About
Floyd, Virginia, was a moonshiner's paradise during Prohibition. While those days are gone, 5 Mile Mountain Distillery offers tours and tastings without the fear of lawmen since it's the first legal distillery in Floyd!
The distillery was named after the mountain it calls home. Taking inspiration from the clandestine moonshine operations of its forefathers, it now creates libations that once could only be enjoyed in secret.
5 Mile opened in 2015 though prides itself on "old school" techniques. It crafts small batches from local produce and traditional copper stills on open flames. Moreover, the results have garnered a reputation with locals and are spreading far and wide.
The distillery is in a refurbished building built after WWII, lending to the authenticity of a visit where history, lore, and legend shake hands over a glass of spirits.
Located in Floyd, it's easy to combine a visit to the Floyd Farmers Market and the iconic Floyd Country Store with a tour of the distillery, making for a well-rounded day of activities.Â
For a chance to taste history in a region heralded as the "Moonshine Capital of the World, add 5 Mile Distillery to your travel itinerary.
5 Mile Mountain Distillery: Fun Facts & Cool Features
The area's history will intrigue you even if you're not a fan of whiskey or moonshine. According to Floyd's old-timers, there were so many illegal stills in the mountains during Prohibition that the fires looked like fireflies at night. And when you stroll through Floyd and admire the large homes and buildings, reflect on the fact that moonshine cash built them.
Another fabulous tale is that customers would back cars and trucks up the narrow road on Five Mile Mountain to load up "shine" and then barrel down the mountain past police heading up to shut things down.
The building housing 5 Mile Mountain Distillery is also steeped in history because it pumped water to the citizens of Floyd in the late 40s. As the city grew and wells supplied more water, it became obsolete and closed in 1976.
In 2013, the owners of the distillery purchased it and began painstaking renovation work. The result is a preserved piece of Virginia history that makes for a stellar showroom and distillery. Here, you can sample their rye and moonshine spirits in the cool of the mountain—and unlike those of old, you can do so legally!
Consider combining a visit to 5 Mile Mountain Distillery with wine tasting at Chateau Morrisette Winery and then make a reservation in their restaurant for an exquisite dining experience.
Adding 5 Mile Mountain Distillery to your Blue Ridge Parkway itinerary is a no-brainer. You'll sample moonshine recipes handed down through the generations in an area rich with history and lore.
Local Tips
- Grab a memento or souvenir in the Gift Shop.
- Arrive early as tastings fill up quickly.
- Guests are limited to 3 ounces per visit.
- While you may purchase spirits on-site, you can also buy online.
