From Hickory to Cedar Mountain, hit the road for craft spirits, mountain scenery, cocktails, whiskey, moonshine and seven uniquely Western North Carolina stops.
Western North Carolina may be famous for its mountains, waterfalls, breweries and Asheville’s incredible food scene—but there’s another side of WNC worth exploring:
Our distilleries.
And we’re not talking about seven versions of the same experience.
On this road trip, you can sip cocktails beside the stills in Hickory, visit a family-run distillery in Newton, taste moonshine rooted in mountain tradition near Marion, discover modern grain-to-glass spirits in Old Fort, explore whiskey-making in Black Mountain, experience creative cocktails in Asheville, and finish with authentic mountain moonshine just outside Brevard.
So grab your designated driver, make a weekend out of it, and get ready to discover another side of the mountains.
To Asheville & Beyond presents: The 7 Distillery Tour of Western North Carolina!
Please tour responsibly: Distillery hours, tasting availability and tours can change. Check directly with each location before making the drive, especially if you’re planning the entire route. Never drink and drive.
STOP #1: City Walk Brewing & Distilling — Hickory
City Walk Brewing & Distilling
Start your adventure in Downtown Hickory.
City Walk is a great introduction because this isn’t just a distillery. It’s a brewery, taproom, outdoor gathering spot and cocktail destination rolled into one.
The operation makes beer and most of its spirits on-site, with a 300-gallon copper still and 130-gallon glass column still. Its spirits lineup includes bourbon, vodka and gin, while the adjacent No Entry cocktail lounge gives you a more intimate place to experience what they’re producing.
This is exactly the kind of place that makes a WNC distillery trip fun even when everyone in your group doesn’t drink the same thing.
Why stop: Downtown setting + brewery + distillery + cocktails.
📍 205 Main Ave NE, Hickory, NC
To Asheville & Beyond Tip: Regular public tours are still being developed; the distillery says tours are currently available by appointment for large groups.
STOP #2: Warehouse Distillery — Newton
Head south to Newton and you’ll find a distillery with some serious local roots.
Warehouse Distillery is owned and operated by the Setzer family, who were born and raised in Catawba County. The company says it began in 2015 with a mission to build an appreciation for craft spirits and encourage future generations of entrepreneurs.
And this isn’t simply a place to grab a bottle and leave.
There’s a full cocktail lounge overlooking the distillery equipment, along with live music, special events and food trucks on select dates.
Why stop: Family-owned WNC distillery + cocktail lounge + local atmosphere.
📍 2628 Northwest Blvd, Newton, NC
Important: Warehouse’s website currently says its behind-the-scenes tours are temporarily suspended, so treat this as a distillery/cocktail-lounge stop unless you’ve confirmed a tour directly.
STOP #3: Copper Creek Distillery — Marion
Now we’re getting deeper into the mountains—and into some real North Carolina moonshine country.
Copper Creek is owned by husband-and-wife team Shirleen and Randy Berry, both raised in North Carolina’s Black Mountains.
Their story connects directly to the area’s moonshine heritage. Randy learned the craft from older members of his community and later discovered that moonshine had also been part of his own family’s history. The couple says they use local ingredients and work with other area businesses as part of preserving that mountain tradition.
Their distillery describes itself as the first legal distillery in a four-county area since Prohibition.
Now THAT’S a WNC road-trip stop.
Why stop: Authentic mountain moonshine heritage + family story + free tastings.
📍 2550 US-221 Business, Marion, NC
Their current site lists hours Thursday through Sunday and advertises free tastings.
STOP #4: Modern Alchemist Distillery — Old Fort
Next up: Old Fort—and something completely different.
Modern Alchemist operates inside a restored historic sock factory and combines Appalachian craft with a much more contemporary approach to distilling.
This is true grain-to-glass production: fermentation, distillation, proofing, bottling and packaging all happen right here in Old Fort. Their hybrid still system allows the team to produce multiple styles of spirits.
And here’s what makes the stop especially fun.
The distillery shares its building with the Appalachian Mountain Brewery Outpost & Kitchen, where you can have cocktails made with Modern Alchemist spirits along with craft beer and pub fare.
Why stop: Historic building + modern craft spirits + tastings + cocktails + food and beer under one roof.
📍 78A Catawba Ave, Suite A, Old Fort, NC
Formal guided tours are listed as coming in the future, but spirit flights and the distillery experience are available now.
STOP #5: Oak & Grist Distilling Company — Black Mountain
Oak & Grist Distilling Company
Whiskey lovers, this may be your stop.
Oak & Grist takes a serious grain-to-glass approach to its spirits, using traditional methods and locally grown and malted grains.
