beach than we expected, so we arrived just as the tour was starting, but they were kind enough to make us feel welcome and that we hadn't missed anything. Tour is just the right length of time. No boring spots. Informative in an entertaining way, and what's not to love about the tasting? We got to try four of their bourbons plus a vodka and a gin. All very good. I surprised Husband with a purchase of the "premium" tasting which included a small pour of another bourbon plus a glass to take home. Since we can't purchase their fine products in NC, needless to say we spent quite a "few" bucks in their shop LOL. In addition to bottles, they have canned "mixed" drinks as well. They also sell hats, and shirts and even a smoker if you want to make your own smoked drinks, which we do. Bourbon lovers, highly recommend this, whether you're staying at the hotel or not. read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - We liked them all - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Excellent overview of the Bourbon making process along with the history of the Cavalier and the current distillery. Our guide was super knowledgeable of the products and the process, and he made sure we had an informed and entertaining time. read more

Did the extended tasting experience and added the premium pour. The tasting room was a fun room with great ambiance and the smells from them dumping barrels was incredible. The host was knowledgeable and let the group be very interactive sharing tasting notes. Good variety of spirits to experience. I'd honestly do the tasting again and some of the bottles are only available in site so I'd go back to buy another bottle or two. read more

Our group of eight had a reservation to visit. It was easy to make a reservation online. Our guide was great. She had a bubbly personality and was very interesting. It was great learning about the different products and the distilling process. The tasting room is really nice. It was quaint and made the tasting feel very special. Definitely recommend! read more

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The entire tour and the amazing tastings were all coordinated very well by Tyler and Joe. We would definitely recommend this tour to anybody who's a bourbon lover we ended up buying four different bottles and going there two different times one for the tour and small tasting and then going back a couple days later for the advanced tasting which was amazing. Then afterwards we headed over to the Hunt's room which was beautiful great service great food and great drinks we shared an appetizer of poutine fries a main course of fish and chips and also got smoked old fashioned and a drink we'd never had called rye of the tiger which were both amazing read more

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This was a great tour that I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in learning about the company and its processes. I ended up buying three bottles and some swag from the gift shop after the tour ended. Great people, great insight! read more

We had an amazing time...Emily was fun, warm and sweet. Our tasting was interesting and informative and left with two bags of spirits!!! Thank you for hosting a great time! read more

Whisky? History? Whisky? What else do you need? This place was epic. I took a group of 13 out for a tour and tasting today. We got a lot of history, a lot of facts on distilling and a ton of fun (and a tiny buzz). I would recommend this place to any whisky aficionados or rookies like myself. It was a great time and Karrington was the best tour guide ever. Can't wait to enjoy my bourbon in my souvenir glass when I get back home to AZ! read more

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Wife and I dropped in just ahead of the dinner rush without reservations. We were fortunate, we were immediately seated in a bar area that, frankly, felt like a place that time forgot. It had the ambience of an old time speakeasy, with comfortable chairs, a fireplace, couches, and the vibe that just said "welcome". I had a bourbon flight, wife had a black manhattan. Both were good. For dinner, I went simple with a burger, wife had soup. Both were tasty and complemented by our drinks. The service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing. We finished up just as the crowd was rolling in, realizing how fortunate we were to have arrived when we did. When we left, the valet had retrieved our vehicle (notified via app while we paid the check) and it was waiting for us by the door. Great early evening place, we will return! read more

Our tour guide, Tyler, was excellent! He was knowledgeable, prepared to answer questions and had a great sense of humor! The tasting room is beautiful and Tyler provided thorough descriptions of each bourbon we tasted! I would highly recommend this tour and tasting!! read more

Such a fun and educational experience!! Our guide Claire was so great and knowledgeable! Definitely would do it again!! read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

This is my second time doing the bourbon tasting tour. It is always so much fun. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the process of the whole operation as well as the flavor profiles we should be experiencing with each sample. It's a cute little operation with a nice gift shop that includes clothes, knickers knacks, and different Tarnished Truth beverages. It's a fun hidden gem in VB and a must for bourbon lovers! Even if you care for bourbon, I was skeptical until I tried it, I encourage you to at least give it a try. read more

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We signed up for the tour and tasting. The tour was very interesting and informative. Our tour guide was engaging and fun and did a great job answering all of our questions. The tasting was very good and we bought bottles of Discretion (our favorite) and Tarnished Truth. The setting in the historic Cavalier hotel was unique and interesting. read more

