Las Vegas Distillery sits in Henderson, Nevada, about 15 miles southeast of the Strip, operating out of an industrial park that’s about as far from Vegas glitz as you can get. Founded by George Racz in 2011, this operation started as Nevada’s first legal distillery since Prohibition ended. Racz, a former pharmaceutical executive, jumped into distilling after getting hooked on the science and craft of spirits production. The 8,000-square-foot facility houses copper pot stills and produces vodka, gin, whiskey, and moonshine under the Nevada-made brand. Racz didn’t just want to make spirits—he wanted to put Nevada on the distilling map. The journey wasn’t simple, involving navigating state regulations that hadn’t been updated since the 1930s and convincing local officials that a distillery could work in Henderson. He brought in equipment from Germany and Kentucky, setting up a facility that handles everything from grain-to-glass production. The team runs small batches, typically producing around 1,000 bottles per run, focusing on quality control and experimenting with different grain bills and aging techniques. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at a working distillery where you’ll see the mash tanks, copper stills, and aging barrels up close. The atmosphere is industrial but welcoming—think exposed beams and concrete floors rather than polished tourist spaces. Racz or his team usually runs tours personally, explaining the fermentation process and letting you taste spirits straight from the barrel. It’s educational without being stuffy, and you’ll leave understanding why Nevada’s desert climate creates unique aging conditions for whiskey.