Log Still in New Haven, Kentucky is one of many distilleries around the country that offer live music events.
Few things in life go together better than whisky and music. Some whiskey makers, most notably Blackened, even use music to enhance the liquid’s maturation process. In summertime and sometimes year-round, many distilleries add sparkle by hosting live music events, and their distillery spaces can often serve as natural concert venues—with refreshments available, of course! Here's a brief selection of what's doing in music at distilleries around the country, listed in alphabetical order by state.
California
The Hollywood Room at Napa Valley Distillery
Napa
Type of Music: Indie, Jazz, Americana, and Soul
Schedule: Year-round, currently booked through August
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free (Tickets/RSVP required)
napadistillery.com
The Hollywood Room is Napa Valley Distillery’s dedicated craft cocktail bar—not to be confused with its other tasting saloon. Open Thursday through Sunday, events take place year-round.
Connecticut
Sono 1420 American Craft Distillers
Norwalk
Type of Music: Local indie bands
Schedule: Biweekly, Currently booked through August
Refreshments: Drinks and occasionally food
Admission: Free
sono1420.com
Local bands are featured at the tasting room every other Friday. Admission is free and guests can order craft cocktails from the bar during the shows. Occasionally, food is also available from local food trucks.
Illinois
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co
DeKalb
Type of Music: Country
Schedule: Nearly daily
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free
whiskeyacres.com
Whiskey Acres features bands, most of which play country music, on a nearly daily basis. Both whiskey and cocktails are available for purchase during the events, with grub provided by food trucks.
Indiana
“On the Rocks” and “Hot Summer Nights” at Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Nashville
Type of Music: Cover bands, Rock, and Blues
Schedule: Varies
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Varies
hardtruthdistilling.com
This summer, Hard Truth will host two separate concert events: “On the Rocks” is a free series of shows taking place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Hard Truth Restaurant. “Hot Summer Nights” comprises 12 separate concerts, all of which are ticketed, between May and October.
Kentucky
“Summer Patio Series” at Bardstown Bourbon Company
Bardstown
Type of Music: DJs and Pop
Schedule: 8 shows, May through August
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Reservation encouraged
bardstownbourbon.com
Bardstown Bourbon Co. will be hosting eight concerts on their patio this summer. Food and drink are available from Bardstown’s Kitchen & Bar, including whiskey flights and classic cocktails. Although reservations aren’t required, they are encouraged.
“Jammin’ at Jeptha” at Jeptha Creed
Shelbyville
Type of Music: Pop, Rock & Roll, and Country
Schedule: 2 shows
Refreshments: Food and Drink
Admission: Ticketed
jepthacreed.com
“Jammin’ at Jeptha” is Jeptha Creed’s yearly concert series, held at the Shelbyville distillery. There are only 2 shows left this season: on June 10th and August 12th. The bar will be serving both drinks and food at both events.
The Amp at Log Still
New Haven
Type of Music: Rock & Roll and Country
Schedule: Nearly every weekend
Refreshments: Drinks
Admission: Ticketed
logstilldistillery.com
Log Still holds its concerts on an outside stage known as The Amp. The current concert season runs until October with shows taking place nearly every weekend. Though the tasting room is closed during concerts, cocktails can be purchased at bars on the concert grounds.
“The Springhouse Music Series” at Castle & Key
Frankfort
Type of Music: Country
Schedule: 4 shows
Refreshments: Drinks
Admission: Ticketed
castleandkey.com
This concert series from Castle & Key encompasses four shows, taking place on the first Wednesday of each month, on the Springhouse lawn. Bourbon Highballs and rye Old Fashioneds will be available during the shows.
Massachusetts
Boston Harbor Distillery
Dorchester
Type of Music: Various
Schedule: Weekly
Refreshments: Drink and occasionally food
Admission: Ticketed
bostonharbordistillery.com
Boston Harbor Distillery hosts shows every week (often more than one) from Blues, Rock, Jazz, Folk, and R&B bands. Whiskey cocktails are available and food trucks are occasionally on-site.
Mississippi
Cathead Jam Festival at Cathead Distillery
Jackson
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: June 2nd and 3rd
Refreshments: Food & Drink
Admission: Ticketed
catheadjam.com
Before COVID, Cathead Jam was a yearly multi-day music festival hosted by Cathead Distillery. This year marks the event’s official return, with a lineup of seven bands playing across two days. Tickets, VIP packages, and weekend passes are available.