Quite the treat. Walked away after a tour / tasting with a lot of booze. I really liked TT moonshine. Bought 2 other bourbons as well. If you're sitting on your ass wondering if you should take the tour and tastings, book now. Friendly service. Nice attention. Great tastings. Great store. The Cavalier is THE spot in VA. DO not miss. Take it from me. Promise you it is good. Expensive to buy, but well worth your $. Support VA Beach. Support VA. #winnerswin. read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Our host was amazing! This was my first time doing something like this and I will definitely be doing it again! Very educating, engaging, and fun experience! 10x10!! read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Tasting list was a wide variety! Our host was amazing!! 10/10 recommend ! - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Be sure to check out this special spot located inside the gorgeous cavalier hotel. I made a reservation a week or so in advance to do a tour. Our tour had 8 people in it which allowed us to ask questions and move through the space easily. Our guide was super knowledgeable, friendly and excited to share the teams work with us! So unique to hear about the small team, the hand bottling, the opening inside the cavalier and their alcohol. Great gift shop to purchase alcohol right on the spot! Reasonably priced. Also, right next door The Hunt Room serves great cocktails featuring their products! read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

My wife surprised me with a tasting at Tarnished Truth Distillery. Do yourself a favor and, reserve a tasting, and take a friend; they'll thank you. A truly impressive operation they have here. 6 people make it all happen, and the results are great. The tasting included a moonshine, their borbon, 11 yr aged Cavalier, and a Bailey's-esqe cream liqueur. All are good. They also sell a vodka, and a gin. The vodka is good, but not as special as the gin, which is amazing. The Cavalier is so smooth also, well worth it. read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - The tasting room. - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I was trying to figure out a fun thing to do for my boyfriend's birthday. He is a big fan of bourbon so I decided to look into a tour at Tarnished Truth. It's a distillery located at the historic Cavalier hotel at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Anyway, I am glad I booked our tour ($20 per person at the time of this review) early because the groups are kept to a maximum of 12 people - a friend of mine tried to book a couple of days later and they were sold out! Anyway, they advise you to arrive 5 minutes prior to your tour - of course we were 10 minutes late, but they were gracious and accommodated our tardiness. Masks are required during the tour. Including us, our group consisted of 10 people, and we were shown the ins and outs of distilling a variety of spirits. At the end of the tour, you get to sample the different products they offer. Of course, you may take your masks off, but we were able to distance from the other parties at a large table and felt very safe. My favorite was the 3 year high rye, very smooth! It was really neat (no pun intended!) to take time to taste and smell the different essences of each drink! You get a tasting glass as a parting gift. Would recommend this tour, and be sure to make a reservation at one of the restaurants after your tour! read more

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This was a great experience for anyone really! Even if you have never been to a tasting it doesn't matter! They are very helpful and give out plenty of information on what to do ! I personally only did the tasting not the tour but still that was amazing. All the different flavors of bourbon and just the warmth each drink gave was fantastic :) read more

Informative and fun tasting experience. Great gift shop too. And the hotel (where the distillery is located) is gorgeous. I'd recommend getting a cocktail at their bar after the tasting and enjoying it on the hotel patio overlooking the garden. read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Spirits tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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One of the smoothest and richest bourbon distillers. Their discretion bourbon is forward smooth. Their three year is rich, smooth and tawny. read more

We really enjoyed the tour and the tasting. The bourbon is delicious. I'm so glad we took the time to do this!

Great experience. Julianne led us through the tasting and a quick tour! Big fan of their single barrel bourbon and rye. The Gin was a real surprise, as I am not a Gin drinker. Take a tour and look for their products in town. The Single barrel offerings can only be bought at the distillery though read more

Tarnished Truth Distilling - Tasting offerings - Distilleries Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

The tour with Julia was absolutely fantastic. She was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable. In fact my favorite part was the pieces of history she sprinkled in about the hotel into the tour. Pls add more! read more

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Went here while on vacation. Really nice distillery. The tour was wonderful and the tasting great! Took home a few bottles! Highly recommend. read more

