Inspiration
Connecticut Craft Distilleries to Tour and Taste
Photo: Hartford Flavor Company, Hartford
Every season is the perfect time to come out and discover Connecticut’s growing number of craft distilleries, which are turning heads and winning awards from those in the know. Even more exciting, some of these distillers offer on-site tours and tasting experiences, like vineyards and breweries do. You’ll find many of them on the Connecticut Spirits Trail, and be sure to visit these places that are already crafting a name for themselves.
Taste Award-Winning Liqueurs
Hartford Flavor Company, Hartford
The Hartford Flavor Company’s award-winning Wild Moon Liqueurs are a ground-breaking line of all-natural, botanically-infused liqueurs, unlike anything else currently on the market. Their Birch flavor has been named among a 50-state lineup of most unique spirits, while their Rose and Chai Spice flavors have won silver medals in New York World Spirits Competition. Located next door to Real Art Ways, Hartford’s cutting edge art and film destination, the Hartford Flavor Company makes its home in a restored manufacturing building where the first pay telephones were made. Today this innovative space houses not only the distillery, but several other artisans, craftsmen, and small businesses as well.
Sip Farm-Grown Moonshine in the Country
Full Moonshine, Canton
Handcrafted using ingredients like freshly pressed apple cider, maple syrup, cranberry and more, Full Moonshine in Canton distills their unique small batch moonshine at a location that can trace its roots back to 1797. Made in the traditional style on the grounds of Hickory Ledge Farm, Full Moonshine is perfect on its own or mixed into your favorite cocktail recipes. Stop in to their tasting room on a Sunday and sample a Pete’s Maple or Circa 1797!
Sample a Batch in the Litchfield Hills
Litchfield Distillery, Litchfield
The Litchfield Distillery makes its home in an old knitting factory in the state’s northwestern hills. Specializing in exceptionally distilled spirits handcrafted from the highest quality, regionally harvested grains and ingredients, their “Batchers’” series includes five handcrafted, premium spirits: Bourbon Whiskey, Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey Port Cask Finish, Vodka and Gin. The bourbon and gin were awarded silver medals in the 2016 World Spirits competition.
Award Winning Vodka in Bloomfield
Waypoint Spirits, Bloomfield
With almost 11,000 square feet of space in Bloomfield that includes a contemporary tasting room open to the public, manufacturing area and unique event space, Waypoint Spirits passionately craft distills vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum using locally sourced grains and botanicals. In fact, Waypoint Spirits’ Labrador Noon Vodka recently won a silver medal for best grain to glass craft vodka at the 2016 American Distilling Institute's annual spirits competition.
Local Flavor on the Shoreline
Fifth State Distillery
The first distillery to open in Bridgeport (and Fairfield County) since January of 1919, the Prohibition era of the 18th Amendment (which Connecticut never ratified), Fifth State Distillery produces craft, small batch gin, vodka and corn whiskey using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients from grain to bottle. With the motto "Distilling the Spirit of Connecticut,” locally owned and operated Fifth State invites consumers to share the experience of transforming non-GMO, Connecticut-grown grains into high quality spirits, and to sample the nuances of taste and aroma that separate a good spirit from an amazing, deep and complex spirit.
Uncover a Craft Revolution Along the Connecticut Spirits Trail
The Connecticut Spirits Trail includes fine craft spirits makers from all parts of the state, producing everything from clear spirits such as gins, vodkas and moonshines to brown spirits such as whiskies and rums, and specialty items like liqueurs and eau-de-vies. Visit the website to find tours and tasting opportunities and learn more about the Connecticut Spirits Trail passport.
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