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

California

Foggy Bottom Distillery

Los Osos,

California

— Bourbon, Rye, Vodka

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (805) 795-1727

🌐 http://fbdistillery.com/

📍 905 Los Osos Valley Rd Suite B, Los Osos, CA 93402, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Foggy Bottom Distillery operates out of a small industrial suite on Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos, California, bringing craft spirits to the Central Coast. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jennifer Taranto, this micro-distillery opened its doors in 2018 after the couple decided to turn their home distilling hobby into a full-scale operation. Chris, who has a background in engineering, handles the technical side of production, while Jennifer manages the business operations and customer experience. The distillery focuses on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka, operating out of a compact 1,200-square-foot space that houses their custom copper still and aging room. What started as weekend experiments with friends has evolved into a legitimate craft distillery that’s become a local favorite among Central Coast spirits enthusiasts. The intimate setting means you’re likely to meet the founders themselves during your visit, and they’re genuinely passionate about sharing their journey from weekend hobbyists to commercial distillers. The operation remains deliberately small-scale, with Chris and Jennifer handling everything from mashing and distilling to bottling and label application by hand.

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

WHAT SETS THEM APART

Foggy Bottom’s size is both its challenge and its charm—this is genuinely one of California’s smallest commercial distilleries, with a production capacity that measures in the hundreds of bottles rather than thousands. Chris brings an engineer’s precision to the distilling process, designing and building much of their equipment himself, including custom modifications to their 100-gallon copper still. The coastal location gives them access to incredibly pure water from local sources, and the consistent temperatures year-round create ideal aging conditions in their small rickhouse. Unlike larger operations where you might tour with groups of twenty, Foggy Bottom offers an intimate experience where you’re chatting directly with the people who made the spirits you’re tasting.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Visiting Foggy Bottom feels more like being invited into someone’s workshop than touring a traditional distillery. Chris or Jennifer will walk you through their compact operation, explaining each step of their process while you can literally see every piece of equipment they use. The tasting happens at a small bar area they’ve set up in the production space, so you’re surrounded by fermenting mash and aging barrels while sampling their bourbon and rye. The whole experience takes about 45 minutes and rarely includes more than six people at a time. You’ll smell the sweet corn mash and oak barrels throughout the space, and the hands-on nature means you can ask detailed questions about their specific techniques and get honest answers about the challenges of small-scale distilling.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re looking for polished tour experiences with gift shops and food pairings, this isn’t your spot. But if you want to understand what craft distilling actually looks like at the ground level, Foggy Bottom delivers an authentic experience you won’t find at larger operations. It’s perfect for serious spirits enthusiasts who appreciate seeing the nuts and bolts of production, and the intimate setting means you’ll learn more about the actual distilling process in 45 minutes than you might in longer tours elsewhere. The spirits themselves are solid, though still developing as the operation matures and builds inventory. This appeals most to people who enjoy supporting true small businesses and don’t mind the rough edges that come with a genuine startup operation.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their Facebook page before making the drive—their hours can be irregular since Chris and Jennifer handle all operations themselves. The location in an industrial area isn’t immediately obvious, so look for the suite number carefully. Parking is easy in the industrial complex, but GPS sometimes gets confused by the suite addresses. Saturday afternoons tend to be the most reliable time to find them open, and they’re usually more available for longer conversations during slower weekdays. Don’t expect a huge selection of aged spirits since they’re still building inventory from their 2018 opening, but their vodka is immediately ready and quite good. Bring cash if you want to buy bottles, as their card processing setup can be temperamental.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Foggy Bottom Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make an appointment to visit?

Yes, definitely call ahead or message them on Facebook. Since Chris and Jennifer handle all operations themselves, they can’t always accommodate walk-ins during production days. Saturday afternoons are usually the most reliable time to visit.

What spirits can I actually taste during my visit?

You’ll typically taste their vodka plus whatever whiskeys they have aged enough to bottle at the time. Since they opened in 2018, their whiskey inventory is still limited, but their vodka is consistently available and shows their distillation skills well.

Is this suitable for large groups or special events?

Not really—their space comfortably handles groups of six or fewer people. This is a genuine micro-distillery where you’ll be standing in their actual production area, so large groups just don’t work logistically. It’s much better suited for couples or small groups of friends.

GETTING THERE

Find Foggy Bottom Distillery

📍905 Los Osos Valley Rd Suite B, Los Osos, CA 93402, USA

—

📞 (805) 795-1727

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 California