One of the surprises I discovered after moving to Frederick was the rich history of distilling spirits in Maryland. Frederick is a prominent historic town in Maryland, and there are several distilleries near Frederick that are not only fascinating to explore but also inviting to indulge in their craft.
In this article, we’ll dive into the Best Distilleries Around Frederick, each offering tastings and immersive tours that showcase their artistry.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a connoisseur of whiskey or gin, visiting a distilleries can be a fun outing.
Whether you’re savoring a handcrafted spirit or learning about the distillation process, you’re bound to discover something new and exciting. So, grab your friends and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Maryland’s distilling heritage!
The Best Distilleries Near Frederick, Maryland
Map of Distilleries Near Frederick, MD
Tips for Visiting a Distillery
Visiting a distillery is, in many ways, very similar to visiting a winery or brewery. Most perform the distilling and other production onsite and offer tours that educate you on the process.
For a tour, most require a reservation in advance, so check their website (included in each listing below).
Most distilleries (including all in the list below) have a tasting room where you can try their spirits. You can do this either at the end of a tour or simply by walking in.
To truly experience a distillery’s products, you should taste by sipping their whiskey, gin, or other spirits ‘straight’ or ‘neat.
But this is not for everyone, and many distilleries will serve cocktails made from their spirits.
(Have you visited any of these Frederick Area Distilleries? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.)
1. McClintock Distilling Company
Why Visit This Distillery: McClintock Distillery is a landmark in downtown Frederick and a fantastic place to learn about Maryland spirits while sampling them!
Located in a historic building right on Carroll Creek, it’s a must-visit if you’re in Frederick and have any interest in distilling or enjoy whiskey, gin, or other spirits.
McClintock was founded by two young men from the Frederick area, Braedan Bumpers and Tyler Hegamyer. The distillery produces a variety of popular spirits that you frequently see around Maryland.
It’s a great spot to take a tour and enjoy a tasting. While walk-ins are welcome, we recommend making a reservation on their website to ensure your visit.
McClintock produces a variety of Maryland spirits, including rye, bourbon, gin, and vodka. But their standout product (in my opinion) is the Bootjack Rye Whiskey, which is fabulous on its own or in a cocktail.
Speaking of cocktails, we also highly recommend visiting the McClintock Back Bar, located right behind the distillery. We consider it the best cocktail bar in Frederick and a perfect excuse to try more McClintock’s whiskey, gin, and vodka!
2. Tenth Ward Distilling Company
Why Visit This Distillery: Named after the original section of Frederick where it’s located (aka “The Tenth Ward”), Tenth Ward Distilling is a super fun place to visit.
Located in the heart of downtown on E Patrick St., walk in anytime for what will sure to be a fun session of discovering Maryland spirits.
The Tenth Ward produces a broad range of spirits, including mainstays like Genever Gin, Maryland Rye, Smoked Bourbon, and our favorite: Absinthe Nouvelle (made from ingredients such as anise and fennel).
But their menu also has a variety of seasonal spirits and canned cocktails.
Maybe the best reason to visit is the cocktails because the cocktail menu is creative and anything but ordinary. Visits for tastings are easy; walk in whenever you can and maybe check out the events schedule in advance.
A few more notes on Tenth Ward—it’s proudly woman-owned and shares a building with Maxwell’s Burgers, one of the best places to get a burger in Frederick and a perfect spot for after-cocktails!
Book This 30-Day Pass and Visit 4 Frederick and Baltimore Area Distilleries!
3. Dragon Distillery
Why Visit This Distillery: The first small-batch distillery in Frederick to open (2016) was Dragon Distillery on the east side of town. This fantasy-themed venue produces a wide variety of spirits and has a tasting room full of character.
The Dragon Distillery spirits menu includes everything from rye and bourbon to moonshine. Their strength seems to be uniquely flavored sports that create taste sensations different from anything you’ve tried before.
For example, the FigZilla Bourbon is infused with fig and vanilla (delicious), and the Joust Gin has botanicals that lean more towards Indian spices than the usual piney English gins.
The Dragons Den is the tasting room, where you can reserve a table, do extensive tastings, drink cocktails, and order food. They recently solidified their partnership with Old Line Tailgate Co., a local BBQ outfit from which you can order straight from their kitchen.
Dragon Distillery is an interesting, quirky, and fun place to visit, and it should definitely be on your list of Frederick distilleries to visit!
4. Springfield Manor Distillery
Why Visit This Distillery: There’s a lot going on at Springfield Manor. It’s not only a distillery but also a prominent winery, brewery, wedding venue, and historic Inn (a great place to stay near Frederick).
It’s best feature may be the hilltop view it has from a plateau looking over the Catoctin Mountains.
While you won’t get the same intimate distillery tour experience at Springfield as you’ll get at some of the places above, you can taste some great Maryland spirits.
Springfield Manor is known for its Lavender, which is grown in the fields around the property. Their most famous and awarded spirit is the Lavender Gin.
So visit Springfield Manor for the spirits, but also for the views. If some in your party would rather drink wine or beer, this is a great option.
And you can all enjoy the magnificent view.
5. Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
Why Visit This Distillery:You’ll have to drive a little farther from Frederick to get to this distillery, but I can guarantee it’s worth it.
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is in Purcellville, Virginia (about 45 minutes from Frederick), and produces the best whiskey in Virginia. The Roundstone Rye is one of the go-to whiskeys on my shelf. It is a top-quality sipping rye that is as good as any I’ve had anywhere.
They produce several versions of it—cask proof and hot honey rye—and also a great gin. All are worth tasting if you visit Catoctin Creek.
Tours and tastings are booked online (last 1 hour).
If you drive all the way to Purcellville for whiskey tasting, let me give you another solid recommendation. Monk’s BBQ a few blocks away is the best Q in the area. So good!