The Tarnished Truth Distilling Co. is a growing local distillery. They produced 10k bottles in their 1st year and 55k in their 4th year this year (2021). I made reservations for my spouse and I for the tour ($21.47/adult) a couple weeks in advance as a surprise for his birthday, and we had a great time and tried some excellent spirits! -- The Distillery & Tour -- The distillery is located on the bottom floor of the Cavalier Hotel in what used to be the laundry facilities. It's a small location and a small team, and they clearly put a lot of passion and knowledge into their work. We enjoyed the 20 minute tour and getting to learn more about the process. I definitely learned a lot! There is then additional time spent in a guided tasting in their private tasting room. -- The Sips -- (Prices current as of Dec '21) * Bourbon Mash Moonshine (90 proof; made of 70% corn, 18% wheat, 12% barley): Unaged. This is their "before version" of their whiskey, which is still aging. This has a slight burn but not like cheaper spirits that burn with ethanol. ($25.99/375mL, which is $0.07/mL) * High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey (86 proof; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley): Aged 3 years. Great aromas developed during the aging process. This whiskey gives you the sweetness from the corn and the spices from the rye. It's not as sweet as most bourbons and not as spicy as most ryes but rather is in-between. Would be good in cocktails. ($39.99/375mL, which is $0.11/mL, or $59.99/750 mL, which is $0.08/mL) * Old Cavalier Reserve Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whisky (86 proof; 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley): Aged 11 years. Single barrel means they only open one barrel at a time, and this is their most premium product. The higher corn and lower rye content results in a lot of butterscotch flavor. It's smooth and well rounded. This is a limited product exclusive to their distillery (whereas their other products are distributed outside and throughout VA). My spouse's favorite. ($54.99/375mL, which is $0.15/mL, or $99.99/750mL, which is $0.13/mL) * Old Cavalier Bourbon Cream Liqueur (32 proof or 16% ABV; their High Rye spirit blended with cream and sugar): Made with their 3 year aged High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Their "answer to Baileys" (which is 17% ABV), it's similar to Irish Cream but richer and bolder in taste with caramel and vanilla notes. Sometimes they are unable to keep it in stock (the pandemic has made it challenging to get things delivered). Definitely tasty. ($29.99/750 mL, which is $0.04/mL) * AVA Vodka (80 proof; 100% corn): Triple distilled. Has a pretty clean taste, but we found it to be not as smooth as other pricier options. Great quality for value. ($19.99/750mL, which is $0.03/mL) * Fourth Handle Coastal American Gin (90 proof; 100% corn vodka redistilled with botanicals and pink peppercorn): Very floral and smooth. I don't usually like gin, but I enjoyed this. ($34.99/750 mL, which is $0.05/mL) * Coastal Cocktails (7.5% ABV) Made using their spirits, these canned, carbonated cocktail options include Grapefruit, Orange Crush, Vodka Cranberry, and Whiskey Lemonade. The AVA Vodka is featured in the vodka cocktails, and the 3-Year High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey is in the lemonade cocktail. I love that they're made with real juice! The ABV is low for a "cocktail," which can generally range from 7%-37%. Available at most grocery stores. ($12/355 mL, which is $0.03/mL) -- Takeaways -- Their spirits are smoother than many, especially those at comparable prices. Lots of pleasant aromas. We also learned a lot, like that the flavor and color comes from charred barrels, which are one time use. We would definitely recommend a tour and tasting! -- Pandemic Notes -- They have a sign posted that says 6 feet, but with 12 people attending the tour squeezed into the small space, there was no way to social distance. Masks were not required. read more

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Freaking phenomenal!!! As a lover of all things tasting and tours, this is an absolute must!!!! I actually stopped in the on a Saturday looking to do an actual tasting and was greeted she assisted by the most fab gent James, hi friend!!! He was so passionate about describing everything!!! We were able to get a small rare before purchase and did not, I repeat did not leave empty handed at all!!! During the course of my visit, my new bourbon friend was kind enough to let me know there was a tasting and tour on Sunday at 2pm and if I wanted to I could join in on that tour. Since my dad was willing to be my tasting partner I signed us up!!!! Full circle to Sunday when we came back for the tour and tasting. Our tour guide was Anna and she was the best!!!! She gave us a history lesson and to my surprise this distillery is the only one in the US located in the bottom of a hotel!!! Talk about being an original!!! It was cool to learn about the owners who were able to dream big together and make this place a reality!!! Anna gave us so much information and took us from grain to glass as we got a first class education of how they make their bourbon whiskey, vodka and moonshine!!! They take the ultimate pride, as they should that each bottle is filled and labeled by hand in house!!!! As if the visuals of the distillery do not captivate you, the tasting at the end is a perfect ending!! You get to sample each of their spirits!!! I loved them all!!!! The Old Cavalier, straight bourbon aged a cool 9 years was fantastic and good fir a first time bourboner!!! The High Rye, aged 3 years packs a punch with a stronger bite on the finish. The Moonshine is not for the faint of heart because it will test your palette!!! The absolute best and my favorite was the Bourbon Cream!!!! Listen, you can drink it iced, add it to your coffee, pour it over ice cream or in some bread or banana pudding!!! This creamy dreamy lover has a plethora of potential!!!! After all this, you are walked back to the retail space through the Hunt Club, which is beautiful and given your free tasting glass as a thank you gift!!! Listen, for only $20 per person you should be here, go here or have gone here!! A tour, a tasting and several bottles to go home with later, you need to see how the truth can be tarnished!!!! read more

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Perfect start for a date night. I have a new found appreciation for bourbon and will be back to buy more bottles.

If you're a lover of bourbon or you just want to learn about it, I highly recommend checking out this distillery. It's located in the Cavalier Hotel. You'll have to valet your car as there is no self parking. The distillery offers tours for $20 every hour. The tours also include tastings at the end and a free souvenir cup. Star was our tour guide and she was great! She taught us all things bourbon and shared some history about the hotel as well. The tasting room is beautiful too! Be sure to check out the gift shop to purchase alcohol and other souvenirs. read more

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Went on a tour guide at Tarnished Truth and I absolutely loved it. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. This is a pretty small distillery so the tour wasn't super long, the history/location of Tarnished Truth is fascinating. If you are a history buff and like bourbon, check them out! read more

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