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

Bull Run Distillery Carlton Post Tasting Room

Carlton,

Oregon

— Bourbon, Rye

TASTINGS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🏛️

Historic First

Oregon’s first legal distillery since Prohibition

🌾

Traditional Methods

Straight bourbon and rye, properly aged

🏆

Award Winners

National competition recognition, serious craft

🍷

Wine Country

Whiskey tasting room in Willamette Valley

📚

Education Focus

Learn whiskey making, not production tours

🥃

Proper Proof

Traditional bottling strength, no shortcuts

📞 (503) 852-3196

🌐 https://www.bullrundistillery.com/

📍 214 W Main St Suite B, Carlton, OR 97111, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Oregon's First Legal Distillery Since Prohibition

Bull Run Distillery’s Carlton Post Tasting Room sits on West Main Street in Carlton, Oregon, bringing the Portland-based distillery’s acclaimed spirits directly to wine country. Founded in 2010 by Lee Medoff and Patrick Bernards in Portland, Bull Run Distillery was Oregon’s first legal distillery since Prohibition, making it a genuine pioneer in the state’s craft spirits revival. The Carlton tasting room opened as an extension of their main Portland operation, giving Willamette Valley visitors a chance to sample their award-winning whiskeys without the drive to the city. Medoff and Bernards started Bull Run with a clear mission: create authentic American whiskey using traditional methods and local ingredients. They named the distillery after Bull Run Reserve, a protected watershed that supplies Portland’s drinking water, reflecting their commitment to purity and place. The duo spent years perfecting their recipes before launching, focusing on straight bourbon and rye whiskeys aged in new American oak barrels. Their approach emphasizes small-batch production with careful attention to each step of the process. The Carlton tasting room offers visitors a more intimate setting to experience Bull Run’s spirits compared to typical distillery tours. You’re tasting the same whiskeys that have earned recognition at national competitions, but in the relaxed atmosphere of Oregon wine country. The space focuses on education and appreciation rather than flashy production displays, making it perfect for serious whiskey drinkers who want to understand what makes Oregon whiskey distinctive.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

WHAT SETS THEM APART

Traditional American Whiskey In Wine Country

Bull Run holds the distinction of being Oregon’s first legal distillery since Prohibition ended, making them genuine pioneers in the state’s craft spirits movement. They’re one of the few distilleries that have consistently focused on traditional American whiskey styles rather than chasing trendy flavored spirits or unique grain bills. Their commitment to straight bourbon and rye whiskeys, aged properly in new American oak, puts them in rare company among craft distilleries that often release products too young. The Carlton location also bridges two worlds—bringing serious whiskey culture into Oregon’s wine country, where most tasting rooms focus on grapes rather than grain.

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Serious Whiskey Education Not Tourist Theater

The Carlton tasting room provides a focused whiskey education experience rather than a production tour, since the actual distilling happens at their Portland facility. You’ll taste through Bull Run’s core lineup of bourbons and ryes with knowledgeable staff who can explain the differences in mash bills, aging processes, and flavor development. The atmosphere is more like a serious whiskey bar than a tourist destination, attracting both local wine country visitors looking for something different and whiskey enthusiasts making the trip specifically for Bull Run’s spirits. The setting encourages conversation about the whiskey-making process and Oregon’s growing reputation in American whiskey production.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Historic Spirits Worth The Detour

If you’re serious about American whiskey and find yourself in Oregon wine country, the Carlton tasting room offers something genuinely different from the dozens of wineries in the area. You’ll taste historically significant spirits—Bull Run was literally the first to bring legal distilling back to Oregon—and their whiskeys have the depth and complexity that comes from proper aging and traditional methods. This isn’t the place for casual tourists looking for Instagram moments or flavored spirits. It’s for people who appreciate the craft of whiskey making and want to understand what Oregon brings to American whiskey beyond just geographic novelty.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead to confirm hours since tasting rooms in Carlton can have seasonal variations, especially during busy wine harvest periods. The location on West Main Street is easy to find, but parking can be limited during peak wine country visiting times in summer and fall. If you’re planning a day of wine tasting, save Bull Run for later in the day since the higher proof spirits will reset your palate differently than wine. Ask about their aging process and how Oregon’s climate affects whiskey maturation compared to Kentucky or Tennessee—the staff knows their stuff and these conversations make the tasting more meaningful.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Bull Run Distillery Carlton Post Tasting Room — Visitor FAQ

Is this the actual distillery or just a tasting room?

This is a tasting room for Bull Run Distillery, which operates their main distillery and production facility in Portland. The Carlton location focuses on tastings and bottle sales, bringing their spirits to Oregon wine country without the production tour aspect.

What makes Bull Run historically significant in Oregon?

Bull Run Distillery was Oregon’s first legal distillery since Prohibition ended, making them genuine pioneers in the state’s craft spirits revival. They opened in 2010 and paved the way for the dozens of distilleries that followed across Oregon.

How do their whiskeys compare to Kentucky bourbon?

Bull Run uses traditional bourbon and rye recipes but Oregon’s different climate affects the aging process. The more moderate temperatures and humidity levels create different interactions between the whiskey and oak barrels, resulting in flavor profiles that are distinctly Oregon while honoring classic American whiskey traditions.

GETTING THERE

Find Bull Run Distillery Carlton Post Tasting Room

📍214 W Main St Suite B, Carlton, OR 97111, USA

—

📞 (503) 852-3196

The 50 States of Whiskey

Find a Craft Distillery

Search from nearly 1,500 Distilleries
in all 50 States

Never Miss A Thing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

SMART BUYING GUIDES

The Right Gear Matters

Honest recommendations on everything around the bottle.

Best Clear Ice Makers for Bourbon (2026)

The Best Bourbon Decanters: A No-Nonsense Guide to What’s Actually Worth Buying

The Best Home Bar Carts and Bar Cabinets for Bourbon Lovers (2026 Guide)

Best Bourbon Smoker Kits (2026) – Worth the Smoke?

Best Whiskey Glasses for Bourbon: 5 Glasses Every Bourbon Drinker Should Own

NEAT OR NOT

Whiskey Reviews

RD1 Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Tom’s Foolery Farm and Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Leather & Oak Spirits

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Barrel 21 Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

KEEP EXPLORING Oregon