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

Arizona

Canyon Diablo Distillery

Flagstaff,

Arizona

— Bourbon, Rye

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (928) 853-9265

🌐 http://canyondiablospirits.com/

📍 506 N Grant St Ste C, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Canyon Diablo Distillery sits in downtown Flagstaff at 506 North Grant Street, bringing craft spirits to Arizona’s high country at 7,000 feet elevation. Founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Amy Kott, this small-batch operation opened its doors in 2016 after years of planning and navigating the complex world of distillery licensing. The Kotts transformed a modest industrial space into a working distillery that produces bourbon, rye whiskey, and seasonal spirits using traditional methods and locally-sourced ingredients when possible. Mike handles the production side while Amy manages the business operations, creating a true family-run distillery that reflects their passion for quality craft spirits. The facility houses custom copper stills and aging barrels, with a tasting room that welcomes visitors looking to sample their growing lineup of spirits. You’ll find this isn’t a massive operation trying to compete with Kentucky giants, but rather a thoughtful approach to craft distilling that honors traditional methods while embracing the unique characteristics that high-altitude aging brings to their products.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Operating at 7,000 feet elevation makes Canyon Diablo one of the highest-altitude distilleries in the country, and that elevation creates some interesting effects on the aging process. The dramatic temperature swings between Flagstaff’s cold winters and warm summers, combined with the low humidity of the high desert, accelerate the interaction between spirit and wood in ways you don’t see at sea level. The Kotts source their grains from regional suppliers when possible, bringing a Southwest character to traditional bourbon and rye recipes. Their small-batch approach means they’re producing maybe a few hundred bottles at a time rather than thousands, allowing them to experiment with different mash bills and aging techniques that larger operations can’t justify.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The tasting room has a comfortable, unpretentious vibe where you can sample their current lineup while chatting with staff who actually know the production process. Tours give you a close-up look at their copper stills and barrel aging room, with explanations of how altitude affects their spirits. The space smells like grain and oak, and you can often hear the distillation process happening in the background. Mike or Amy might be around to answer questions about their methods or share stories about the challenges of starting a distillery in Arizona. The tastings let you compare their different expressions and understand how their high-altitude aging creates distinct flavor profiles compared to spirits aged at lower elevations.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re interested in craft distilling or want to understand how geography affects spirits, Canyon Diablo offers something genuinely different from the typical distillery tour. The high-altitude aging story isn’t marketing fluff—it actually produces noticeable differences in their spirits. This appeals most to whiskey enthusiasts curious about terroir and craft distilling techniques rather than casual tourists looking for entertainment. You won’t find elaborate production facilities or polished visitor centers, but you will get authentic insight into small-batch distilling and the chance to taste spirits that reflect their unique location. The personal attention from the founders makes this feel more like visiting passionate craftspeople than touring a commercial operation.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their website before visiting, as hours can be limited and they sometimes close for production work or private events. Parking is available on Grant Street, but downtown Flagstaff can get busy during tourist seasons, so plan extra time. Ask about their aging process and how altitude affects their spirits—this is where their expertise really shows. If they have multiple expressions available, try them side by side to understand how different mash bills perform at high altitude. The tasting room can get crowded during peak times, so weekday visits often provide more opportunity for detailed conversations with staff about their methods and philosophy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Canyon Diablo Distillery — Visitor FAQ

How does high-altitude aging affect the taste of your spirits?

At 7,000 feet, the dramatic temperature swings and low humidity accelerate the interaction between our spirits and the oak barrels. This creates more intense flavor extraction and a smoother finish than you typically get with traditional aging at lower elevations. The dry climate also means less angel’s share loss through evaporation.

Do I need to make a reservation for tastings?

Reservations aren’t required for regular tastings, but we recommend calling ahead to confirm hours since we sometimes close for production work. For larger groups or private tours, it’s best to arrange those in advance.

Can I buy bottles to take home?

Yes, we sell bottles of our current releases directly from the distillery. Selection depends on what we have in stock, and some limited releases sell out quickly due to our small-batch production.

GETTING THERE

Find Canyon Diablo Distillery

📍506 N Grant St Ste C, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, USA

—

📞 (928) 853-9265

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