Dread River Distilling Company

“Walking into Dread River feels like stepping back into a Prohibition-era speakeasy—dim, intentional, and full of character. We grabbed a table and were greeted by Raegan, who got us started with a whiskey flight and an Old Fashioned. The flight was a standout—six pours covering whiskey, bourbon, rye, rum, double-barreled agave, and their base agave. A great way to experience the range they’re putting out. The Old Fashioned was solid, though I would’ve liked a little more proof—but pairing it with a sample from the flight fixed that instantly. No points lost. As we settled in, plates coming out of the kitchen looked incredible, and the energy in the room kept building. Then things took a turn for the better—Raegan offered us a tour, and Bruce stepped in right at 2pm to walk us through the distillery. Bonus: they added the tour and extra samples at no cost during our visit, which made an already great experience even better. The tour wrapped back at the Dread bar with additional samples, and that’s where things really stood out. Their rapid aging process is impressive and holds its own against some well-known, longer-aged distilleries. Standouts for us: • Single Barrel Bourbon • Agave (unexpected and excellent) We also got introduced to their canned vodka line, the “Yellow Hammer Slammer.” A watermelon sample sealed the deal—we left with two 8-packs. Great people, great experience, and more than just a tasting—it’s a full stop. This will be on our list every time we’re in Birmingham.”

“Fabulously friendly craft distillery on the rise with a lovely tasting room. It has an upscale feel with private rooms for events, a quality item stocked merch room, and sampling room. The tour is comprehensive and the Operations Director who leads it is engaging, knowledgeable, and delightful. We drove an hour and a half to tour, eat, and sample; we're glad we did and we're certain to return!”

“We went for the New Year's Eve party, and the only disappointments were that there wasn't a larger crowd and we didn't win the raffle (I was real excited about the Whiskey barrel). The drinks were on point, made with in house distilled spirits that were unbelievably smooth. We opted for VIP, which included a small but complete buffet. The crispy chicken was tender but very crisp, the fries were addicting and the charcuterie board was well put together. The staff seemed to be truly enjoying themselves and were exceptionally personable. I look forward to going back to do a tasting and purchase some of their spirits an merch. The interior is inviting, interesting and has a old meets new charm.”

“Had a great visit at Dread River. Despite the fact that they were setting up for a major event, they made sure we could come in for a tour. A very thorough introduction to their distilling process and history of the company, with a full-line tasting to follow. Recommended!”

“MUST VISIT if you are in the area!! Staff was super friendly and the cocktails & atmosphere are AMAZING! A spot like this in ATL would be crazy expensive so we were shocked at how reasonable everything was. The flavored spirit tastings were excellent! The caramel vodka & s’mores whiskey were our favorites! The Parmesan truffle fries were also great! They have tons of comfortable couches/seating along with a decent size outdoor area with games”