Local Spirits: Six Pennsylvania Distilleries You Can Visit

bottles of ridge runner spirits
A selection of Ridge Runner spirits.

Today is Craft Distillery Day, and there’s nowhere better than Pennsylvania to find a diverse selection of craft distilleries cooking up an eclectic selection of spirits made from locally grown grains. You can find them in virtually every corner of the state. Here is a list of six that offer unique beverages and tasty treats that will give you a true taste of Pennsylvania.


Barrel 21 – Centre County

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Bartenders at Barrel 21 Distillery mix up signature cocktails using the distillery’s own locally sourced craft spirits.

An expansion of Otto’s Pub & Brewery in State College, this distillery and fine dining establishment opened in 2015. It features a wide variety of dishes sourced from local farmers and markets, and a lineup of locally sourced spirits and uniquely named cocktails.

barrel21distillery.com


Blackbird Distillery – Jefferson County

moonshine in bottles
Hand-crafted moonshine from Blackbird Distillery.

Located just outside Brookville in Jefferson County, Blackbird Distillery keeps it old-school with their hand-crafted moonshine made from local corn. They also offer a line of homemade sauces, smoked meats and cheeses, wings, and other goodies.

blackbirddistillery.com


Eight Oaks – Lehigh County

eight oaks distillery sign
Eight Oaks Distillery

You can find Eight Oaks spirits in stores across the state, including the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and the Easton Farmers Market, but they also offer food an entertainment in their tasting room near New Tripoli in Lehigh County. They feature a classic American spirit with their Authentic Apple Jack  that is distilled from apple cider.

eightoaksdistillers.com


Mason Dixon – Adams County

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The whiskey, rum and vodka found at Mason Dixon, the Adams County distillery have an historic backstory. Each bottle is produced — at least partially — from grain grown on A Gettysburg battlefield. Mason Dixon also offers a menu of fresh comfort food inspired by cuisines around the country and sources what ingredients it can from local farms. Some items are even grown in a garden on site.

masondixondistillery.com


Ridge Runner – Fayette County

bottles of ridge runner spirits
A selection of Ridge Runner spirits.

Opened in 2015, Ridge Runner Distillery in Chalk Hill, PA offers tours of the distillery and a line of spirits including whiskey and flavored moonshine made from corn grown on the property.

ridgerunnerdistillery.com


Social Still – Northampton County

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Adam Flatt shows barrels of spirits aging in what used to be a historic bank.

Located inside a 100-year-old bank in Bethlehem, PA, Social Still is a distillery, restaurant and tasting room that offers cocktails and a scratch kitchen with an eclectic menu. Social Still makes a variety of spirits in small batches, including vodka, rum, gin and whiskey and most are made with 90 percent Pennsylvania-grown grains. The whiskeys are the star of the show.

socialstill.com