A distillery visit is bound to end up on the bucket list of any burgeoning spirits lover. But what if we told you that some places actually let you stay at the distillery? It’s true! You can sleep a stone’s throw away from the pot stills, and practically wake up among the barrels. Make room for a new entry on your bucket list, because we’ve selected a few of the best distillery sleepovers.
Ardbeg Distillery
Islay
Without a doubt, Ardbeg is one of the most recognizable Scotch whisky distilleries. Located on Islay, easily the most iconic Scotch whisky island, the distillery’s success mirrors the overall growth of the Scotch whisky industry. Along with it, we’ve seen the increase in whisky tourism on Islay. No matter the season, whisky enthusiasts swarm down on the island to migrate from distillery to distillery. During Fèis Ìle, the island’s annual whisky festival, Islay’s population triples.
Providing breathtaking sea views on the south coast of Islay, Ardbeg’s Seaview Cottage is nestled at the heart of the distillery. This distillery sleepover is the former home of the distillery manager, but it was completely refurbished in 2013. Today it sleeps up to six people in three en-suite bedrooms. Seaview Cottage is quirky and charming, and is the ultimate Ardbeggian abode.
The Distillery
London
By far the most metropolitan option on this list is The Distillery, a four-floor Valhalla for the discerning (gin) drinker. This working distillery in the center of London’s Notting Hill neighborhood is the home of Portobello Road Gin, as well as The Ginstitute, a gin-blending experience.
Then there are the bars. GinTonica has a menu of 100 gins from all over the world which are expertly matched with mixers and garnishes. Or if you fancy a change of scenery, hop on over to the other signature bar, The Resting Room. Of course, you’ll also find three boutique rooms situated on the top floor of The Distillery.
Ardbeg Distillery
Glenora Distillery
Nova Scotia
Probably as famous for its legal battle with the Scotch Whisky Association as for its whisky, Glenora Distillery is maybe the most Scottish distillery outside of Scotland. Located on the remote Cape Breton Island, it’s easy to see why Scottish immigrants flocked to this part of Canada in the 1800s. Its beauty resembles the Scottish Highlands.
Accommodation for a distillery sleepover at Glenora is plentiful. All located on the distillery grounds, you’ll find self-contained log chalets, as well as a country inn with a restaurant and a pub. If you’re lucky, you’re there on a night with live music, or maybe even a traditional ceilidh.
Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
Virginia Beach
When you think of coastal distilleries, Virginia is probably not the first place that comes to mind. However, inside a 5-star working hotel, you’ll find the Tarnished Truth Distilling Company; crafting spirits under the watchful eye of the Atlantic.
The oceanfront Cavalier Hotel is over a century old and has welcomed ten U.S. presidents, countless celebrities and distinguished guests from all over the world. The hotel itself is an architectural beauty, and has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. It recently reopened after an $85 million renovation.
The distillery sits where the original laundry facility of the hotel used to be. Here it produces vodka and gin, along with rye and bourbon whiskey. From the hotel’s The Hunt Room Restaurant you can see the distillers at work thanks to a giant window that looks into the distillery.
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Isle of Raasay
Legal distilling only arrived on Scotland’s Isle of Raasay in 2017. But once it finally arrived, it did so in style. Isle of Raasay is a small island with just a few hundred residents. Located across from the Isle of Skye, a small ferry crosses only a few times each day, making Raasay Distillery one of the more remote whisky distilleries of Scotland.
But once you’ve arrived, there’s no need to worry about missing the last boat. Raasay offers luxury accommodation within the same building as the distillery, a Victorian-era villa called Borodale House. Some of its bedrooms are blessed with the most stunning views of the Cuillin mountains across the sound on Skye.
Marble Distilling Co.
Colorado
Marble Distillery is a zero-waste facility at the base of the Elk Mountains in Colorado. It lends its name from the process of filtering its spirit through crushed Yule marble. Located in the heart of Carbondale, this is the paragon of tranquility, especially compared to the busy slopes of Aspen or the bustling city of Denver.
The Distillery Inn is housed within the distillery, so guests can truly sleep with the stills. The Marble Bar (cut from, what else, Yule marble) is where you can try Marble Distilling’s different spirits—which range from vodka and liqueurs to whiskey—either neat or in a cocktail. Naturally, there are also two Tesla charging spaces available on the distillery site.
Before you embark on your distillery sleepovers, get a taste for what’s in store.
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