Kings County Distillery Tour in New York

What to Know About Kings County Distillery

• Kings County Distillery is a whiskey distillery founded in 2010 in Brooklyn by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell. The facility originally operated in Williamsburg before relocating in 2012 to the Paymaster Building, a historic structure in the Navy Yards neighborhood. The location is fitting for a distillery—this area once housed all of New York’s whiskey distilleries before Prohibition and the golden age of speakeasies in New York.
• Kings County Distillery quickly earned a reputation for quality bourbon. It has won multiple awards, including the prestigious international spirits competition in San Francisco. The distillery was also named Distillery of the Year in 2016 by the American Distilling Institute, an honor it received again in 2023 at the New Orleans Spirits Competition.
• The distillery welcomes visitors. The guided tour lasts about 1 hour and takes you through the whiskey-making process, from distillation in copper stills to barrel aging. You’ll also learn the difference between whiskey and whisky—two terms for the same spirit, depending on where it’s made. Whiskey refers to spirits distilled in the United States, while whisky is the term used elsewhere. The tour concludes with a tasting of the distillery’s whiskeys.

Book Your Kings County Distillery Tour

• The distillery tour lasts about 1 hour including the tasting and is conducted in English. You can still enjoy the tour if you don’t speak English. Book as early as possible—slots fill up quickly and groups are limited to 30 people. Tours run Thursday through Sunday at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm.
• To reserve your spot, visit the Kings County Distillery tour booking page. Select your preferred date and time. You’ll notice that some slots are already full.
• The price includes a guided 1-hour tour of the distillery with an English-speaking guide and a tasting of 4 whiskeys. You must be at least 21 years old to participate in the tasting.
• You’ll receive an email confirmation once payment is processed. Present this confirmation at the entrance on your phone or printed on paper.

How to Get to Kings County Distillery

The distillery is located at 299 Sands Street in the Navy Yards neighborhood of Brooklyn. Take the F subway line and get off at York Street. Head north on York Street toward Navy Yards. Tip: combine your distillery visit with tours of the Brooklyn Bridge and the DUMBO neighborhood.

Kings County Distillery in Photos