Its whiskey begins with regional grain, moves through fermentation and double distillation, and eventually reaches oak barrels for aging. The distillery also produces a Genever-inspired gin.
But don’t picture some industrial warehouse hidden away from the mountains.
Oak & Grist’s venue includes a covered patio with sweeping mountain views, an outdoor garden and a chance to enjoy cocktails surrounded by copper stills, fermenters and the rackhouse.
Even better for this particular road trip: this is one of the stops where you can get a real distillery tour. Oak & Grist currently advertises approximately 40-minute production tours culminating in a tasting of its whiskies and gins.
Why stop: Grain-to-glass whiskey + gin + actual distillery tours + gorgeous mountain setting.
STOP #6: Cultivated Cocktails — Asheville
Welcome to Asheville. Now it’s cocktail time.
Cultivated Cocktails takes the concept in yet another direction.
This family-owned craft distillery and cocktail tavern produces small-batch spirits and then builds its cocktail program around what it distills. Its lineup includes Hazel 63 Rum, Shades of Rosé Gin and Asheville Vodka, among other spirits.
What makes this a particularly good tour stop is that you have options.
Want something quick? They currently offer a tasting of five available spirits without requiring an appointment.
Want more of an experience? Their approximately 45-minute Cultivated Experience includes an overview of the distilling process, spirit tasting and mini cocktail flight.
And you can stick around afterward because the Tavern also serves food designed to pair with the cocktails.
Why stop: Asheville-made spirits + tastings + cocktail flights + food + a polished tavern experience.
📍 161 Charlotte Hwy, Unit A, Asheville, NC
STOP #7: Cedar Mountain Moonshine — Near Brevard
And finally…
Let’s end this trip with some SHINE.
Head south from Brevard toward Cedar Mountain and you’ll find one of the most uniquely Western North Carolina stops on the entire route.
Cedar Mountain Moonshine is a small, family-run operation with a great story. Founder Wes Dearbaugh—aka “Papa Moonshine”—started exploring distilling after retirement, eventually creating what the family says became Transylvania County’s first legal distillery in more than 100 years.
Today you can sample their small-batch moonshine, including fruit-infused varieties—and if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there’s BuckFiddy, their 150-proof moonshine.
During summer, the distillery also hosts Music + Moonshine Friday nights with live local music and rotating food trucks.
And the location makes this stop even better.
You’re only about 10 miles outside Brevard, near DuPont State Recreational Forest and close to the South Carolina state line. Cedar Mountain Moonshine itself specifically tells visitors heading toward Pretty Place to check the chapel’s day-of visitor schedule because access changes.
So if you’re heading down to see Pretty Place Chapel, this is one heck of a stop to add to the adventure.
Why stop: Real mountain moonshine + free tastings + family-owned atmosphere + summer music + an incredible location.
📍 10754 Greenville Highway, Cedar Mountain, NC
Important: This is a small seasonal family business, and they specifically ask people making a long drive to check their current status before coming.
Seven Distilleries. Seven Different Experiences. One Amazing WNC Road Trip.
That’s what makes this tour so much fun.
You’re not driving from one cookie-cutter tasting room to another.
You’re experiencing downtown Hickory, Newton, Marion, historic Old Fort, Black Mountain, Asheville and Cedar Mountain along the way.
Bourbon. Gin. Vodka. Rum. Whiskey. Cocktails. Moonshine.
Historic buildings. Copper stills. Mountain patios. Local families. Small businesses. Appalachian traditions. Modern experimentation.
And some absolutely gorgeous Western North Carolina scenery connecting it all.
This isn’t a drinking tour. It’s a Western North Carolina road trip built around the people, places and craft behind what’s in the glass.
Could You Do All 7 in One Day?
Technically, you could cover a lot of ground—but we wouldn’t recommend trying to experience all seven in a single day.
Make this a weekend.
Spend time in Hickory. Explore Marion and Old Fort. Walk around Black Mountain. Stay in Asheville. Head toward Brevard, chase some waterfalls, explore DuPont, and finish your adventure in Cedar Mountain.
And obviously: designate a driver. Better yet, divide the seven stops across multiple days so everyone can actually enjoy them.
The To Asheville & Beyond 7 Distillery Challenge
Here’s our challenge:
How many of the seven have YOU visited?
1? 3? 5? All 7?
Save this list, send it to the person you’d take with you, and start checking them off.
And if you’ve already visited one of these distilleries, tell us which one—and what we absolutely HAVE to try when we get there.
Because sometimes the best way to experience Asheville…
is to go To Asheville & Beyond.
Please drink responsibly. Tastings are for guests 21+ where applicable. Hours, products, tours and experiences can change, so verify directly with each distillery before traveling.
Article by Moonshiner Gary
