Big Spring Spirits sits in the heart of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, inside a converted match factory that dates back to the early 1900s. Founded in 2014 by Matt Weyandt and his business partners, this craft distillery brings small-batch spirits production to Centre County for the first time in decades. The 3,000-square-foot facility houses copper pot stills and fermentation tanks, where they produce bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and gin using local ingredients whenever possible. Weyandt, who left a career in environmental consulting to pursue distilling, spent years perfecting recipes before opening the doors to the public in 2015. The journey to opening wasn’t simple. Getting local permits and navigating Pennsylvania’s complex liquor laws took nearly two years, but Weyandt’s persistence paid off when they became one of the first craft distilleries in central Pennsylvania. The team focuses on traditional distilling methods with modern precision, using a 500-gallon copper pot still imported from Germany. Master distiller operations are handled in-house, with Weyandt overseeing every batch personally. They source corn from local farms within 50 miles and age their whiskeys in new American oak barrels stored on-site. Visitors get an up-close look at the entire operation, from milling grain to bottling spirits. The tasting room occupies the front portion of the building, featuring reclaimed wood from the original match factory and industrial touches that honor the building’s history. You can sample their full lineup while learning about the distilling process directly from the people making the spirits. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational, without the pretense you might find at larger operations.