New York
Great Jones Distilling Co.
New York
Type of Music: Jazz
Schedule: Regular
Refreshments: Food and Drink
Admission: Reservation required
greatjonesdistillingco.com
This Manhattan distillery opened in 2021, and while its distillery operation is state of the art, it’s also designed as an entertainment space, with several dining and drinking venues.
Sideshow at Iron Smoke Distillery
Fairport
Type of Music: Rock and Jam Bands
Schedule: Regular
Refreshments: Drinks and food
Admission: Cover charge
ironsmokedistillery.com
With musician Tommy Brunett at the helm, of course, Iron Smoke Distillery has a solid music program. The Sideshow is an outdoor event space, which hosts concerts year-round. The Watering Hole bar is open during these events, with cocktails available for purchase.
Pennsylvania
Altered State Distillery
Erie
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Regular
Refreshments: Food and Drink
Admission: Open to the public
alteredstatedistillery.com
Altered State Distillery has a near-constant flow of live music events. Jam sessions take place every Tuesday, with open sessions every other Thursday—inviting guests to join in on the music-making. Every Sunday it offers a brunch with live music performances.
Pottstown Tasting Room at Manatawny Still Works
Pottstown
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Live music every Friday
Refreshments: Drinks
Admission: Free
manatawnystillworks.com
Manatawny has four tasting rooms spread across Pennsylvania, but all the music happens at its Pottstown location. Here, free concerts are hosted every Friday from a variety of genres.
South Carolina
The Porch & The Field at Firefly Distillery
North Charleston
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Year-round
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Ticketed
fireflydistillery.com
This South Carolina distillery actually has two separate concert venues. The Porch is for smaller shows, hosting local musicians every Saturday afternoon. For larger concerts, Firefly has The Field—a 4-acre outdoor venue. Whiskey and food are available at shows held in both spaces.
Tennessee
Humble Baron at Uncle Nearest
Shelbyville
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Nearly daily
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free
humblebaron.com
The longest bar in the world, Humble Baron opened at Uncle Nearest Distillery back in March. Since then, it’s been hosting live music. Listen to R&B, Country, Rock, and Jazz music while chowing down on Tennessee staples and sipping cocktails and/or flights. First come first serve seating.
Leatherwood Distillery
Pleasant View & Clarkstown
Type of Music: Country/Rock
Schedule: Regular
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free
leatherwooddistillery.com
This veteran-owned and operated distillery offers nearly four shows per week at its Pleasant View and Clarkstown locations. Menu offerings include tasting flights, two whiskey cocktails, and appetizers.
Texas
Iron Wolf Ranch at Iron Wolf Distillery
Spicewood
Type of Music: Country/Southern Rock
Schedule: Weekly
Refreshments: Bourbon and flavored whiskeys
Admission: Varies
Ironwolfranch.com
Events take place nearly every weekend year-round, with free daytime concerts and night shows on the Freedom Stage requiring tickets. Iron Wolf is currently constructing a second venue on its campus for larger live music events.
“The Hye Note” at Garrison Brothers Distillery
Hye
Type of Music: Country and Rock
Schedule: Weekly
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free
garrisonbros.com
Garrison Brothers Distillery hosts a concert series called “The Hye Note”, starting on January 30th and ending August 7th, with shows taking place every Saturday.
Still Austin
Austin
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Regular
Refreshments: Food and drink
Admission: Free
stillaustin.com
From the distillery that brought you a bourbon called “The Musician” comes a concert venue that offers year-round performances. Still Austin also has a rotation of acts that perform on their patio regularly. Cool down with an iced Cold Fashioned or bourbon lemonade.
Wisconsin
Doundrins Distilling
Cottage Grove
Type of Music: Diverse
Schedule: Regular events
Refreshments: Drinks and occasionally food
Admission: Cover charge at door
doundrinsdistilling.com
Doundrins often has R&B nights and cover bands playing blues or folk music. The distillery also hosts dueling piano shows, along with other non-music events like trivia nights, painting classes, and the occasional wrestling show.
