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

Virginia

River City Distillery

Radford,

Virginia

— Bourbon, Rye, Moonshine

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🔬

Engineer’s Precision

Custom equipment, careful temperature controls

👥

Founders Present

Jeff and Amy personally run tastings

🏭

Active Production

Stills running while you sample spirits

🎓

College Town

New River Valley’s first craft distillery

🥃

Small Batches

Everything personally overseen grain to bottle

🛠️

Technical Focus

Learn the actual process behind spirits

📞 (540) 200-8177

🌐 https://river-city-distillery.com/

📍 305 W Main St, Radford, VA 24141, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Engineering Meets Moonshine On Radford's Main Street

River City Distillery sits on Main Street in Radford, Virginia, bringing craft spirits to the New River Valley since 2019. Founded by husband-and-wife team Jeff and Amy Aldridge, this operation started as a passion project that grew into a full production facility and tasting room. Jeff brings decades of engineering experience to the distilling process, while Amy handles the business side and customer experience. The distillery occupies a renovated commercial space that they’ve transformed into a welcoming production facility where you can watch spirits being made while you taste them. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rye, and moonshine, with everything distilled on-site using traditional methods combined with modern precision. The couple wanted to create a place where people could learn about the distilling process while enjoying quality spirits in a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll find this isn’t just a tasting room—it’s an active distillery where production happens alongside the visitor experience, giving you a real look at how craft spirits come together.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

College Town's First Craft Distillery

River City Distillery brings something genuinely new to the New River Valley—they’re among the first craft distilleries to set up shop in this college town region of Virginia. Jeff Aldridge’s engineering background shows up in their precise approach to distillation, using custom equipment and careful temperature controls that many smaller operations skip. They’re hands-on in a way that’s become rare, with the founders personally running tastings and sharing the technical details behind their process. The location itself is part of the story—Radford is better known for its university than its spirits, so they’re introducing craft distilling to an area that didn’t have it before. Their production runs are genuinely small, with everything made in batches they can personally oversee from grain to bottle.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Watch Production While You Taste

You’ll step into an active distillery where the smell of fermenting grain and aging spirits fills the air. The Aldridges or their team typically handle tastings personally, walking you through their current offerings while explaining how each spirit was made. The tasting room sits adjacent to the production area, so you can see the stills and barrels while you sample their bourbon, rye, and moonshine. Jeff often shares the technical aspects of distilling if you’re interested, while Amy focuses on the flavors and stories behind each batch. The space feels more like visiting someone’s serious hobby workshop than a polished tourist destination—which works in its favor if you want to understand the actual craft.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Real Craft Process Worth Understanding

This place appeals to spirits enthusiasts who want to understand the process behind what they’re drinking, rather than casual tourists looking for entertainment. You’ll get personal attention from the founders and learn about small-batch distilling in detail, but don’t expect elaborate tours or food pairings. The spirits are solid, especially considering they’re relatively new to the game, and the prices are reasonable for craft distillery standards. If you’re exploring Virginia’s emerging distillery scene or you’re in Radford for other reasons, it’s worth stopping by. College towns don’t usually have craft distilleries, so this fills a unique niche in the area.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their social media before visiting—hours can vary with production schedules and university events in town. Parking is typical downtown street parking, which is usually fine except during Virginia Tech events when Radford gets busier. Ask Jeff about the technical aspects of their distilling setup if you’re interested in the process—his engineering background makes for informative conversations about temperature control and fermentation. Try their rye if it’s available, as they’ve put particular effort into getting that mash bill right. Don’t expect a lengthy formal tour, but you’ll get plenty of explanation during tastings if you ask questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

River City Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to book tastings in advance?

Reservations aren’t required, but calling ahead is smart since hours can vary with production schedules. The founders often handle tastings personally, so advance notice helps ensure someone’s available to give you the full experience.

What can I expect to pay for tastings?

Tasting fees are reasonable for a craft distillery, typically around $10-15 per person. The fee often applies toward bottle purchases, and you’ll get to try several of their current spirits with detailed explanations.

How long should I plan for a visit?

Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour if you want the full experience with explanations about their process. You can make it shorter if you just want to taste and buy, or longer if you get into detailed conversations about distilling techniques.

GETTING THERE

Find River City Distillery

📍305 W Main St, Radford, VA 24141, USA

—

📞 (540) 200-8177

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