Doodle Sasser Distilling sits in an industrial park in Matthews, North Carolina, about twenty minutes southeast of Charlotte. Founded by Brian Sasser in 2018, this small-batch operation produces bourbon, rye, and moonshine in a compact 2,000-square-foot facility. The name comes from Sasser’s childhood nickname, and he left a career in construction to chase his dream of making whiskey. You’ll find handwritten labels and a no-frills approach that puts the focus squarely on what’s in the bottle.
Sasser started this journey after years of home distilling and studying under local moonshine legends. He spent three years navigating the regulatory maze and securing funding before opening his doors. The operation runs on a 250-gallon copper pot still, and Sasser does most of the work himself with help from his family. His philosophy is simple: use quality ingredients, don’t rush the process, and let the whiskey speak for itself. The grain comes from North Carolina farms when possible, and he ages everything in 15-gallon barrels to speed up the wood interaction.
Visitors get an intimate look at small-batch distilling in action. The space feels more like a working garage than a polished tasting room, which is exactly the point. You can see the entire operation from mash tun to bottling line in one glance. Sasser often runs the tastings himself, walking you through his process and philosophy. The atmosphere is casual and educational – you’re not just tasting spirits, you’re learning how they’re made from someone who lives and breathes it.
