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

Oregon

503 Distilling

Portland,

Oregon

— Bourbon, Rye, Vodka, Gin

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

COCKTAILS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🌾

Local Grain

Oregon wheat milled on-site daily

🔧

DIY Spirit

Self-taught distillers, trial and error approach

👥

Founder-Run

Ryan or Lee often behind bar

🏭

Working Operation

Watch production through floor-to-ceiling windows

🥃

Young Whiskey

Gin and vodka fund aging program

📍

SE Portland

Industrial corridor, street parking only

📞 (503) 975-5669

🌐 http://www.503distilling.com/

📍 4784 SE 17th Ave Suite 150, Portland, OR 97202, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Industrial Portland Warehouse Turned Grain-to-Glass

503 Distilling sits in Portland’s industrial southeast corridor, founded by husband-and-wife team Ryan Csanky and Lee Medoff in 2012. Ryan brought a background in chemistry and brewing, while Lee handled the business side after years in corporate marketing. They started with a 500-gallon copper pot still in their 3,000-square-foot facility on SE 17th Avenue, focusing on small-batch whiskey, gin, and vodka production. The space feels like a working distillery first—concrete floors, exposed beams, and the constant hum of fermentation tanks. You can smell the mash cooking when you walk in, and see their gleaming copper still through floor-to-ceiling windows. They’ve been grinding through the early years of whiskey aging, releasing their spirits as they mature, while keeping the lights on with their gin and vodka sales. The name comes from Portland’s area code, and everything about this place screams local—from the Oregon grain they source to the laid-back tasting room vibe where you’ll often find Ryan or Lee behind the bar explaining their process.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Oregon Wheat Instead Of Traditional Corn

503 Distilling represents Portland’s scrappy, DIY spirit scene perfectly. Ryan and Lee bootstrapped this operation from the ground up, learning distillation through trial and error rather than formal training. They source all their grain from Oregon farms within 200 miles, milling it on-site with their own hammer mill. Their whiskey mash bills lean heavily on local wheat instead of the traditional corn-forward recipes you’ll find elsewhere, giving their bourbon a softer, more approachable character. The distillery runs on a true grain-to-glass model—they handle every step from milling to bottling in their southeast Portland facility, and you can watch the entire process during visits.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Neighborhood Bar Vibes Real Working Distillery

The tasting room feels more like a neighborhood bar than a polished tourism destination. Ryan or Lee often run tastings themselves, walking you through their current lineup while explaining how their Oregon wheat affects flavor profiles. You can peer directly into the production area and see their copper still, fermentation tanks, and bottling line all in action. Tastings include their vodka, gin, and whatever whiskey they have ready—sometimes barrel samples if you’re lucky. The space gets busy on weekends with locals stopping by for bottle purchases, creating a community feel rather than the typical tourist experience.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Perfect for Spirit Geeks Not Tourist Crowds

If you’re into the craft distilling scene and want to see a real working operation, 503 delivers authentically. This isn’t a destination for people expecting polished tours or elaborate visitor centers—it’s for folks who want to taste small-batch spirits and talk process with the actual distillers. The whiskey program is still young, so don’t expect aged bourbons, but their gin and vodka show solid technique. It’s perfect for spirit geeks who appreciate the grain-to-glass approach and want to support local producers grinding it out in the early days.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their social media before visiting since hours can be inconsistent during production days. Parking is street parking only, but it’s usually available on SE 17th. Ask about their barrel program if you’re interested in private selections. The tasting room is small, so groups larger than six should definitely call first. Try their gin even if you’re not typically a gin drinker—it showcases their distillation skills better than their young whiskey. Bottle prices are reasonable for craft spirits, and buying direct supports the operation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

503 Distilling — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make a reservation for tastings?

Reservations aren’t required for small groups, but it’s smart to call ahead since hours can vary during production days. Groups larger than six should definitely call first since the tasting room is pretty small.

How old are their whiskeys?

Since they started in 2012, their whiskeys are still relatively young, typically 2-4 years old. They’re not rushing the aging process, so what’s available depends on when barrels are ready. Ask about barrel samples if you want to taste their aging progress.

Can I see the distillation process during my visit?

Absolutely. The production area is visible from the tasting room, and tours show you their complete grain-to-glass operation including milling, fermentation, distillation, and bottling. It’s a working distillery so you’ll often see the process in action.

GETTING THERE

Find 503 Distilling

📍4784 SE 17th Ave Suite 150, Portland, OR 97202, USA

—

📞 (503) 975-5669

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