Left Turn Distilling sits in a converted auto shop on Girard Boulevard in Albuquerque’s Highland neighborhood, and honestly, that automotive heritage fits perfectly with their unconventional approach to spirits. Founders John and Lisa McKinney opened this spot in 2015 after John’s career as a mechanical engineer gave him the technical chops to tackle distillation, while Lisa’s background in hospitality shaped their visitor-focused operation. The 3,000-square-foot space houses their custom-built copper still alongside a full cocktail bar where they serve drinks made exclusively with their own spirits. The McKinneys didn’t just want to make whiskey—they wanted to create something distinctly New Mexican. John spent two years perfecting recipes that incorporate local ingredients like blue corn and desert honey, while navigating Albuquerque’s regulations to become one of the first craft distilleries in the metro area. Their master distiller approach means small batches with hands-on attention to every step, from mashing to bottling. The operation produces bourbon, rye, vodka, and seasonal specialties, with everything aged on-site in smaller barrels that accelerate the process in New Mexico’s high desert climate. Visitors get the full experience here—you’re not just tasting spirits, you’re watching them being made. The open floor plan means you can see the entire operation while sipping cocktails at the bar, and the McKinneys or their small team are usually around to explain what’s bubbling in the fermenters or aging in the barrels. It’s casual and unpretentious, with the kind of atmosphere where regulars know the staff by name and newcomers get treated like old friends.