Durham Distillery sits in downtown Durham’s warehouse district at 711 Washington Street, housed in a converted early 1900s brick building that once stored tobacco. Founded in 2015 by Melissa Katrincic, a former pharmaceutical researcher who left her science career to pursue craft distilling, this operation opened its doors after navigating North Carolina’s complex distillery laws. The 4,000-square-foot facility features a custom-built 500-liter German copper still and focuses primarily on gin, with bourbon and other spirits rounding out their portfolio. What started as Katrincic’s personal quest to create better gin has evolved into one of Durham’s most respected craft distilleries, producing small batches with the precision of her scientific background. The space maintains its industrial warehouse character with exposed brick walls, concrete floors, and large windows that flood the production area with natural light. You’ll find a tasting room up front where visitors can sample their core lineup while watching production through floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the gleaming copper still and fermentation tanks.