How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

Hawaii

Kauai Distilling Company

Kapaʻa,

Hawaii

— Gin, Liqueur, Rum

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (808) 822-4495

🌐 https://kauaidistilling.com/contact/

📍 6200 Kawaihau Rd, Kapaʻa, HI 96746, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Kauai Distilling Company sits on the east side of Kauai in Kapaa, bringing the first licensed distillery to the Garden Isle since Prohibition. Founded by Kelly and John Hadley in 2021, this family operation transforms local Hawaiian ingredients into small-batch spirits that capture the essence of island life. The distillery operates from a purpose-built facility on Kawaihau Road, where they craft everything from botanical gin to coffee liqueur using Kauai-grown ingredients. The Hadleys left mainland careers to pursue their dream of creating authentic Hawaiian spirits, bringing mainland distilling expertise to tropical ingredients they couldn’t find anywhere else. They’ve built relationships with local farmers to source everything from coffee beans to exotic botanicals, creating spirits that literally taste like Kauai. The operation runs on a copper pot still system, allowing them to control every aspect of production from mash to bottle. What started as a retirement project quickly evolved into a serious craft distillery that’s putting Kauai on the spirits map. You’ll find their bottles featuring local artwork and names that reflect Hawaiian culture, with each spirit telling a story about the island’s unique terroir.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

This is Hawaii’s most remote craft distillery, operating on an island where everything has to be shipped in except the local ingredients they’ve made their signature. The Hadleys source coffee from Kauai’s famous coffee farms, tropical fruits from local growers, and even experiment with sugarcane grown on the island. Their location gives them access to incredibly pure water and a year-round tropical climate that affects aging in ways you won’t find on the mainland. They’re also pioneering the use of native Hawaiian botanicals in spirits, working with local experts to identify traditional plants that can safely be incorporated into gin and liqueurs. The isolation that makes ingredients expensive also creates opportunities—they’re developing flavor profiles that literally can’t be replicated anywhere else.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

You’ll taste spirits infused with local coffee, tropical fruits, and botanicals while learning about the challenges of distilling in paradise. The tasting room showcases their current lineup alongside educational displays about Hawaiian ingredients and the unique aspects of island distilling. Tours walk you through their small-batch process and explain how they work with local farmers to source ingredients. The intimate scale means you’re likely to meet one of the founders, who share stories about starting a distillery in one of the most logistically challenging locations in America. The space feels more like visiting friends who happen to make incredible spirits than a formal commercial operation.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re interested in how place influences flavor, this is essential. The spirits here taste like nowhere else, with tropical notes and local ingredients you can’t find in mainland distilleries. It’s perfect for visitors who want to understand Kauai beyond the typical tourist experience and for spirits enthusiasts curious about how Hawaiian terroir translates to the bottle. The intimate scale means you get personal attention and real insights into craft distilling. However, if you’re looking for large-scale production tours or extensive cocktail programs, this isn’t that kind of operation. Come for authentic local spirits and genuine conversation about the craft.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their website for current hours and availability, as island operations can be more flexible than mainland schedules. The location on Kawaihau Road is straightforward to find, with parking available on-site. Ask about seasonal ingredients they’re working with—the lineup changes based on what local farmers are growing. Try their coffee liqueur if you’re a coffee fan, as they use beans from some of Kauai’s best farms. Don’t expect a full restaurant, but do expect to learn about ingredients you’ve never heard of. The best time to visit is when you can spend time talking with the staff about their sourcing and process rather than rushing through.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Kauai Distilling Company — Visitor FAQ

Do you use ingredients grown on Kauai?

Yes, they work with local farmers to source coffee, fruits, and botanicals grown on the island. This includes coffee from established Kauai farms and tropical ingredients that give their spirits a distinctly Hawaiian character.

How do I schedule a visit?

Contact them through their website or phone to arrange tastings and tours. As a small operation, they prefer appointments to ensure someone’s available to give you proper attention and share the story behind their spirits.

What makes distilling in Hawaii different?

Everything from ingredients to equipment has to be shipped in, but they have access to unique local botanicals and pure water. The tropical climate also affects how spirits develop compared to mainland operations, creating flavor opportunities that don’t exist elsewhere.

GETTING THERE

Find Kauai Distilling Company

📍6200 Kawaihau Rd, Kapaʻa, HI 96746, USA

—

📞 (808) 822-4495

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