Craft Connection Gets into Cincinnati Distillery Tours

Craft Connection began offering Cincinnati Brewery Tours in May, 2014. Throughout the years, the best Cincinnati Brewery Tour has increased from four to 17 breweries. The Cincinnati Craft Beer scene has exploded in the last few years. The timing could not have been better to start offering Cincinnati Bus Tours to these craft breweries. For almost four years, tourists from all over have enjoyed the education and craft beer tastings on their Cincinnati Craft Connection Brewery Tour. The owners, Ben Beachler and Bryan Moritz, have decided Cincinnati, with it’s proximity to Bourbon Country, would be a great spot to add another arm to the successful business; Cincinnati Distillery Tours. 

New Riff Distillery

The first stop on Cincinnati Distillery Tours is New Riff Distillery; a great place to stop, shop, and learn about bourbon! New Riff is located in front of the country’s largest beer and liquor retailer, Party Source. New Riff began distilling spirits in 2014. Their brand new site can be seen from I471 as you cross into Kentucky from Ohio. 

The founder, Ken Lewis, began his career in the spirits business when he opened Party Source in the 70’s. Taxes on alcohol and tobacco in Kentucky were much lower than in Ohio. This is the reason why there are over 50 liquor stores when you cross into Kentucky from Ohio. Ken took advantage of the demand and grew Party Source into THE destination for beer, wine, liquor, and everything in-between. As Ken “retired” he decided to sell his ownership shares to the employees of Party Source. He then used this money to open a brewery called Ei8htball (now closed) and a state-of-the-art distillery, New Riff. It’s a beautiful distillery and a top spot on Cincinnati Distillery Tours. 

New Riff produces vodka, various styles of gin, rye whiskey, and soon their own bourbon which will age a minimum of four years. They age all their barrels in Newport in a massive 60,000 barrel rick house, with more aging space being added. You can join their Ranger Program and get to bottle your own New Riff bourbon, have to wait at least four years though!

Boone County Distilling

Boone County is a less known stop on the Cincinnati Distillery Tours. Located 20 minutes south of New Riff, this distillery is tucked away in an industrial park in, you guessed it, Boone County. There is nothing industrial about this distillery. Once you step in, you’ll immediately feel at home with their almost log cabin-like feel. It’s a cozy tasting room with a small bar to serve their delicious products, excellent merchandise for a bourbon/whiskey lover, and large windows that overlook the distillery. 

Boone Country Distilling is a smaller operation than New Riff. They age their barrels in a rick house located directly behind the distillery. The tour provided by Boone County educates all senses in that guests to see, taste, and smell the aging bourbon in the rick house. They also have bourbon cream (unreal), new make (vodka). 

The Craft Connection Cincinnati Distillery Tours

Guests can join a public Cincinnati Distillery Tour every Saturday afternoon. The public Cincinnati Brewery Tour will stop at one of the above distilleries with 2-3 breweries added. It is a rare and unique experience to see both a distillery and brewery in one adventure. It is quite the learning experience! 

Guests can also request to visit the above distilleries on the Craft Connection private tours. Trips to the distilleries of Lexington and Frankfurt are also available; Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Castle and Key. 

Cincinnati Craft Connection only partners with the best brewers and distillers in the greater Cincinnati region. There are many more distilleries and breweries in the region but it takes time to add new locations to the Craft Connection routes. The Tour Guides are highly trained and, in order to get that way, must go through a training/tour session at each Cincinnati Brewery and Distillery before Craft Connection can take guests to those locations. Stay tuned for even more excellent Cincinnati breweries and distilleries getting added to tour routes soon!